Every year, we see classic cars selling for bigger
and bigger bucks. We've yet to see one reach into tens of millions so far this
year as we have in years past, but for now, this is the high-water mark for 2017.
It's a 1937 Bugatti Type 57S cabriolet – one of just
three with bodywork by coachbuilder Vanvooren of Paris in existence. Leading up
to this past weekend's auctions at Amelia Island in Florida, RM Sotheby's
estimated it would sell for over US$ 8.5 million. It didn't quite get there, but
it did sell for US$ 7.7 million.
That makes this the most expensive car
sold at auction so far this year, just edging out the rare Jaguar E-Type that
Barrett-Jackson sold in Scottsdale for US$ 7.37 million this past January.
The Bugatti wasn't the vehicle with the highest
estimated value heading into the weekend. But neither the Ferrari 250 GT SWB
Berlinetta, the 166 MM, nor the Jaguar XKSS appear to have reached their
reserve prices – leaving the buyer of the Vanvooren cabrio with the biggest
check to write before taking his (or her) new prized possession home.
All told, RM Sotheby's alone topped over US$ 70 million
in sales during the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, bolstered by Mike
Tyson's Ferrari F50 (US$ 2.6m), a '56 Maserati A6G (US$ 2.4m), and a '36 Lancia
Astura cabriolet (US$ 2.1m).
