Money isn't everything, but in vast quantities, it could have netted you a pair of historically significant vintage Ferrari coupes over the weekend.
If you're up to snuff on vintage Ferrari racers, chances are you're at least remotely familiar with the 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico coupe that was featured at RM Auctions' Amelia Island auction. If not, here's a quick refresher: this car, one of three built by Ferrari, was piloted by Luigi Chinetti to a third-place finish in the 1952 running of La Carrera Panamericana before being sold to a string of private owners, including Ferrari Club of America co-founder Larry Nicklin.
Given the car's limited production run and its documented race heritage, RM estimated the car would fetch between $2.75- and $3.75 million. Instead, the 340 Mexico managed to fetch almost double that, ultimately rolling off the auction block for a whopping $4.29 million.
That wasn't the only early Ferrari to fetch beaucoup bucks at RM's Amelia Island event. Another Nicklin-owned car, a Vignale-bodied 1953 212 Inter Coupe, looked rough on the surface, but was all original and the actual car used on Ferrari's display stand at the 1953 Turin Motor Show. Bidding for the 212 Inter rose to a solid $660,000, which, like the 340 Mexico, was nearly double than the sums originally estimated.
Despite that princely sum, the 212 wasn't the second most expensive automobile sold at the Amelia Island event. In fact, it was the sixth most expensive sale, eclipsed by the likes of a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS ($770,000), a 1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta ($935,000), a 1930 Duesenberg Model J convertible ($962,500), a 1933 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Victoria ($979,000), and a 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Spider ($990,000).
Source: RM Auctions
Photos used courtesy of RM Auctions
People ask me questions fairly infrequently, but when they do, these are the questions I’m frequently asked.
What do you do?
I’m an associate Web editor at Automobile Magazine. Which, in a nutshell, means I write about cars and car news primarily for our lovely Web site.
Are you a car guy?
How could I not have been? A disturbing number of my relatives have worked in the auto industry, and I spent my formative years as a child grinning in the back seat of my dad’s 1965 Mustang. I’d also note I’m more of a “wheeled machine” guy, as I also have an alarming affinity for things like trucks, trains, and buses. Don’t ask.
Does every 9-5 shift involve driving exotic supercars in the French Riviera?
I wish.
How can I get your job?
Timing is everything. By luck, an internship opening at AutoWeek opened while while I was finishing my collegiate coursework; I then worked at freelancing news items for Winding Road. A similar position opened up at Automobile just as I graduated, and I’ve been here ever since.
What’s your dream car?
Honestly, this changes with the weather.
Seriously, what cars do you like?
For reasons beyond my understanding, I have a soft spot for Francomobiles, especially the Citroen ID/DS, 2CV, the Renault 4 (not 4CV), and anything designed and constructed by Gabrielle Voisin. Also, I’m in the process of convincing my wife that a vintage Mercedes-Benz Unimog or a Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer is both a sound investment and a practical family vehicle. Wish me luck with that.
What’s the best car you’ve driven?
Oh, dear. I’ve had some fun with some really fun machines during my time at Automobile, including (but not limited to) the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, a Porsche Cayman R, a Bentley Continental GT, and an Aston Martin DBS. I also once managed to miraculously cram my hulking frame into the confines of a Lotus Exige.
I’ll never forget my brief time behind the wheel of a giant International semi truck (let alone trying to shift the 18-speed gearbox), but the most memorable vehicle piloted during my employment? That honor has to go to a mint-condition Peugeot 205 Turbo 16.
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