29 breathtaking classics for sale at Amelia Island

Array of century-spanning motors head to Florida

Barely a week seems to go by without a glut of gorgeous classics going to auction in some exotic locale. 

After Scottsdale in January and Paris earlier this month it’s now Florida's turn to host several big sales all at once, with the action this time coinciding with the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 

RM Sotheby's, Gooding & Co and Bonhams all have auctions taking place between 7 and 10 March, and all three catalogues are packed with desirable cars.

Don’t know where to start your shopping list? We’ve picked out 29 of our favourites.

1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

Estimate: £900k-1.1m / $1.2-1.4m (RM Sotheby’s)

First up is a true automotive icon: a Mercedes-Benz 300SL in legendary Gullwing guise.

This restored example was originally owned by the Prince of Salm-Salm (Google it) and, equipped with its original engine and finished in its factory-correct shade, presents as finely today as the day it was finished in ’56.

1989 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG 6.0 Wide-Body

Estimate: £90-110k / $120-140k (RM Sotheby’s)

From an old-school Merc to a younger Benz, this AMG-tuned beast has a 6-litre V8 engine good for 385bhp and sports a suitably beefy gangster body kit.

Fewer than 50 were built, making this black-on-black wagon a proper rarity. Up for grabs at RM Sotheby’s sale on 8-9 March, it’s one of several cars from the Youngtimer Collection – a 140-strong hoard of modern European and Japanese classics.

1994 Toyota Supra Twin Turbo Targa

Estimate: £75-90k / $100-120k (RM Sotheby’s)

Speaking of which, this Supra is one of several Japanese Youngtimer machines for sale at Amelia Island.

Equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3-litre engine good for 320bhp, the ’90s sports car could hit 60mph in less than five seconds and continue all the way to a limited 155mph.

This one’s an early example in desirable targa-top guise – and, with just 11,200 miles on the clock, it remains in remarkably original condition. The only question is whether you should buy this or the NSX that’s also on offer…

1915 Packard Twin Six

Estimate: £75-100k / $100-130k (Gooding & Company)

Next is one of the oldest lots across the Amelia Island sales – albeit one that’s now in need of some serious love. 

In its time a fine example of early-20th-century luxury and 12-cylinder power, this once-pretty Packard spent the first 45 years of its life in the ownership of the same family.

Now aged 104 it’s survived damage from a fall in 1917 and the Black Friday Flood of 1951, but goes to auction completely unrestored and in need of a refurbishment.

1930 Packard 734 Speedster Runabout

Estimate: £1.3-1.5m / $1.7-2m (Gooding & Company)

Same sale, same make, but this Packard’s in altogether better condition than the previous one.

Wrapped in stunning boat-tail bodywork, it’s a gleaming example of 1920s cruising elegance – from its swooping wheelarches to that nautical end.

One of just 18 still known to survive, it’s a machine with a well-documented ownership history that saw it variously stabled with big-game hunters, photographers, car collectors and, um, fruit entrepreneurs.

It’s also made a string of concours appearances and remains in outstanding condition today, restored but highly original. In short, it’s the perfect Packard – hence the £1m-plus price tag.

1930 Duesenberg Model J Sweep Panel Dual-Cowl Phaeton

Estimate: £1.2-1.5m / $1.6-2m (RM Sotheby’s)

Also from 1930 and also worth more than a million is this gorgeous Duesenberg.

A lesson in luxury, refinement and performance, the Model J remains a byword for greatness – and this example is particularly notable.

One of just 18 finished in stunning Sweep Panel Dual-Cowl Phaeton coachwork, it’s also the only one built on a long-wheelbase and looks glorious in its completely restored form.

1989 Porsche 930 Cabriolet Slantnose

Estimate: £130-190k / $175-250k (Bonhams)

This all-original 930 Turbo sports the relatively rare and much-vaunted Slant-Nose option, as first seen on its 935 racer sibling.

Essentially a lesson in how to spec a Porsche, the gorgeous drop-top still wears its factory Guards Red colour scheme and, having covered just 6000 miles since new, is one of the best 930 Slant-Noses around. Which explains the healthy estimate for its Bonhams sale.

1979 Porsche 935

Estimate: £2-2.3m / $2.6-3m (Gooding & Company)

Speaking of the 935, a lovely example of Porsche’s Group 5 thoroughbred is up for grabs at the Gooding & Company sale – complete with £2m-plus price tag.

Derived from the RSR 2.1 Turbo, the distinctive 935 – with its big wing, unique nose and hefty skirts – was a beast of a rear-drive racer, with more than 600bhp at its disposal. Built first for the factory teams, a scant 37 were then delivered to privateers.

This late-production example is one of just seven customer cars created for 1979 and carries a raft of improvements over the early machines, including better brakes.

Made to order for the then-publisher of the LA Times, it’s incredibly original, scarily powerful and, thanks to its provenance, worth an absolute packet.

1987 Kremer Porsche 962C

Estimate: £765-955k / $1-1.3m (Gooding & Company)

Another racing Porsche, this Kremer-built 962 machine is even more extreme than the 935 on the previous slide.

This 750bhp endurance racer tackled the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 1987 and 1988, and remarkably those were its only two races.

It was subsequently stored in various collections, featured in our own magazine in 2015 and remains in outstandingly original condition today, resplendent in its Leyton House livery.

1968-69 Brabham-Cosworth BT26/BT26A

Estimate: £850k-1.1m / $1.1-1.4m (Bonhams)

Fancy taking a race-winning Formula 1 car home from Florida? Then look no further than this Cosworth-powered Brabham.

First driven by legendary Austrian driver Jochen Rindt in the 1968 season, it was then piloted by Jacky Ickx in nine rounds of the ’69 season, and the Belgian duly steered it to several respectable results – including a win at the Canadian Grand Prix.

1984 Audi Sport quattro

Estimate: £345-400k / $450-525k (Gooding & Company)

Shorter and lighter than the original quattro and with a supercar-beating 0-60 time of 4.8 seconds, the Sport quattro was a fearsome rally beast which helped Audi reclaim the WRC Group B title from Lancia in 1984.

Just 214 were built, and of them only 161 went to private buyers. And this is one of them.

Well-kept for 35 years, the all-red legend has been stabled with just three owners since new, latterly spending 18 years in the same collection. The real question? Whether to preserve it or enjoy it. We know what we’d do.

1983 Renault 5 Turbo

Estimate: £85-100k / $110-130k (Bonhams)

Another homologation special, this roadgoing Renault 5 Turbo was built to qualify its sideways sibling for competition, but was hardly a slouch itself.

What’s more, it was mechanically overhauled in 2014 to become an even hotter hatchback – think 210bhp in a car that weighs just 970kg.

1913 Renault Type DP 22/24CV Coupé-Chauffeur

Estimate: £150-230k / $200-300k (Bonhams)

An altogether older Renault, this 106-year-old was delivered new in 1913 and, quite remarkably, has been stabled with the same family for its entire life.

It’s lived quite the life, too, making it through both world wars and surviving an attempt by the Nazis to requisition it during WW2.

Never restored and kept on blocks for many years, this unusually original 5-litre machine heads to auction as a wonderfully patinated example of early French touring luxury.

1913 Mercer Type 35J Raceabout

Estimate: £620-700k / $800k-1m (Bonhams)

Staying in 1913, this restored sports machine is one of many motors on offer at Amelia Island from the collection of esteemed enthusiast Don C Boulton.

Designed to handle both road and track, it cuts a dash today with its simple but elegant coachwork and mustard-yellow coat, but back in the day it was a proper performance machine thanks to its 100mph top speed.

1937 Bugatti Type 57SC

Estimate: £4.6-5.7m / $6-7.5m (RM Sotheby’s)

Of the 40 or so Type 57S machines built by Bugatti, just eight received bodywork from the coachbuilder Corsica. Rarer still were the four-seat tourer bodies, which were fitted to just a pair of them – including this stunning 1937 number.

Still equipped with its original chassis, engine, gearbox and body – and what a body it is – chassis 57512 possesses a fascinating past that includes gaining a Rootes supercharger but losing its bodywork, only to then get it back in 1999.

It goes to auction as one of the ultimate ’30s Bugattis – a fact borne out by its hefty price tag.

2010 Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Estimate: £1.1-1.2m / $1.4-1.6m (RM Sotheby’s)

Fancy something a little younger? Drop a million on this Veyron and you’ll still get the Bugatti badge, while gaining the world-beating performance of its astonishing W16 motor – good for the best part of 1000bhp and a 254mph top speed.

This 2010 example is one of just 12 finished in Sang Noir guise – essentially a black-on-black homage to the stunning Type 57S Atlantic, only with added carbonfibre.

Recently serviced and with a scant 3500 miles on the clock, it’s a very tempting package for those with the requisite readies.

1992 Ferrari F40

Estimate: £720-850k / $900k-1.1m (RM Sotheby’s)

From one hypercar to another, the F40 remains one of Ferrari’s most iconic machines – and for good reason: styled like an all-red racer and crammed with Formula 1 components to match, this Kevlar thoroughbred was the first production car to break the 200mph boundary. And, boy, was it immense to drive.

Delivered new to Switzerland, this well-kept 1991 example goes under the hammer with upgraded suspension and brakes, and fewer than 17,000 miles on the clock after a life spent largely in private collections.

1965 Ferrari 275GTB

Estimate: £1.7-1.8m / $2.2-2.4m (RM Sotheby’s)

If the F40 was the definition of late-’80s aggression, the 275GTB was the epitome of ’60s racing grace – a gorgeous Pininfarina-designed GT with a 3.3-litre V12 and plenty of sporting performance.

From its tubular frame to its independent suspension, the 275 was never meant to be a gentle runaround – however luxurious the Prancing Horse’s cabin might have been – and few of its contemporaries looked better at pace.

Restored in 2017 after a life spent between Europe and the USA, this 1965 example cuts a dash today in its factory-correct specification and goes to auction in highly original condition.

1955 Abarth 207/A

Estimate: £300-380k / $400-500k (Gooding & Company)

Fittingly labelled chassis 001, this historic machine was the first racer built by Carlo Abarth under his own name.

One of just 10 such open-top racers, it was designed by Giovanni Michelotti and sported alloy coachwork by Mario Felice Boano, and competed in period at the likes of Sebring, Watkins Glen and Road America

It went on to enjoy a life of careful ownership, which saw outings in several historic events, regular servicing and even a tasteful restoration. Definitely not one you see every day.

1961 OSCA 1600GT

Estimate: £270-380k / $350-500k (Gooding & Company)

This gorgeous and understated coupé is the work of OSCA – the marque founded by the brothers Maserati after they left the firm that bore their name.

An undisputed stunner of ’60s style and sports car performance, it’s believed that only 60 of the Zagato-bodied machines were ever built, of which a mere 31 remain – including this one, chassis 006.

Completely rebuilt and restored to the tune of $300,000, it’s subsequently been seen at some of the world’s most exclusive motoring events, including The Quail in 2017 and Tour Auto last year. 

1988 Lamborghini LM002

Estimate: £250-290k / $325-375k (RM Sotheby’s)

Lamborghini might be best known for its arresting supercars, but the Italian marque has rarely been afraid to try something new. So enters the LM002, an exotic off-roader produced in the late ’80s.

The boxy, 2.7-tonne behemoth was equipped with a thirsty V12 motor (think 8mpg), four-wheel drive and all the interior luxuries you’d expect from a Lamborghini – wood, leather and the rest.

This all-white example arrived in the USA in 1988 and, 30 years later, was present at the unveiling of the Urus – the firm’s latest 4x4 and spiritual descendant of the LM002.

1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S

Estimate: available upon request (RM Sotheby’s)

What’s so special about this 911 that RM Sotheby’s won't reveal the auction estimate? Well for starters, there’s the fact that it’s an example of the last air-cooled Porsche generation – 993 – in its ultimate Turbo S guise. 

That means 0-60 in just 4.6 secs, a top speed of 185mph and all sorts of improvements over the ‘standard’ Turbo – from better brakes to a refined engine management system. It is, in short, something of a legend.

This one is arguably the best you can get today: delivered new to the USA and finished in a striking shade of Speed Yellow, it has a staggeringly low mileage of just 88. Yes, 88.

1993 Porsche 964 Carrera RS 3.8

Estimate: £920k-1.1m / $1.2-1.5m (Gooding & Company)

A second 911 that’s just as yellow, this earlier example represents the pinnacle of naturally aspirated 964 performance.

Derived from the world-beating 964 RSR track car, the Carrera RS 3.8 blended classic 911 looks with hefty aero additions – and a 300bhp 3.7-litre flat-six motor to match.

Just 55 were produced, and this one’s being sold from the collection of WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum.

2013 Lotus T125

Estimate: £300-460k / $400-600k (RM Sotheby’s)

This almost-Formula 1 car with push-button start and a 3-litre racing V8 was designed by Lotus as a single-seater for well-heeled members of a private racing club.

Unfortunately, the scheme failed – but the car itself is still quite the thing.

Essentially a GP2 racer you can take to any track, start up yourself and run for 3000 miles between services, it ships clad in a colours inspired by the iconic John Player Special livery and has rarely been run in anger.

1955 Lancia B24S Spider America

Estimate: £1-1.5m / $1.3-1.6m (Gooding & Company)

An open-top stunner based on the Aurelia, Lancia’s B24S Spider America was timeless in its speed, style and grace – and this mid-’50s number is as lovely as they come.

Kept in storage for some 25 years, the highly original Spider – rumoured to have been ordered new by a US Air Force officer in Rome – goes to auction fresh from a comprehensive restoration completed just months ago.

1930 Cadillac Series 452 V16 Roadster

Estimate: £960k-1.2m / $1.3-1.5m (Bonhams)

A big Caddy with a big V16 engine and an even bigger price tag, this incredible 89-year-old motor was, in its heyday, the last word in luxury performance – from the 185bhp block at its heart to the truly elegant coachwork.

In fact, that gleaming Fleetwood Roadster shell is entirely original, worn by the Cadillac from new. Kept for much of its life in private collections – including a stint with renowned collector Dr Joseph Murphy – it’s probably one of the best preserved examples still in existence.

Fan of die-casts? This was the very car on which Danbury Mint based its model of the 1930 V16.

1926 Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet

Estimate: £1-1.2m / $1.3-1.6m (RM Sotheby’s)

Another coachbuilt beauty, this Hispano-Suiza was finished in 1926 and received exquisite Le Dandy cabriolet coachwork from Henri Chapron in 1931.

It was subsequently imported to Alec Ulmann – founder of the 12 Hours of Sebring – then later sold to a postman who drove it frequently over the following 30 years.

Meticulously restored to its original specification by its current owner, it goes to auction as a concours-winning example of pure ’20s elegance.

1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra

Estimate: £2.3-3.1m / $3-4m (RM Sotheby’s)

One of just 19 Shelby 427 Cobras built purely for competition, this was the only one ever to win a significant event in Europe – a six-hour race at Brands Hatch in 1966. What’s more, it still wears its original aluminium bodywork – an almost unheard of event with such cars. 

Subsequently owned by a host of esteemed collectors, comprehensively restored, seen on TV and featured at several Concours events, it’s arguably the ultimate racing Cobra – hence the £2m-plus price tag.

1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible

Estimate: £1.1-1.2m / $1.4-1.6 (RM Sotheby’s)

The last of the lots we'd love to buy is this simply lovely Aston Martin DB5 – one of a mere seven finished by the factory in convertible Vantage guise.

Pairing high performance specification – think 325bhp – with understated drop-top style, it's an all-weather GT that would surely make Bond reconsider his usual shade of Silver Birch.

Comprehensively restored early in the new millennium to the tune of $200,000 (including a switch from right- to left-hand drive), it's a certified stunner and one we'd happily take home. Anyone fancy a trip to Florida?