30 head-turners at Amelia Island 2022

Serious eye candy

The focus of the classic car world is about to fall on Amelia Island, Florida, as the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance takes place between 3-6 March.

Not only is it a chance to enjoy some fine weather and check out a host of exquisite classic cars, with three big auctions taking place a lot of money could be changing hands, too.

First is Bonhams’ auction on Thursday 3 March 2022, followed on 4 March by Gooding & Company’s sale, then the RM Sotheby’s auction on Saturday 5 March.

Join us as, in no particular order, we get stuck into these three packed auction catalogues.

1. 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder (est: $4.5-5.5m)

We’re starting with this Porsche simply because, of all the cars being offered for sale in the March 2022 Amelia Island auctions, this is the one with the highest pre-sale estimate.

It’s crossing the block with Bonhams from half a century with the same owner who, by the look of it, lavished a great deal of attention on it.

The 550 Spyder was the marque’s first real racing car and as soon as this car was finished in April 1955 it was raced by owner Theo Helfrich – and teammate Peter Nocker – at Avus, Hockenheim, the Nürburgring and more, with further outings in 1956, including at the Kristianstad Grand Prix of Sweden, the Monza Grand Prix and at Montlhéry. And there are some fabulous photos being sold with this car of its racing history.

1955 Porsche 550 Spyder (cont.)

When new, it was finished in white with blue detailing. It was exported to the US in 1960 and it went through a few owners until its current custodian bought it in Florida in 1972.

At that point it was largely complete but missing an engine, so during its careful restoration a correct Type 547 four-cam unit was rebuilt and fitted.

Work started in the ’80s, but a comprehensive restoration got under way in 1998 and was completed in 2003, after which the car made its final public appearance at that year’s Rennsport Reunion. It has since been stored in a climate-controlled unit, until now.

2. 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Victoria (est: $3.75-4.5m)

Here’s the lot with the highest pre-sale estimate in the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction on 5 March.

What’s more, it is one of three Dietrich-bodied Individual Custom Convertible Victorias of this type known to survive, plus it was a Best of Show nominee at 2014’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Indeed, the auction house describes it as ‘one of the finest, most significant Packards’.

1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Victoria (cont.)

It received that nod at Pebble Beach following a restoration that began in 2006 by a model specialist who noted that the car had always been well cared for, but it was still completely disassembled and rebuilt to concours level.

And it has not been shown since.

3. 1967 Toyota-Shelby 2000GT (est: $2.75-3.5m)

Moving on to the Gooding & Company Amelia Island catalogue and this is the lot predicted to sell for the most.

Well, not only does it look fantastic, it is the first of three 2000GTs prepared by Shelby for SCCA C-Production racing.

Chassis MF10-10001 was finished on 27 September 1966, then finished in Solar Red, and was one of the original cars used by Toyota Motor Sales USA to promote the model, before it was assigned as a company car to a Toyota executive who wanted to race it.

1967 Toyota-Shelby 2000GT (cont.)

In the summer of ’67, this car was one of three allocated to Shelby’s team, who had won the contract to develop the 2000GT for competition use.

Former Formula One driver Ronnie Bucknum tested it at Riverside International Raceway in California and its two sister cars were chosen for racing duties, MF10-10001 assigned as the back-up car and to assist with further developmental work.

After its competitive life it was shown and demonstrated, then sat for more than a decade until its current keeper, a model specialist, bought it in 1980. A 10-year restoration followed, the car returned to its ’68 spec and livery, and it has since been honoured at historic race meetings and concours events.

4. 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Open Two-Seater (est: $175-225,000)

The eye-catching paintwork alone earned this car a place on our list. That its Hooper bodywork is unique and it’s thought to have had just three owners from new make it even more special.

It was this car’s second owner, Douglas Rogers, who sketched this bodywork and asked London-based Hooper to make his vision a reality, and the correspondence between coachbuilder and customer will be sold with the car.

This was the last Phantom II the company bodied.

1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Open Two-Seater (cont.)

Rogers took great care over the upkeep of his Rolls-Royce until he sold it in 1992, having bought it in the ’50s.

He sold it to a friend and fellow marque enthusiast, and the car was restored in a joint effort by the new owner and a Rolls-Royce specialist in Oregon, in the US, and it’s at this point it gained this blue and cream paintjob.

It still wears its original tan Connolly leather upholstery, though.

5. 1965 Ferrari 275GTS (est: $1.6-2m)

We’re sure you know the drill by now: seemingly every high-end auction has a top-dollar classic Ferrari in it. And this Pininfarina-bodied 275GTS certainly ticks that box.

It is the sixth 275GTS and although we rather like its red hue, it only gained that in the early ’80s, having left the factory painted Bianco (white).

1965 Ferrari 275GTS (cont.)

It was shipped new to Germany, then to the US and at some point repainted gold, before returning to Europe in 1981 with a move to Switzerland, at which point it received its red coat of paint.

In 2000, chassis number 06809 joined the collection of its current custodian and has since been well preserved.

RM Sotheby’s notes it could be a good candidate for a full restoration.

6. 1991 Ferrari F40 (est: $2.4-2.8m)

Here’s another FerrarI and a shape that will likely need no introduction.

Consigned to Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island auction, this F40 is one of 213 US-spec examples, it is in well-kept, original condition, and it has covered fewer than 3800 miles in its 31 years.

It was delivered new to North Carolina in September 1991 and remained with its first owner until, in August 2013, it was sold to New Hampshire with 3631 miles on the clock.

1991 Ferrari F40 (cont.)

This car’s third and, to date final, owner bought it in March 2018, and the fact that when it was catalogued for this sale the odometer read 3779 miles means neither of its last two owners drove it much.

Which seems a shame. We’re not sure we could resist that 3.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8.

This example will be sold with items including covers, a toolkit and its Ferrari Classiche certification.

7. 1968 Lamborghini 400GT 2+2 (est: $250-300,000)

By the standards of the Amelia Island sales, this Lamborghini is a more affordable lot. What’s more, it is being offered without reserve.

It’s a late-production example in its original colour scheme and was acquired by its current owner in December 2007, at which point it joined a static collection.

1968 Lamborghini 400GT 2+2 (cont.)

This, of course, means that this classic could do with some mechanical recommissioning before being enjoyed on the road.

Just 247 400GT 2+2s were built, so this would also represent the preservation of a relatively rare model – and it would be great to hear its 4.0-litre V12 sing again.

8. 1954 Osca MT4 2-AD 1500 Spider (est: $1.1-1.4m)

Perhaps surprisingly, Gooding has two cars from the Osca marque in its Amelia Island sale.

It’s the brand established by the Maserati brothers when they left the company that uses their name – Osca stands for Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili.

This is the earliest of the two and its ‘MT4’ name stands for Maserati Tipo 4 Cilindri. It first had a single-overhead cam 1100cc engine and the model won on its debut at 1948’s Grand Prix of Naples.

1954 Osca MT4 2-AD 1500 Spider (cont.)

Development continued, so by 1954 when this car came along, it had a 1500cc engine. Its first owner was Harry Allen Chapman of Tucson, Arizona, who race it between November 1954 and May ’55, where notable results included an overall win and a class victory.

It was also featured in the August 1955 issue of Road & Track where it received a glowing review.

Several owners later it was in a sorry state and a restoration was started, but after four decades with one family its owner died, the work never completed. As Gooding & Company says, it is ‘now an ideal candidate for restoration’.

9. 1992 Bugatti EB110 GT Prototype (est: $2-2.5m)

Wow. We just had to include this from the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2022 catalogue.

This sub-700-mile example of this legendary Bugatti was used for promotional purposes, including at the Bologna motor show in 1992, at which point it was finished in metallic dark green with a grey leather interior.

It gained its current blue hue in 1994, and later received tweaks to its engine, fuel injectors, exhaust system and fuel tanks ahead of testing to satisfy emissions regulations in Switzerland and the US.

1992 Bugatti EB110 GT Prototype (cont.)

It was retained by the marque until it folded in the late ’90s and a few lucky private individuals have had the privilege of owning it since then.

This unique classic car has been in the USA since 2015 with a collector in Chicago who has serviced it which, fingers crossed, means it is ready to be enjoyed.

10. 1933 Bentley 3½ Litre Sports Tourer (est: $400-600,000)

This car will cross the block with Bonhams on 3 March and the auction house describes it as ‘one of the most important Bentleys in the history of the marque’.

That is because this is the first production Derby Bentley.

It has never been restored, so retains a host of special original features, plus it has not been displayed since 1996.

1933 Bentley 3½ Litre Sports Tourer (cont.)

Chassis number B1AE was used by Bentley for promotional work, finished in silver to underline the fact its Vanden Plas coachwork was aluminium, and driven by, among other luminaries, Woolf Barnato and Earl Howe.

It also featured in magazines including Motor Sport and the Brooklands periodical Air and Travel.

Bentley owned the car for about two years, the next keeper retaining the car for 17 years and repainting it black. It then passed through a few more owners and for the past six decades has been with the same family.

11. 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 RSR IROC (est: $1.1-1.3m)

The name on the side of this racing Porsche is one clue to its desirability.

That’s right, it’s been campaigned by AJ Foyt, the only person who’s ever had victories in the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans on their CV, plus he won the Indy 500 four times.

Not in this car, of course. This is one of 15 RSRs built for Roger Penske’s IROC series. In October ’73 at Riverside International Raceway, IndyCar driver Gordon Johncock took it to 10th, Formula One driver Peter Revson claimed 4th, then Johncock came 11th, Foyt racing it in February ’74 to 6th.

1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 RSR IROC (cont.)

It was sold on and raced by privateers, including at big-ticket events such as the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring.

This Porsche has been with its current custodian since 2002, since when it has been lovingly restored and it now wears the evocative livery it did when Foyt raced it at Daytona back in 1974.

12. 1953 Cunningham C-3 Cabriolet (est: $900,000-1.2m)

Staying Stateside, this is one seriously rare classic car.

It is one of only five Cunningham C-3 Cabriolets, the Vignale-bodied, Chrysler V8-powered brainchild of Briggs Cunningham.

Finished in red in 1953, it was displayed in New York the following year, before racer and collector of rare books Irving Robbins bought it in August ’54, trading in his race-damaged Cunningham C-2. It was shown at the then-new Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1956 and ’57, and in 1957 was in both Road & Track and the Encyclopedia of American Cars.

1953 Cunningham C-3 Cabriolet (cont.)

In its 69 years, this car has had many owners, one of which was Briggs Cunningham’s daughter, Lucie, who bought it to enjoy with her mother – during this time it was shown at the 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance.

It’s now coming to sale from a collection where it seems it has been cherished. The two-tone red paint is a perfect match for the tan roof and upholstery and, looking at the odometer, with just under 69,000 miles on the clock, it appears ready for new adventures.

13. 1954 Bentley R-type Continental Fastback (est: $2-2.5m)

Our second Bentley is this gorgeous R-type with its sensational sweeping HJ Mulliner lines.

One of 207 production R-type Continentals, it has a connection to the last car we looked at because its first owner was Bill Spear, a wealthy amateur racing driver who won the SCCA National Championship in 1953, was the runner-up in ’52 and ’54, and he also drove at Le Mans with Briggs Cunningham.

1954 Bentley R-type Continental Fastback (cont.)

This car, chassis BC38LC, was Spear’s second R-type and it was damaged in the paddock at an SCCA race in Hagerstown, Maryland, by a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing. When he had the body repaired, he upgraded the engine to a 4.9-litre unit.

After a few more owners in the US, this car was exported to Switzerland in 1998 where it was bought by activist and statesman His Highness Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, whereupon a restoration was commissioned, this completed in April 1999; he kept the car until his passing in 2003.

Today, a few owners and another restoration later, Gooding & Company says it is ‘gleaming’ with ‘near flawless brightwork’ and a ‘beautifully trimmed interior space’.

14. 1954 Jaguar XK120SE (est: £900,000-1.3m)

Another British-built car to catch our eye in the Amelia Island 2022 sales catalogues is this – perhaps unsurprisingly, given it is the only XK120 bodied by Pinin Farina, and it was displayed at the Geneva and Turin motor shows.

Its first owner was the New York-based importer Max Hoffman, although the records stating who he sold the car to no longer exist.

1954 Jaguar XK120SE (cont.)

When new it was finished in Pastel Blue, but by 1958 it was in Canada, painted red, then by 1972 it was in a very sorry state.

It was repainted and retrimmed, but had to wait until 2015 for a comprehensive restoration, carried out by Classic Motor Cars Ltd in Shropshire, in the UK.

Since then it has been a Pebble Beach concours award winner and claimed the International Historic Restoration of the Year Award in 2017 – all of which is surely good news for its next owner.

15. 1993 Jaguar XJ220 (est: $500-600,000)

For a younger slice of Jaguar history – and one that’s being sold without reserve – check out this 1993 XJ220.

Just last year this car won its class at the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance and scored a 9.995 score at the Jaguar Club of Florida Concours d’Elegance. Plus, it goes to auction wearing a fresh set of Bridgestone tyres.

1993 Jaguar XJ220 (cont.)

This car was sold new to Germany in January 1994 and immediately put into storage for eight years.

Its current keeper has had this car two decades, but given there are 1130km (a little over 700 miles) on the odometer, neither keeper has driven it much.

It has been cared for, though, services at Don Law Jaguar in 2002 and 2016 listed in its history file.

16. 1951 Ferrari 195 Inter Coupé (est: $900,000-1.2m)

We’ve had a few Ferraris in this Amelia Island 2022 highlights list, but none quite like this.

It is the 11th of 36 Ghia-bodied Ferraris ever built and was sold new to a Ferrari works racer, Luigi Villoresi – he competed in F1 when the series was born, was a multiple Grand Prix winner, and he also won the Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio, the latter twice.

And, according to Gooding & Company, it is ‘reportedly one of 25 195 Inter Coupés built’.

1951 Ferrari 195 Inter Coupé (cont.)

This classic, chassis 0129S, remained in Italy until, in 1955, it moved to Switzerland, before heading Stateside in 1961. By 1988 it was in the Spanish city Madrid, then in ’91 it was restored in the UK where it stayed until a return to America in October 1998.

It’s been in the US ever since and collected a host of concours awards along the way, plus it appeared in the June 2001 edition of European Car magazine.

In apparently immaculate condition, it’s now being offered for sale for the first time in almost 20 years.

17. 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (est: $1.9-2.3m)

Let’s now look at the car we opened this gallery with and get the answers to what we guess are the first questions ticked off: yes, it really is very yellow and, yes, that is its original colour.

You might be less shocked to learn that this colour is called Uranium Yellow and it’s a one-off shade for this car, whose first owner was HRH Princess Ashraf Pahlavi, twin sister to the Shah of Iran.

1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (cont.)

Yellow with a black hardtop and black-leather cabin is how this car was ordered and how it remains today. A period Becker Biencia radio and colour-matched fitted luggage are included, too,

The proprietor of Mercedes-Benz of Tehran bought this car from the royal family and held onto it for half a century – its current keeper bought it in 2012 and the car has just over 20,000km (c12,400 miles) on the clock.

18. 1955 Dodge Firebomb (est: $900,000-1.1m)

From a classic car you’re probably very familiar with to one you might not be.

The Dodge Firebomb got its name from the fact it was derived from the Firearrow series. 

This is the fully functional pre-production prototype which was displayed at Geneva in ’55 and then later that year in Michigan.

It is certainly a memorable name to help it make an impact on the international stage.

1955 Dodge Firebomb (cont.)

The car would go on to be sold as the Dual-Ghia. With a Hemi V8 and a body by, you’ve guessed it, Italian coachbuilders Ghia, you won’t be surprised to hear these were pricey cars – it is thought that just 117 were produced, of which fewer than 40 survive today.

That the only Firebomb still exists – and that it is so spectacular – makes this very special.

It was restored back in 1992 and has been well maintained since, but the auction house warns it will need some TLC before being driven on the road.

19. 1959 BMW 507 (est: $2-2.4m)

The Count Albrecht von Goertz-designed 507 has long been one of the most prized classic BMWs – and it is easy to see why.

It was an expensive car to develop, build and buy, to the extent that it’s often also known as the car which nearly crippled BMW, but the 254 examples produced are seriously desirable.

1959 BMW 507 (cont.)

This is a matching-numbers example that’s been parked in its first owner’s garage for decades.

It is a late Series II car finished in black with red-leather upholstery and the optional hardtop – only 15 BMW 507s left the factory painted black.

That first owner was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who took delivery of his BMW in Germany when visiting family, then had his car shipped to the US where he enjoyed it until the ’70s. It’s only relatively recently that it’s been discovered.

20. 1954 Austin-Healey 100S Prototype recreation (est: $225-275,000)

We’re sure we’re not the only ones whose heads will be turned by this.

It is a recreation but, we think, a rather lovely one. The original cars were four pre-production models prepared for competition, and distance and speed record attempts, one of which had the numberplate NOJ 391, which this car pays tribute to.

The original won its class at the 1954 Sebring 12 Hour race, was campaigned twice in the Mille Miglia, and was raced at Goodwood and Le Mans. 

1954 Austin-Healey 100S Prototype recreation (cont.)

This car was built with advice from Geoff Healey himself from a 1954 100 chassis, although not much remained once work was completed.

It has a 100S engine fitted with a thermostat, a late-model oil cooler and a remote-mounted spin-on oil filter, a 1961 BJ7 gearbox with a 28.6% overdrive unit, a late-model rear end and a Quaife limited-slip differential, as well as Girling disc brakes and 15-inch Minilite magnesium wheels – changes Geoff Healey recommended as improvements that would have happened had evolution of the vehicle continued.

This car won its first race, the 1993 Chicago Grand Prix at Road America, and has been with its current custodian nearly two decades. It’s said to be great for competition and also just enjoying on the road.

21. 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet (est: $650-800,000)

We’ve included this lot from the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island catalogue simply because we can’t recall seeing one in this shade.

Here we have chassis number 57156 which was assembled in June 1934 for a Belgian customer with the Galibier four-door saloon body.

That owner had it rebuilt in 1936 and he kept it until 1938, and it’s at this point that the two-person cabriolet body was produced and at the same time the car was upgraded with items including hydraulic brakes.

1937 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet (cont.)

This car remained in Belgium until the 1950s when it was shipped to the USA and its owner from 1958 began a restoration that he never completed – when he died in 2003, the car was still in a dismantled state.

His widow sold the Bugatti, and it’s since been restored and become a concours award winner.

22. 1964 Osca 1600GT Coupé (est: $350-425,000)

We promised you two Oscas, so here’s the second, one of 21 produced with this Fissore coupé body.

It has spent much of its life in its Italian homeland, including time in a collection in Modena. In September 2017 it was owned by a gentleman in Germany and its current keeper is a collector in California, who enjoys driving it on local rallies and tours.

1964 Osca 1600GT Coupé (cont.)

Its 1568cc four-cylinder engine has recently been rebuilt, as have the four-speed manual gearbox and the all-round independent suspension, with a double-wishbone arrangement at the front and coil springs with hydraulic dampers to the rear.

Gooding & Company describes it as being in ‘good overall condition’, while it also has its original Nardi steering wheel.

And if you wanted to safeguard those Campagnolo Amadori magnesium wheels, a prospective bidder might be pleased to learn that the car will be sold with a set of steel wheels wrapped in modern tyres.

23. 1960 Porsche 356 Carrera Zagato Speedster Sanction Lost (est: $450-550,000)

This is our second recreation, but we hope you’ll forgive us – we love its unusual shape and wanted to tell its story.

What you see here is a faithful recreation of the Porsche-Zagato Speedster raced by Claude Storez in 1958 and 1959, and it’s the only such reimagining.

The basis for this car is a 1960 Porsche 356B and the work was done by Zagato, no less.

1960 Porsche 356 Carrera Zagato Speedster Sanction Lost (cont.)

Claude Storez was a Porsche racing driver who asked Zagato to craft a windcheating body for his 1957 Porsche 356 Carrera Speedster. This was ready in late ’58, painted white with a single-piece curved windscreen and red fins on the rear wings, and then it was sent to be mechanically fettled in Stuttgart, before Storez took delivery.

Storez campaigned this car, but that would ultimately result in tragedy when he crashed it on a French rally in February 1959 – Storez didn’t survive and what remained of his car disappeared.

This recreation was commissioned by American car collector Herb Wetanson and if you like a car with a tale to tell, this could be it.

24. 1974 Lamborghini Espada (est: $50-80,000)

We return to more familiar territory with this brilliantly brown Series III Lamborghini Espada, being sold with no reserve – the listing describes the colour as ‘burgundy’, so we’ll let you decide.

We love those Bertone lines and its big, V12 heart, and this example was sold new to California.

1974 Lamborghini Espada (cont.)

Bonhams is open about the fact that this Espada requires recommissioning.

Since 2007 it has seldom been driven – its apparently original Senape leather interior could do with some TLC, too.

But what a prospect.

25. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing (est: $1.5-1.65m)

We think the period-correct Fire Engine Red over tan leather of this the second 300SL in our list is a super combination.

That said, it actually departed the Untertürkheim factory in the more unusual combination of the special-order low-gloss light-blue metallic with a red-leather interior.

It was bought new through Mercedes-Benz of Hollywood by Knox Farrand, an attorney and former president of the Automobile Club of Southern California, who kept it for almost 20 years in which time he covered just 12,000 miles in it.

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing (cont.)

In 1974, car collector and founding chairman of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Bruce Meyer, entered into a lengthy negotiation to buy this car from first owner Farrand, agreeing what might then have been a world-record $15,000 figure, and which included the unused set of factory luggage, which remains with the car.

It was Meyer who commissioned the change in colour after which it was in show-ready condition, then in 2001 he sold it to his friend and museum co-founder Robert E Petersen.

Upon Petersen’s passing in 2007 it entered his museum until it was sold on in 2013. And today it still has fewer than 19,000 miles on its odometer.

26. 1965 Porsche 904/6 (est: $2.5-3.25m)

Consigned to Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island 2022 sale is this, a one-of-six Porsche 904/6, these cars being lightweight versions of the 904, but with six-cylinder power and a raft of developments, including a central fuel filler and pull-up rather than sliding Plexiglas windows.

According to the auction house, ‘at least two late-production 904/6s featured a new shark-nose front end, including this example’.

1965 Porsche 904/6 (cont.)

This car was built for works competition in 1965, making its debut at that April’s Le Mans test weekend.

That year it also contested the Mont Ventoux Hill Climb in June and the Solitude Grand Prix, before being retired.

It was sold into private hands and used competitively until the 1980s when it was the subject of a restoration, and in the past 35 years it’s been raced across the UK and Europe, including at the Le Mans Classic and Goodwood Revival.

27. 1964 Facel Vega Facel II (est: $150-200,000)

Any Facel Vega is a pretty rare car, so when we saw this we had to share it.

It’s the 137th Facel II, it was originally Silver Grey with red-leather upholstery and, as well as its Chrysler V8, from new it had a three-speed automatic gearbox, powered steering and windows, Dunlop disc brakes, a limited-slip differential, a single four-barrel Carter AFB carburettor, clear glass and an HMV radio with automatic antenna.

1964 Facel Vega Facel II (cont.)

It was sold new to California where its second owner repainted it red and retrimmed the cabin black, then traded it for a new Jaguar, at which point, in the early ’70s, it was bought by a gentleman called Verrack Hawkins who owned it for three decades.

Fast-forward through a few more owners in the early years of this century and it’s been with its current keeper since 2010, and will need to be recommissioned before hitting the road.

28. 1947 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet (est: $350-400,000)

Isn’t this a stunner?

It is one of 23 Delahayes sent to coachbuilder Chapron for cabriolet bodywork between March 1946 and March ’47 – Figoni, Pourtout and Saoutchik were among the other carrozzerie to body these cars.

1947 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet (cont.)

Although the car as a whole hasn't been restored for a while, its engine has been rebuilt recently, that work finishing just this year.

Its first owner was no less than Henri Chapron’s tailor, Paul Portes. It’s believed this car was exported to the US by the ’60s and it has been with its current custodian since 2019.

29. 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio Convertible (est: $1.3-1.7m)

Incredibly, the entire history is known of this 1938 Bugatti, which wears dashing coachwork by Gangloff.

Its first keeper was a Frenchman called Albert Brenac, and the purchase of this replaced a non-supercharged version, and it’s understood he loved the car. He kept it until 1944, but the second owner only had it until 1946 and the next just until 1947, although after that it had the same home until 1956.

Then it was bought by an American Bugatti enthusiast, Miles Coverdale, who initially housed it in France and then shipped it to the US – he kept the car until he passed away in 2002 and used it until late in his life, at which point the car was a putty grey colour.

1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio Convertible (cont.)

The car has had three owners since then. Desmond Fitzgerald bought it in 2002 and restored it to its blue finish before selling it in 2004, its current keeper adding it to their collection in 2015.

In March 2022, a lucky winning bidder will start their chapter with this storied Bugatti.

30. 1967 Ferrari 330GTS (est: $2-2.4m)

Our final car in this run through the Amelia Island auctions 2022 is a one-of-99 Ferrari 330GTS that was part of the display to commemorate the marque’s 70th anniversary at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

The combination of Pininfaria lines and a 4.0-litre V12 is a very attractive one, before you consider that this is a Ferrari Classiche-certified car in its original colours of Amaranto over Pelle Beige, and that it was fastidiously restored in the past 10 years.

1967 Ferrari 330GTS (cont.)

It is a US-market example, delivered new to Greenwich, Connecticut, later moving to Nebraska, North Carolina, California and Michigan.

The auction house says its current keeper maintains it so it’s mechanically and aesthetically ready to be enjoyed – and looking at the photos and its pre-sale estimate, we don’t doubt it.

To see more about this and the other cars we’ve touched on, check out the auction houses’ websites: RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams and Gooding & Company.