Natalie Wood’s Mercedes at Amelia Island Concours
Exceptional roster of cars lined up for Auction Natalie Wood’s Mercedes Benz 300SL will appear at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance among other legendary Hollywood star cars once belonging to…
Exceptional roster of cars lined up for Auction
Natalie Wood’s Mercedes Benz 300SL will appear at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance among other legendary Hollywood star cars once belonging to Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth and Tom Mix. The 17th annual concours is scheduled for March 9-11.
Wood’s personal 300SL stood out from all other cars on Hollywood’s streets. Wearing optional Rudge knockoff wheels, her 300SL was already rarebut it was Wood’s sense of esthetics that really set her 300SL roadster apart.
“She had it painted pink,” said Bill Warner, founder and chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, “Pink with a lipstick red leather interior, as if driving a 300SL around Hollywood didn’t attract enough attention.”
Wood’s Mercedes-Benz 300SL will compete in the 300SL class at the Amelia Concours honoring the 60th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz first Le Mans win in 1952. Today it wears a traditional, factory-approved silver-blue color. A meticulous restoration made certain that all the details in Wood’s national award -winning 300SL are correct. Such small details as the period-correct Becker in-dash radio and even the ownership documents in the glove box and the proper type of hose clamps were installed to restore the German roadster to showroom condition.
Other show highlights include:
- Nearly 50 years after the 1964 Corvette styling collection’s debut at various shows, chief cheerleader and founder of Mid America Motorworks Mike Yager will present four unique styling cars from MY Garage Museum’s Southern Illinois campus. The cars include 1964 XP-819 Corvette, 1964 Knudson Styling Corvette, 1964 Pearlescent Blue Styling Corvette and 1964 New York World’s Fair Corvette. Mid America Motorworks is the world’s largest supplier of Corvette parts and accessories.
- Rarest Ferrari GOT will celebrate 50th anniversary. The 330 GTOs were Ferrari’s in-house hot rods: prototype Grand Touring cars with four-liter V-12 engines instead of the GTO’s traditional 3-liter V-12. Just two were built; a cross between a pure prototype and a road going Grand Touring car. “This is our ‘marquee car’,” said Amelia founder and Chairman Bill Warner, “It’s the car on our website and, with its deep and pronounced hood bulge, the most recognizable and voluptuous of the GTO breed.” Jim Jaeger’s GTO is one of the first two four-liter GTOs built by the Ferrari factory.
- Automotive Fine Arts Society (AFAS) President Ken Eberts will showcase a selection of artwork alongside his fellow members, honoring the concours featured marques: the 50th anniversary of the Shelby Cobra and the Ferrari GTO, as well as race cars from Florida’s two legendary endurance classics – Sebring and Daytona – and much more.
- David Piper will join Ferrari’s Mauro Forghieri, Cobra creator Carroll Shelby, and Cobra Daytona Coupe designer Peter Brock, for the Ferrari vs. Cobra: the Battle For the World Championship for Sports Cars Seminar at 4 p.m. March 9 in the Talbot Ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island.
In addition, read: Ginger Rogers’ 1929 Duesenberg stars at 2012 Amelia Island
For more information, visit www.ameliaconcours.org or call 904-636-0027.
Amelia Island Auction
In addition, RM Auctions will hold a sale starting at 11 a.m. (EST) March 10. Held annually in association with the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, the Amelia Island sale is always eagerly anticipated, attracting serious enthusiasts from all parts of the globe.
Returning to the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the well-established sale – now in its 14th year – will present a magnificent roster of 100 blue-chip automobiles as it looks to build upon RM’s strong track record in Northeast Florida. In 2011, the company once again enjoyed the top auction results posted during the Amelia Island Concours weekend, generating a remarkable $24.3 million in sales with a superb 96% of lots sold – the highest tally ever achieved during the event’s history. The 2012 event promises to continue the momentum with a stellar list of early entries, including a handsome 1934 Packard Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria and a stunning 1929 Cord L-29 Hayes Coupe. Both are considered the ultimate in Classic Era design, rarity and desirability.
“The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance weekend is a world-class celebration of automotive styling through the years,” says Rob Myers, chairman and 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.”
Regarded by many as the “ultimate” Classic Packard, 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 perfect combination of supremely desirable custom Dietrich coachwork in this style on a powerful Packard 12-cylinder chassis. Boasting an excellent 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 outstanding example of Classic Era styling set for RM’s Amelia Island auction podium is a stunning, one-off 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 stunning 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).
Reflecting the international flavor of consignments for the RM Amelia Island sale, additional highlights include:
- a one-off, well-documented 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);
- The 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);
- a well-documented 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta, chassis 09721 (Est. $1,200,000 - $1,400,000);
- a highly-desirable, professionally-restored 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, resplendent in the superb colors of black over dark green and featuring a removable hardtop and desirable Rudge wheels (Est. $850,000 - $1,100,000); and,
- a beautifully restored, matching-numbers 1959 Jaguar XK120 "Alloy" Roadster (Est. $290,000 - $360,000).
For further information on RM’s Amelia Island sale and a frequently updated car list, please visit www.rmauctions.com or call RM Auctions at +1 519 352 4575.
