On February 29 and March 1, Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island Auctions will present some of the rarest and most coveted classic cars from the pre and post war periods. Well preserved and restored, these cars are icons of their era and treasures of American automobile history. Here are six highlights not to miss:
Introduced in 1931, E.L. Cord and Fred Duesenberg’s Model J Duesenberg Convertible Coupe is the pinnacle of classic cars. The 1931 Model J Disappearing-Top Duesenberg Convertible Coupe on offer here, chassis 2365, engine J-346, is among the most iconic and sought-after examples of the mighty Model J because of its disappearing-top design. After passing through several prominent owners, it was acquired in 1967 and sat in a heated garage, completely undisturbed for 55 years. It was recently returned to running status with the engine receiving extensive work. This is one of the last Duesenberg Model Js to come out of hiding and it carries a pre-auction estimate of $2.75 - 3 million.
Among the most iconic designs of the classic era is the 1935 Auburn 851 SC Boattail Speedster. After it was launched, to publicize its capabilities, famed racer Ab Jenkins set numerous records in a stock 1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster on the Bonneville Salt Flats, posting an average speed of over 100 mph for a 12-hour period and becoming the first American to do so. Of the 143 Speedsters built in total, fewer than 50 are believed to survive today, including this model going to auction. Upon completion of this meticulous, multiyear restoration in July 2023, the rare Auburn was finished in an ivory color over a tan interior. It was subsequently exhibited at the 2023 Hershey AACA National Meet, where it won a First Place award.
Of all the great sports cars built during the 1960s, few possess the mystique of the Shelby Cobra. The Cobra successfully combined the best qualities of European competition machinery and California hot rods, creating a distinctive Anglo-American sports car. The classic small-block Cobra, built between 1962 and 1965, achieved an enviable race record and proved instrumental to Ford Motor Company’s dominance of international sports car racing during the period. This 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra was originally finished in Bright Blue over red leather, a seldom-seen combination for the 289 Cobra. Possessing a fascinating provenance, equipped with its matching-numbers engine, and possessing both a rare factory color scheme and irreplaceable patina, CSX 2289 is certainly among the finest examples of the iconic 289 Cobra.
Considered the undisputed flagship of General Motors, this 1934 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Sedan was one of six 16-cylinder convertible sedans built for 1934 and an early example of streamlined Fleetwood styling. This car additionally still wears its original 1935 Ohio license plate. Today, just three other 1934 Convertible Sedan 452-Ds are known to the Cadillac & LaSalle Club. This unique example combines Cadillac’s unmatched mechanicals and rare custom Fleetwood coachwork, augmented by an early show car history and limited ownership.
This glamorous 1954 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible was purchased new from Swisher Cadillac of Mansfield, Ohio, by the owner of the local taxi company branch who desired a Cadillac convertible to match the color of his cabs: Apollo Gold over Mint Green. After long-term ownership under noted collector John Staluppi, it underwent an exacting restoration with approximately 6,000 hours invested in the process over a 15-year span between 2001 and 2016.
"Unmatched by any other motor car, anywhere" was Cadillac’s description of the Eldorado when new. This 1955 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible was Cadillac’s top-of-the-line offering for 1955. Now, it is one of just 36 surviving examples known to the Cadillac & LaSalle Club. It was treated to an exhaustive, frame-off restoration conducted by Ed’s Rod Shop of Hanna City, Illinois, from 2017 to 2020 and exhibited at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®.
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