Auction Recap: Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2016
Auctions America concluded its 14th annual sale in Fort Lauderdale on April 3 with $19.7 million in total sales. In all, 301 lots sold out of the 435 offered for a sell-through rate of 69 percent and an average price of $42,900. The results were down from last year’s $21.3 million and 74 percent sell-through rate (368 sold out of 494 offered), but only slightly, and the average price this year actually increased by almost $3,000.
The top overall sale of the auction was a 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona at $649,000, actually a below average result for the model. Second highest was a replica of the legendary “Blue Train” Bentley of 1930 at $522,500, and a 1969 Camaro ZL1 brought $404,250. Other big results included a 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz that exceeded estimates at $264,000, a 2010 Spyker C8 with less than 950 miles on it for $220,000 and a 1990 Ferrari F355 Spider Serie Fiorano with a six-speed for $211,750. Another huge surprise was a 1994 Porsche 968 for $55,000, which is a monumental result for the model. Counting this and Bonhams’ recent sale of a 1994 928 GTS in Amelia Island for $132,000, it seems that good examples of the front-engined, water-cooled Porsches are in demand.
One of the most significant no-sales of the auction was a Tucker 48 that hammered unsold at $850,000. While a good Tucker is easily a seven-figure car, this one had a more complicated history as a car that was unfinished when the company went under and only completed later by an enthusiast. Other big no-sales included a 1981 BMW M1 at a high bid of $470,000, a 1967 Yenko Camaro at a high bid of $325,000, a 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition at a high bid of $220,000 and a 1997 Porsche 993 Turbo S at a high bid of $280,000. Fort Lauderdale also showed signs of softening enthusiasm for 911s, as 15 of the 31 on offer in Fort Lauderdale failed to sell.
Some of the bigger bargains at the auction were a 1992 Lotus Esprit S4 Turbo for $16,500 and a very clean 1995 BMW M3 for $12,375, but Fort Lauderdale also brought some interesting and unusual cars as well. Two Brazilian VW-powered oddities – a 1979 Bianco S Coupe and a 1972 Puma GT Coupe – brought $24,750 and $19,250, respectively. From Japan, there was a 1990 Toyota Century that brought $27,500. To the unfamiliar that might not sound all that special, but the Century was a hand-built model with a 4.0-liter V-8 and more luxurious appointments than just about anything this side of a Bentley.
Overall top 10:
1. 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona sold for $649,000
2. 1930 Bentley “Blue Train” Replica sold for $522,500
3. 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300S Roadster sold for $506,000
4. 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 sold for $404,250
5. 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda sold for $330,000
6. 2005 Ford GT sold for $319,000
7. 1965 Shelby GT 350 sold for $314,600
8. 2006 Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR sold for $275,000
9. 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet sold for $269,500
10. 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz sold for $264,000
Auctions America’s next collector car auction will be the Auburn Spring sale on May 5-7 in Auburn, Indiana, where there will be approximately 500 collector vehicles as well as assorted automobilia.
