The Amelia and ModaMiami 2025 auctions look set to offer a key barometer on what’s happening in the American classic car market. Held between February 27 and March 8, the packed sales will see Broad Arrow, Gooding & Co and RM Sotheby’s do battle in Florida; can the good-news stories from the year’s earlier Scottsdale auctions continue?
The overall feeling, from anecdotal chats with dealers and auctioneers, is one of continued but cautious positivity. This year there are so many big-ticket modern classics-era cars up for grabs, with pre-merger AMGs, unicorn-level Rufs (such as Gooding’s Yellowbird, pictured above) and a host of very rare Porsches leading the charge, as well as the bulk of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum collection being sold, but there are also plenty of fascinating pre-1980s classics to check out.
We’ve separated the modern classics-era cars out into a separate news piece, but the take-home is that there are some pretty punchy pre-sale estimates being thrown about. It’s going to be a critical sales period for the modern classics-era cars – can the reality live up to the hype? You can read more about them here. As such for this preview, we’re going to focus on pre-1980s cars. What’s taking your fancy?
Broad Arrow
Broad Arrow’s sale takes place between March 7 and 8, with 168 lots up for grabs. The star attraction is the above 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione.
Chassis 1451 GT is the second of eight aluminium-bodied examples of the model, and was originally ordered by SCCA racer Bob Grossman with a host of special items to take on the Corvettes in SCCA Class B competition: a Type 508 D ribbed gearbox with a 3:55:1 final-drive ratio, and outside-plug, Type 128 F engine with Testa Rossa high-lift camshafts and triple Weber 40 DCL6 carburettors, a 9.6:1 compression ratio resulting in 262.5bhp, an external oil cooler, stiffer suspension and a long-range, 35-gallon fuel tank with an external fuel-filler cap. Grossman acquired the car just in time for the 1959 Le Mans 24 Hours, and alongside Fernand Tavano, achieved fifth overall and third in class.
Grossman would continue to compete with the car through the 1959 and 1960 SCCA seasons, notching up several victories along the way. He sold the Ferrari, and the next time it was seen was in the early 1970s. Then owned by a Maryland banker, it was found by collector Gerald Sutterfield. It then passed through a few more owners before it was acquired by Californian Jon Masterson, who restored the car in Rosso Corsa. It would go on to win several concours awards and head to the Monterey Historics in the 1990s.
It was then sold to Martin Gruss in 2007, after which it continued its concours career, and it earned Ferrari Classiche certification in 2008. It was later restored to Le Mans specification, and would again play a key role in major concours events, being put on display at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2024. It’s estimated at between $10m and $14m.
Another Le Mans-historied car up for grabs is the 1954 Jaguar D-type XKD 403/OKV 2 (estimated at $6.5m-$8.5m), which was driven by Stirling Moss and Peter Walker at the 1954 Le Mans 24 Hours, before later being driven by Tony Rolt, Peter Whitehead, Mike Hawthorn, Ivor Bueb, Ninian Sanderson and Norman Dewis.
This 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV, chassis 4854, is one of seven factory finished in Arancio Miura over Gobi beige. Originally sold to Hubert Hahne, a former Formula 1 driver and Lamborghini agent for Germany, it’s one of the first 25 SVs built, and it features oddities such as no ears on the wheel spinners, and more rounded bodywork slats. The car would remain in Germany for decades, including a stint in the Rosso Bianco collection of Peter Kaus. It was then acquired by Simon Kidston, who had the car restored by a crack team made up of Carrozzeria Cremonini, Top Motors, Gatti and Bussolari. It then had another European owner before coming to the US. It’s estimated at between $4.5m and $5m.
This 1958 BMW 507 Series II Roadster is the 110th of just 253 built, and one of 21 finished in Silbergrau (silver metallic). It was displayed at the BMW Munich Pavilion, and was sold to Caracas, Venezuela under the care of Mercedes-Benz importer Gustavo Zingg. It returned to Germany in 1960, and would remain there for 50 years, under the care of Ludwig and Nicholas Hahn, and Eirch Benz, the latter of whom restored it in the 2000s. It then passed to Jan Onne of Hamburg in 2014, who sold it to America in 2017 after a full 900- out of 1000-point scoring by BMW Classic. It’s estimated at between $2.1m and $2.3m.
Other notable highlights from Broad Arrow’s sale include a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet Series II (est. $1.6m-$1.8m), a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing with Guatemalan provenance (est. $1.375m-$1.475m) and a 1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Boat-tail Speedster (est. $850k-$950k).
Gooding & Co
Gooding & Co’s collection is up for grabs between March 6 and 7, and features 146 lots. The leading car is the above 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta, hailing from the Fred Leydorf Collection. Custom-built for racer Alfred Ducato, the vice-president of United California Bank, it is one of four non-Works examples produced. The car was originally ordered in Metallic Azzurro, but Ducato repainted it and showed it at Pebble Beach. It would later acquire its current hue with is next owner, California Norman N Thompson. Leydorf bought the car in 1969, and restored it over several year, with advice sought from GM Styling vice-president Chuck Jordan. It would then feature at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, 50 years after its first appearance. It retains its matching-numbers engine, gearbox and differential, and is estimated at between $8m and $10m.
Other Ferrari highlights include the 1963 New York International Auto Show 400 Superamerica Series II Coupé Aerodinamico (est. $2.5m-$3m), the 1956 Brussels Motor Show 250 Europa GT (est. $1.75m-$2.25m) and an unrestored 1967 330 GTS (est. $1.75m-$2.25m).
Offered from the Ken Roath Collection, this 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ is one of 112 built and originally ordered by Luigi Citeroni, who used it to compete in largely Italian hillclimbs. It was restored by its next owner, Fabrizio Arengi, in 1984, and then used in Historic rallies. Boy Houtman of the Netherlands acquired the Alfa in 1993, and kept until 2011. The new owner, Pierre Mellinger, immediately drove the car in the Tour Auto before sending it GPS Classics in Parma and Carrozzeria Quality Cars of Vigonza for a full restoration. Jack Braam Ruben acquired the TZ, and it joined the Ken Roath Collection in 2022. It’s estimated at between $1.3m and $1.6m.
Other European highlights include the ex-Giulio Vignale 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 S (est. $2.5m-$3m), a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing ($1.3m-$1.5m), the 1953 Paris Salon de l’Automobile Siata 208 CS bodied by Vignale ($1.5m-$2m), and a 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS coming from 52 years of single ownership (est. $1.5m-$1.8m).
This 1935 Avions Voisin C25 Aérodyne is one of three of the original eight built still extant. Known history begins in 1963 when it joined the Browne de Kilmaine Collection. It remained there until his passing, having been displayed at the Grand Palais in 1984, Châtellerault Museum (2002–2008) and the Le Mans Museum (2008). Its next owner was UK collector Jon Hunt, who charged Blakeney Motorsport with restoring the car over a four-year period. It was displayed at the Concours of Elegance at Windsor Castle, before finding a new owner in 2013 – the current vendor. Blakeney Motorsport then returned the car to its original colour scheme, while Hermès Paris retrimmed the interior. It was awarded the Vitesse Elegance Trophy at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance; it’s estimated at between $2m and $2.5m.
Other pre-war highlights include a unique 1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan that starred at the 1931 Salon de l’Automobile in Paris, and was later owned by Queen Maria of Yugoslavia and sugar industry supremo Antonio Chopitea (est. $1.7m-$1.9m), one of 35 Bentley Eight Litre Sports Tourers built on the short-wheelbase chassis ($1.5m-$2m), a 1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Sport by Pourtout (est. $800k-$900k) and one of 25 known surviving 1930 Bugatti Type 50 Roadsters (est. $500k-$600k).
RM Sotheby’s
RM Sotheby’s sale takes place during the ModaMiami event, held between February 27 and 28. The sale, made up of 94 lots, contains the bulk of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum cars being offered, and it is one of those that leads the sale – the above 1966 Ford GT40 MkII.
One of eight racing Ford GT40 MkIIs built, P/1032 entered into the 1966 Sebring 12 Hours by Holman-Moody, with Walt Hansgen and Mark Donohue on driving duties, and finished second following Dan Gurney and Jerry Grant’s disqualification. Hansgen was due to drive the car at Le Mans, but died at the Le Mans test day when driving GT40 P/1011. The car seen here was sent to Ford’s Kingman test track in Arizona and then to Riverside Raceway for trials with two NASCAR drivers, although it was also driven by Ken Miles during this time. For Le Mans, Donohue was due to be partnered with Mario Andretti, but instead Australian Paul Hawkins got the nod.
The race was certainly for eventful for P/1032 – it was first delayed by a broken half-shaft off the start, then followed by continued vibration. Donohue took the car out and found it was misfiring, with bent rods being the cause. With new rods installed, Donohue rejoined the race only to soon find himself sans rear clamshell at 210mph down the Mulsanne Straight. After some discussion with the stewards, Donohue drove around the circuit slowly to retrieve the clamshell. It was fixed, but the transaxle’s locking differential was damaged, leading to the car’s retirement after six hours and 56 laps.
After the race it’s believed the car was exhibited at the 1966 Paris Motor Show, followed by the 1967 Geneva Motor Show and then the Monza Auto Show that same year. It was then returned to the US, repainted to look like the Le Mans-winning McLaren/Amon car, and then donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1968. It was treated to a five-year restoration back to 1966 Le Mans specification. It’s estimated at between $8m and $11m.
Other highlights from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum Collection include the 1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS Project XP-64 (est. $5m-$7m), the 1908 Mercedes 17.3-Liter 150HP ‘Brookland’ Semmering Rennwagen (est. $7m-$9m), the ex-Henry Segrave 1907 Itala 120 HP Works Racing Car (est. $2m-$3m) and a 1930 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix (est. $1m-$1.8m).
The leading lot from the pre-1980 era is the above 1931 Duesenberg Model J ‘Disappearing Top’ Convertible Coupe by Murphy. Originally owned by investment banker-turned film producer Cyrus ‘Blake’ Garner, it would later form part of Pacific Auto Rentals’ fleet. This business supplied prop cars to film studios and, as such, this particular car played a prominent role in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and Gable and Lombard. It was also regularly seen in the TV programme Bring ‘Em Back Alive, and it also starred in a Jayne Mansfield photo shoot.
When the proprietor of Pacific Auto Rentals passed away, the fleet was sold to the Imperial Palace of Las Vegas. The Duesenberg was then sold to Oscar Davis, who repainted it and then sold it back to the Imperial Palace. The hotel would keep it until 1998, when it was acquired by Chris and Kathleen Koch, who had the car restored. It went on to win first in class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2005, and would win 18 further concours titles over the next two years. There followed several further ownership changes, with the current vendor fitting new carpeting and a new top, while the fuel system has been rebuilt, too. It is estimated at between $4m and $4.5m.
Other pre-war highlights include one of 32 second-series 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet As (est. $2.75m-$3m), a 1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster (est. $900k-$1m) and a 1906 Züst 28/45 Spider Corsa by Sala (est. $800k-$950k).
The leading pre-1980 Ferrari is this 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupé Aerodinamico, the seventh of 17 Series I short-wheelbase examples. Chassis 2841 SA was exhibited at the 1961 Paris Salon, and was first sold to Count Fritz Herbert Somsky of Geneva, Switzerland. It was sent to the US at some point in the next five years, and in the 1970s it was in the care of Barry Le Fave and then Walter Harris. In 1980, TV producer Greg Garrison acquired the car, and kept it for 20 years. Charles ‘Skeets’ Dunn then took ownership, restored the car and entered the concours circuit.
There followed several owners in California, and the car was painted Blu Scuro by Brian Hoyt in the 2010s – it won a class award at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The current owner (from 2017) continued its concours displays, both in the US and in Europe, before treating it to cosmetic attention in mid-2023. The Ferrari then returned to Pebble Beach before winning Best of Show at the Cavallino Classic Middle East. It’s estimated at between $2.8m and $3.2m.
Other highlights include the sixth of 100 Ferrari 330 GTS models built (est. $1.6m-$1.8m), one of five Fantasy Yellow Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadsters ($1.4m-$1.7m), one of 83 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Spyders ($600k-$700k) and a 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra offered at no reserve (est. $500k-$600k).
Further details
The Broad Arrow sale takes place at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island on March 7 and 8, 2025. More details are available here.
The Gooding & Co sale takes place at Racquet Park, Omni Amelia Island Resort on March 6 and 7, 2025. More details are available here.
The RM Sotheby’s sale takes place at The Biltmore Hotel Coral Gables (Miami) on February 27 and 28, 2025. More details are available here.
