American makes don’t get a whole lot of love during the Amelia Island sales.
Gooding & Company have put such a focus on Porsche at their East Coast sale, that Teutonic fever has gripped the island for a number of years now. Although ‘80s and ‘90s BMWs are starting to match those in terms of quantity.
This year is much of the same.
Since those cars are not our focus here with ACC, and they’ll get plenty of publicity from the Next Gen crowd, let’s look at some of the highest estimated American models coming up for sale on Florida’s northernmost island.
At Gooding & Company, a 2017 Ford GT joins a 2006 Ford GT and a 1941 Cadillac Series 62 convertible sedan as the only American make lots at the sale. The latest GTs estimate is $800k–$1m. At the time of cataloging, it only had 15 miles on the odometer.
Bonhams will offer 28 American-made cars as part of their Amelia Island consignments. The expected high seller from that group is a rather famous car: the dune buggy from “The Thomas Crown Affair.” It’s an original Meyers Manx body done up by Con-Ferr for the movie. Yes, yes, it’s a good part Volkswagen (with Datsun seats), but the construction, ingenuity and good looks are all American. Bonhams estimates it’ll sell between $400k–$600k.
RM Sotheby’s has considerably more American-made lots to choose from (42), with the highest estimate coming from a 1930 Duesenberg Model J convertible coupe by Murphy (RM Sotheby’s estimate: $1.4m–$1.8m).
When it hammers, as there is no reserve on this item from the Keith Crane Collection, it’ll be one of the top sellers from the island, as only two cars currently listed by RM Sotheby’s have higher estimates.