RM Amelia Island 2014 at a glance
| Total sales | $35.9 million |
| Catalog | 91 automobiles |
| Sell-through | 97 percent |
| High sale | $6.6 million 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Torpedo Roadster |
| Next 9 price range | $840,000 to $2.42 million |
| Next auction | May 10 at Monaco |
RM Auctions has compiled the official results for its 16th annual Amelia Island sale, reporting transactions of $35,947,500, a record for the event, representing a 34-percent increase in sales, as compared to the same event in 2013.
A major reason for that increase was the availability of 16 cars from the collection of the late Malcolm Pray. Three of those vehicles were among the four highest-dollar sales of the auction: $6.6 million for a 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Torpedo roadster, $2.42 million for a 1958 BMW 507 Series II roadster, and $1.76 million for a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Series II cabriolet. All auction results include buyer fees.
The only non-Pray vehicles among the top five selling at the auction were a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster originally owned by actress Natalie Wood ($1,842,500) and a 1934 Duesenberg Model SJ convertible sedan which also had Hollywood history, being part of the cast for the final movie featuring Mickey Rooney as a teenager Andy Hardy ($1,567,500).
“The Pray family is thrilled with RM’s sale of Malcolm’s collection,” Philip Richter, trustee for the Pray Collection, said in a post-auction news release.
[pullquote]
The Pray Collection certainly achieved the value it deserves.”
— Gord Duff
[/pullquote]“The tireless efforts of the entire team enabled a result that greatly exceeded all expectations.”
“The Pray Collection certainly achieved the value it deserves, and we’re truly honored to have offered such an incredible group of cars for a family who have been friends of RM for decades,” said RM car specialist Gord Duff.
Malcolm Pray, a long-time supporter of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, was among the early Volkswagen and Porsche dealers in the United States and at one time had the largest Audi and Saab dealerships in the country. He also was active in charities to support such causes as Scouting and the Pray Achievement Center, where more than 8,000 young men and women received mentoring and motivational help.
In addition to his Delahaye, 507 and 250 GT, other cars sold at RM’s Amelia Island auction from the Pray Collection were:
- 1937 Bugatti Type 57C (Figoni et Falaschi-style) roadster ($902,000)
- 1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder ($605,000)
- 1935 Amilicar Type G36 Pegase (Figoni et Falaschi-style) boattail roadster ($467,500)
- 1938 SS 100 Jaguar 3 1/2-litre roadster ($451,000)
- 1941 Packard Super Eight 180 convertible Victoria by Darrin ($266,000)
- 1934 Auburn Twelve salon speedster ($286,000)
- 1937 Cord 812 supercharged cabriolet ($220,000)
- 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V limousine by Park Ward ($99,000)
- 1947 Cadillac Series 62 convertible ($96,250)
- 1941 Ford Super DeLuxe woodie station wagon ($82,500)
- 1983 Rolls-Royce Corniche drophead coupe by Mulliner Park Ward ($71,500)
- 1948 Lincoln Continental cabriolet ($66,000)
- 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I saloon ($60,500)
All of the Pray Collection cars sold. In fact, the entire auction had a 97 percent sell-through rate.
“We could not be happier with the results of our 2014 Amelia Island sale,” Duff added. “Despite the weather, our fantastic selection of cars and stylish presentation were showered with rave review from our international clientele.”
Bidders represented 18 nations. RM reported that 20 percent of those bidding were new customers.
The sale of the Delahaye set a record for any classic car auction sale at Amelia Island
Sales figures were strong throughout the catalog. For example, the Charlie Kemp 1965 Shelby GT350 R went for $984,500; a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona berlinetta brought $781,000; a 1939 Aston Martin 15/98 sport-chassis open sports car went for $616,000; a 1974 Iso Grifo 7-liter sold for $440,000; a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 brought $335,500, a 1955 Volkswagen Beetle went for $82,500; and a 1971 Mini Moke garnered $49,500.
RM’s next auction is May 10 in Monaco as part of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique weekend.
RM’s Auctions America holds a sale March 14-15 at Fort Lauderdale. RM’s next auction is North America is July 26 in conjunction with the Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s in Plymouth, Mich.
