Auctions America rounded out the 2015 auction year with its inaugural “boutique” sale at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where collector car sales exceeded $5.4 million, including auction fees.
Held Saturday afternoon during the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d’Elegance, the sale saw 63 cars sold of the 95 presented for a 67 percent sell-through rate.
The auction results were led by sports car and European GT sales, topped by a lovely 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC, a 12-cylinder coupe in red that sold for $638,000 (all reported sales results include 10 percent auction fee).
The 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC top seller crosses the auction stageAn all-American 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, which won best of show honors at the 2009 Hilton Head Concours, was the auction’s second-place car, scoring a sale of $379,500 after a spirited bidding war between a bidder in the room and one on the phone.
Beautiful Italians dominated the next three slots, with a 1984 Ferrari 512 BBi, number three at $360,250; a 1989 Lamborghini Countach, fourth at $343,750; and an attractive 1965 Maserati 3500 GTI Sebring Series II, fifth place at 237,600.
The strength of the Porsche Turbo market was again nailed by the sale of a 1976 Porsche 930 Turbo, which went for $214,500 for a sixth-place finish.
“We enjoyed a fantastic few days in South Carolina and are pleased with the results generated by our inaugural Hilton Head Island sale,” Megan Boyd, car specialist for Auctions America, said in a news release. “Strong interest in the auction vehicles during the preview translated into some great prices and lively bidding at Saturday’s sale.
“We were particularly thrilled by the widespread interest and participation in the auction; 45 percent of bidders represented new clients to Auctions America. It was a great hobby weekend and provided a fantastic close to our 2015 season.”
The Top 10 sales for Auctions America at Hilton Head Island were:
1. 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC, $638,000
2. 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, $379,500
3. 1984 Ferrari 512 BBi, $360,250
4. 1989 Lamborghini Countach, $343,750
5. 1965 Maserati 3500 GTI Sebring Series II, $237,600
6. 1976 Porsche 930 Turbo, $214,500
7. 2002 Porsche 911 GT2 Coupe, $171,600
8. 1955 Jaguar XK 140MC, $143,000
9. 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo, $128,700
10. 1958 Cadillac Eldorado, $121,000
(Results include 10 percent buyer fees)
Not all the results were so pricey, with a number of hobbyist-level cars selling over the block. These included a 1964 Austin Mini at $17,600, a 1973 Corvette at $11,550, a 1992 Nissan 300ZX at $12,100, a 1957 Ford Fairlane Skyliner retractable at $23,100 and a 1928 Buick coupe, sold for $19,250.
Auctions America starts its 2016 season with its 14th annual auction in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from April 1-3.
