It may be hard to wrap one’s mind around this price tag. A 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, offered by Gooding and Company, sold for $17,160,000 on Amelia Island, Florida during their annual auto auction held March 11, 2016 at Omni Amelia Island Plantation.
Once a year, when the Amelia Island Concours event week rolls around in March, a single collector car can sell for more than the highest priced oceanfront estate on this northeast Florida barrier island. However, this year topped them all! According to the auctioneer, this Ferrari sale set a new worldwide record for Gooding and Company. It’s the most expensive car they ever sold. The March 11, 2016 Tweet said @GoodingCompany: “Wow was that exciting! The 1961 #Ferrari 250 GT SWB #CaliforniaSpider sells for $17,160,000! Congrats! “
Rare Car Vs. Amelia Island Real Estate
For perspective, consider that the highest priced home currently for sale on Amelia Island is an oceanfront property on South Fletcher Avenue listed at $3,250,000 (featuring around 5,000 square feet of living space, located on almost an acre overlooking the Atlantic Ocean). Also throw in the next four top-of-the-market homes for sale on Amelia Island, and these top five properties combined would “only” cost $14,650,000 — if you paid “list” price. Less than one extraordinary Ferrari, sold today on Amelia Island. Just a little comparison of the investment car market vs. prime waterfront real estate on a Florida island.
More About This Ferrari
Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island auction featured Lot #69, the star of the show, this 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider. The pre-sale estimate was $15,000,000 to $17,000,000. This highly coveted Ferrari is the 22nd SWB California Spider built and one of only 37 covered-headlight examples produced. It had been in the loving care of the previous owner for over 30 years.
Gooding & Company’s auction at Omni Amelia Island Plantation also offered a selection of the Seinfeld Collection — 16 Porsches plus a couple of classic 60s-era Volkswagens. Seinfeld himself made an appearance on Amelia Island for this sale, taking the stage at Omni Amelia Island Plantation to introduce his Porsches. Jerry’s made millions upon millions of people laugh over his career. Now that’s priceless.
