The 2025 Amelia Island classic car auctions, headlined by Gooding & Co and Broad Arrow, provided an insightful glimpse into the current state of America’s collector car market, indicating steady enthusiasm tempered by economic caution.
Following an upbeat start to the year at Scottsdale, market watchers at Amelia observed a more measured environment. Despite some lofty pre-sale estimates, vendors appeared realistic about market expectations. Gooding & Co posted robust results, selling 93% of its 144 offered vehicles for a combined total exceeding $67 million, while Broad Arrow similarly saw solid sales, moving 88% of 147 lots for over $61 million.
High-profile vehicles generated particular attention, although final prices often underscored buyer caution. A notable example was Broad Arrow’s 1954 Jaguar D-Type, sold for $4.295 million, falling significantly short of its $6.5 million to $8.5 million estimate. Nonetheless, market appetite remained clear, particularly for vintage Ferraris and rare performance vehicles.
Ferraris from Enzo Ferrari’s iconic era continued to dominate. Gooding’s leading lot, a 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta, achieved $9.465 million, meeting expectations comfortably within its $8-$10 million estimate. Similarly, Broad Arrow’s 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder secured an identical result, narrowly missing its high estimate but demonstrating ongoing collector confidence in top-tier vintage Ferraris.
Modern classics, particularly pre-merger AMG Mercedes-Benz models, reflected mixed results. Gooding’s ultra-rare manual W124 AMG Hammer models, expected to fetch between $1.25 million and $2 million, ultimately achieved around $700,000 each. Broad Arrow’s AMG offerings also reflected modesty, hinting at cooling enthusiasm after a previous surge.
In the Porsche realm, Ruf creations outperformed expectations, setting record sales figures. Gooding’s 1989 Ruf CTR Yellowbird notably achieved just over $6 million, reaffirming Ruf’s rising collector appeal despite weaker interest in older Porsche 356 and early 911 models.
Overall, the Amelia auctions underscored a stable yet cautious collector car market, demonstrating selective enthusiasm amid global economic uncertainty.