Gooding’s 2026 Amelia Island auction: day one

The Santa Monica firm kicked off its 2026 Florida event with a mostly No Reserve catalogue of 53 cars. A significant proportion – all Porsches and Alfa Romeos – came from the collection of entrepreneur and co-founder of Ebbtide Boats, Tommy Trabue. Overall, nine out of 10 cars offered found buyers on the night, grossing more than $12.7m.

Top-selling entry turned out to be the 1932 Miller FWD Special from the John Price Museum of Speed. (pictured, below). ‘FWD’ refers to four-wheel drive; the car was built with the assistance of the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company of Wisconsin. The latter would receive publicity from an entry to the 1932 Indianapolis 500, while Miller benefitted from funding and transmission engineering expertise. The car presented as a fantastic, of-the-era racing machine in period Indy racing livery. It hit top estimate – $3,305,000 with premium – thanks to strong bidding from underbidder Dana Mecum present in the tent.

The sister car, the 1931 Studebaker Special, did not sell; the 1924 Miller record car did, well under lower guide at $857,500 all-in.

At a glance (on the night):

* Gross: $12,737,740
* Percentage sold by number, motor cars: 91%
* Top-selling car: 1932 Miller FWD Special $3,305,000 gross, $3,000,000 net (est. $2m to $3m)
* Well sold? Great to get a good figure on the Miller – a new world record
* Well bought? There were some good buys among the Trabue Collection, particularly if competing in events – rather than amassing a best-of-the-best, ‘all matching’ collection – is your goal

The performance of the Miller Indy car was a rare beacon of light in an otherwise dark afternoon for pre-war entries which, in the main, were punished in line with today’s trends. An elegant 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Vanvooren (est. $800k to $1.2m) was hammered sold by veteran auctioneer Charlie Ross for $640,000. That’s $709,000 with Gooding’s usual North American premium of 12% up to $250,000 and 10% thereafter.

Much pre-sale interest surrounded the short sequence of European ‘barn finds’. Nearly all were offered without reserve. A highlight was the homely 1951 Ferrari 342 America Coupé by Ghia (above, right) – the definition of early 1950s styling, so out of fashion today – bought new by David Brown and estimated at $900k to $1.2m. The restoration costs of this will far exceed any future value, yet it still sold for $480,000 net, or $533,000 gross. Asking $300k to $500k was simply too much for the early 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupé. That figure would buy a finished car.

The performance of the Zagato-bodied Alfa Romeos might raise eyebrows, but remember these are racing cars that usually lead hard lives and are always subject to intense scrutiny. The slightest doubt casts a deep shadow over a car’s value.

Gooding’s Amelia Island auction continues today, with the star of the Florida sales – a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider ($16m to $18m) – crossing the block mid-way through the event. Ever helpful, arch-rival RM Sotheby’s announced yesterday the consignment of a similar car to its April 2026 Monaco auction. The estimate for that example is a broad €14.5m to €16.5m, around $17m to $19m, the third covered-headlamp SWB California Spider offered this year.

Full report on the fate of Gooding’s one, plus happenings at Broad Arrow over at the Ritz-Carlton, to come tomorrow.

Photos by Marcelo Murillo (top) and Peter Singhof for K500