The 5 Coolest Cars Up For Sale at Sotheby’s Amelia Island Auction

Start your engines and open your wallets.

Jared Paul Stern

Feb 2, 2016

This 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet sold for $6,380,000 at Amelia Island last year.

RM Sotheby’s annual Amelia Island auction in March may not always be an orgy of megabucks Ferraris, but there’s still enough drool-worthy machinery on offer to make collectors sit up and look longingly at their stock portfolios.

And “Amelia”, as insiders call it, has increasingly become an event not to be missed – plus there’s always fun to be had at the posh Ritz-Carlton at Amelia Island, where this Florida car show goes down. Last year RM rang up $60 million in sales, so you can bet automotive eyes will be focused that way come March 12.

Here are our top five picks, with expert commentary provided by Joe DeMatio, noted Amelia observer and deputy editor at Road & Track:

1. 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer in the style of Vanden Plas

Photo: Drew Shipley ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

DeMatio: “The modern Bentley brand’s mystique is derived almost entirely from the prewar W.O. Bentley racing cars. Every serious collector wants to own one of these at some point.”

2. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

Photo: Trace Taylor ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

DeMatio: “The Mercedes Gullwing coupes get more attention, but the roadster is a more enjoyable car for most people. A 300 SL as well restored and maintained as this one ought to see spirited bidding.”

3. 1964 Porsche 356 C 1600 SC ‘Sunroof’ Coupe by Reutter

Photo: Darin Schnabel ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sothebys

DeMatio: “A so-called ‘barn find’ car that’s was stored for 45 years, then painstakingly restored, this roadster will have Porsche-philes swooning when it crosses the auction block.”

4. 1969 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Coupe by Ghia

DeMatio: “This Ghia coupe has a bit of a muscle car feel to it but still reeks of Italian elegance. Maserati is trying to capitalize on the heritage of the Ghibli name with its current midsize sedan.”

5. 2005 Ford GT

Photo: Robin Adams ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

DeMatio: “The Ford GT is one of the few modern supercars to not only hold its value but appreciate. Ford is returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year with its all-new GT, 50 years after beating Ferrari there, so the Ford GT is on everyone’s mind. A very desirable car that not only still looks great but drives incredibly well.”