A SELECTION OF RARE PRE-WAR AND POST-WAR CARS ARE HEADING TO AMELIA ISLAND FOR AUCTION

Every year, The Amelia Island Car Show draws a crowd to the luxury destination in Florida. There, car collectors and enthusiasts gawk at and bid on some of the world's rarest automobiles. The cars range in vintage from the 1930s to present and include thunderous supercars as well as luxury coupes. This year is no different and the show will feature an exciting lineup of pre-war and post-war vehicles.

The week-long show is typically hosted by one main auction house (this year it's Broad Arrow Auctions), but others, such as RM Sotheby's, are also in attendance. There's a competition during the show where individual automobiles are presented before a set of judges who rate their condition.

"We're thrilled to be hosting our inaugural Amelia Auction this week at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, and we've already welcomed hundreds of members of the collector car community through our preview," Barney Ruprecht, senior car specialist at Broad Arrow Auctions, tells Town & Country. "We're presenting 109 cars of exceptional quality, with something for every type of collector."

There are a number of contemporary collectibles on offer, such as a 2019 Bugatti Veyron Chiron, which has a top speed around 300 miles per hour, as well as Nascar racer Jeff Gordon's 2006 NASCAR Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

But classic car collectors will surely be eyeing the selection built before 2000. In the pre-war category, a 1935 Auburn Eight Supercharged speedster balances speed and classic design and is estimated to fetch up to nearly $1 million. There's also the 1934 Packard Twelve Coupe Roadster, presented in a two-tone red and Ascot maroon. A unique V-12 engine and highly-desired body style contribute to its $5 million estimate. Broad Arrow Auctions is also offering an impressive pre-war 1937 Bugatti 57C Vanvooren Roadster for $1.4 million. And, for those who are keen on elegance, the 1936 Lancia Astura Series III is up for grabs, estimated to sell for nearly $2.4 million.

The post-war lineup is just as exciting. For collectors nostalgic for the '50s, a 1954 Buick Skylark in cherry red with chrome wire wheels is up for grabs. A 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster featuring a convertible top further is estimated to sell for nearly $1.6 million.

There's one model that is sure to incite a bidding war: the 1931 Duesenberg Model J 'Disappearing Top' convertible coupe by Murphy. With its pristine-condition red body and elongated hood there is no doubt that the car is a beauty. But the real attraction is the fact that it is also somewhat of a Hollywood star. Previously owned by Pacific Auto Rental, a Los Angeles company that often lent its cars to Hollywood productions. The automobile has appeared in several movies and television shows, including the 1962 psychological thriller, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? alongside Joan Crawford and Bette Davis; the 1970s television series Bring‘Em Back Alive; and the 1978 film Gable and Lombard. Estimated price tag? $4.5 million.

"The 1934 Packard Twelve and the Duesenberg are among the most breathtaking American classics on the market," Greg Porter, RM Sotheby’s car specialist, tells T&C. "Of all the Duesenberg models, the disappearing top design is undoubtedly one of the most elegant designs to ever grace a Duesenberg chassis.

The sale begins on Amelia Island, Florida on March 4, 2023. To buy tickets to the event, visit ameliaconcours.com

2023-03-03T21:53:13Z dg43tfdfdgfd