Auctions America kicked off its 2015 auction season with a vibrant return to Fort Lauderdale, FL, on March 27–29, generating $21.3m in total sales with 74% of all lots sold (368/495). The impressive tally marks AA’s strongest Fort Lauderdale performance in the auction’s 13-year history. Bidders hailed from 14 countries and 45 states, and 47% of buyers were new to Auctions America.
“We’re very pleased with the results from our Fort Lauderdale sale, which provide a very positive kick start to our 2015 season,” said Donnie Gould, President, Auctions America. “This year’s catalog represented our finest and most diverse Fort Lauderdale offering to date. The results not only speak to the breadth and quality of product presented, but also to our team’s strong international reach, extensive marketing power, and ability to locate ready and engaged buyers. The Fort Lauderdale auction is not only a staple on the North American collector car calendar, but as this year’s event proved, is attracting increasing global participation. The top sale of the weekend was a car that came to us from the Cayman Islands and is now headed to the U.K.”
The car referred to, a stunning 1959 Ferrari 250 GT coupe, was one of 37 vehicles offered at Fort Lauderdale from the Cayman Motor Museum Collection. Enthusiast Andreas Ugland amassed the eclectic group of cars over 35 years. The 250 GT was hotly contested during the event’s Saturday sale session. Soaring past its high estimate, the car eventually sold to a U.K.-based collector for $715,000, a record for a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina coupe sold at auction.
Another one of the most exciting auction moments of the weekend came when the sale’s cover car, the one-of-a-kind 1964 ½ Ford Mustang III “Shorty” factory prototype, crossed the podium. “Shorty” was also the subject of a lively bidding war, eventually passing from its owner of 47 years to a new caretaker for $511,500.
Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2015 – Top Five Sales
1. Lot 452 – 1959 Ferrari 250 GT coupe, $715,000
2. Lot 438 – 1964 ½ Ford Mustang III “Shorty” factory prototype, $511,550
3. Lot 477 – 2005 Ford GT, $451,000
4. Lot 440 – 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition, $410,000
5. Lot 436 – 1987 Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole, $335,500
For further information on upcoming events or to view full results from the 2015 Fort Lauderdale collector car auction, visit www.auctionsamerica.com.