Headliners at RM Auctions Amelia Island 2012

1934 Packard Twelve Convertible Victoria

RM Auctions returns to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Amelia Island, Florida on March 10, 2012 for its annual Amelia Island auction.

Now in its 14th year, the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance will showcase over 100 automobiles, with consignments including a 1934 Packard Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria and a 1929 Cord L-29 Hayes Coupe. In 2011, RM Auctions once again enjoyed the top auction results posted during the Amelia Island Concours weekend, generating $24.3 million in sales with a 96% of lots sold.

“The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance weekend is a world-class celebration of automotive styling through the years,” says Rob Myers, Chairman & Founder, RM Auctions. “We are delighted to be an official part of the weekend once again and look forward to bringing another impressive catalogue of high-caliber motor cars to our Amelia Island auction stage.”

The 1934 Packard Twelve Convertible Victoria, chassis number 1108-15, is expected to garner serious attention from discerning enthusiasts. In many ways, the Packard Twelve was the signature car of the Classic Era – the top-of-the-line offering from one of America’s leading manufacturers. The example on offer represents the most desirable model year and is one of as few as two known surviving examples featuring the combination of custom Dietrich coachwork in this style on a Packard 12-cylinder chassis. Boasting a strong provenance and well-documented history, it has benefitted from the care of several notable collectors over the years. In addition, it is a proven touring car – its excellent driving dynamics confirmed during a 1700-mile tour from Seattle, Washington, to Pebble Beach, California. Completing its status as the “ultimate” Classic Packard, its beautiful restoration was recognized via “Best in Class” honors at the 2011 Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s in Michigan (Estimate available upon request).

“This Packard ticks all the boxes when it comes to desirability – unique styling cues, excellent provenance, superb presentation and capability for extended touring. It is arguably one of the finest, rarest and most inspired automotive masterpieces of the Classic Era, deserving of close inspection,” adds Myers.

Another example of Classic Era styling set for the 2012 RM Amelia Island auction is a 1929 Cord L-29 Hayes Coupe, chassis 2927005, widely recognized as the most significant L-29 in existence. Designed by Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky and built by Michigan’s Hayes Body Corporation on the revolutionary front-drive Cord L-29 chassis, this “one-off” design statement was conceived and built specifically for international show competition. No stranger to the show field, it enjoyed stunning results at the 1930 Paris, Monte Carlo and Beaulieu Concours d’Elegance events, where it secured its place in the history books as the first American entry to win at all three venues. Its looks have continued to fascinate onlookers over the years, with additional accolades received at the 1987 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and more recently, “Best in Class”’ honors at the 2008 Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance. Beyond its success on the show field, it also holds its ACD Category 1 Original Certification and boasts a known, well-documented provenance, including 50 years of careful single ownership (Est. $1,250,000 – $1,500,000).

1929 Cord L-29 Hayes Coupe

Additional consignments at the 2012 RM Auctions Amelia Island sale include:

• 1937 Squire Corsica Short Chassis Roadster, chassis 1063, one of a limited few cars built by Adrian Squire. Powered by a supercharged Anzani twin-cam engine, it is the only one with coachwork by the London firm Corsica (Estimate available upon request);
• Ex-Walter Chrysler, Jr. 1941 Chrysler Newport Dual Cowl Phaeton, one of five built and the only example to pace the 1941 Indianapolis 500 (Est. $1,500,000 – $2,000,000);
• 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta, chassis 09721 (Est. $1,200,000 – $1,400,000);
• 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, finished in black over dark green and featuring a removable hardtop and desirable Rudge wheels (Est. $850,000 – $1,100,000); and,
• Matching-numbers 1959 Jaguar XK120 Alloy Roadster (Est. $290,000 – $360,000).

For additional information on RM’s Amelia Island sale and a frequently updated car list, call RM Auctions at +1 519 352 4575 or visit www.rmauctions.com. For more information on the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, visit www.ameliaconcours.org or call +1 904 636 0027.

RM Amelia Island Auction 2012 – Event Details

Sale date: March 10, 2012
Preview dates: March 9, 2012 and March 10, 2012
Location: The Ritz-Carlton, 4750 Amelia Island Parkway, Amelia Island, Florida, 32034
Admission: An official auction catalog is available for $120 US and admits two people to the preview and auction.

[Source: RM Auctions]