Gooding Auction at Amelia Island 2025: Cliff Goodall Plays Detective

I decided to play private investigator to unravel the mystery of this year’s Gooding auction at Amelia Island. What do the slightly declining numbers hide? A market downturn or something to uncover? Stepping into the shoes of Nero Wolfe or, perhaps more fittingly, my stunt double Hercule Poirot, I tried to analyze the "crime": despite the total value offered increasing from $64,155,000 to $74,635,000, the final total awarded failed to grow and instead saw a slight decline from $66,087,670 to $64,549,460. It was a painstaking task to analyze the guilt or alibi of 143 suspects, as many as the cars in the auction — an increase of 21 units compared to 122 in 2024 — but the average price registered a notable decrease: from $641,510 to $504,292, with no mitigating circumstances, as the percentage of no-reserve cars rose from 57% to 61.53%.

It’s time to analyze the evidence from the most intriguing suspects: the 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta. Purchased by Fred Leyford in 1969 when it was just an old Ferrari, it remained in the same hands until the auction. Typically, Ferraris from the ‘50s and ‘60s, especially such prestigious ones, pass through multiple owners. This one didn’t, justifying its estimate of $8,000,000-10,000,000. The sale at $9,465,000 set a new record for the model. Immediately acquitted with sincere apologies.

1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta sold for $9,465,000 (€8,751,000).

Some witnesses reported suspicious behavior from two Ferraris from the early 2000s. The older sister, a 2004 Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale, 21 years old, highly attractive in silver with a tricolor stripe and red leather interior, had only one “boyfriend” who drove it for 12,390 miles. It was quickly exonerated due to lack of motive: its no-reserve estimate of $250,000-325,000 was vastly exceeded at $445,000, over $120,000 more than the previous record.

2004 Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale sold for $445,000 (€411,500).

The younger sister, a 2008 Ferrari 430 Scuderia, was equally magnificent in black with a matching black interior and two long gray stripes running over the hood and roof. It nearly faced charges, as its estimate of $300,000-400,000 barely reached the minimum at $313,000. But it had an alibi: the previous owner purchased it in 2022 for $310,000 when it had 3,900 miles, and now it had 4,098. The seller enjoyed it and still made a small profit. Case closed.

2008 Ferrari 430 Scuderia sold for $313,000 (€289,500).

Wide tire tracks aroused my suspicion — ones typically found on RUFs. I had to meet the culprit. And it left a strong impression: the rare 1989 RUF CTR Yellowbird. Only 29 of these exist, and despite the name, just nine were yellow. This particular example had the best specs: a six-speed manual gearbox and "Leichtbau" configuration. Kept in near-captivity by its two previous owners, it had only 1,700 km on the clock. A rarity. With an extremely bold estimate exceeding $6,000,000, it ultimately went for $6,055,000, tripling the previous record! No guilt here—on the contrary.

1989 RUF CTR "Yellowbird" sold for $6,055,000 (€5,598,000).

Two cars from Affalterbach, nicknamed "Hammer", deserved thorough interrogation: a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300CE 6.0 and a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 300E 6.0, both exceptionally rare as they were built before AMG and Mercedes-Benz officially merged. Only two of the coupes exist with a five-speed manual transmission, and the sedan is the only one with the same gearbox.

1989 Mercedes-Benz AMG 300 CE 6.0 "Hammer" sold for $665,000 (€615,000).

Both were originally delivered in Italy to industrialist Raul Gardini, creator of the America's Cup yacht Il Moro di Venezia. They entered the auction with a $1.25-1.75 million estimate for the sedan and an even higher $1,500,000-2,000,000 for the coupe. Here, there was a suspicion of damaging the auction results: the 300E sedan went for $753,500, and the coupe did even worse at $665,000. But how could they be guilty when, even at these prices, each set a record?

1988 Mercedes-Benz AMG 300 E 6.0 "Hammer" sold for $753,000 (€696,000).

And those oil stains? Recognized as lubricants used in 1940s and '50s Chryslers, I was forced to investigate. A group of four: a Town & Country Coupe (1950), a Sedan (1947), a Station Wagon "Barrelback" (1942), and a Convertible (1947). The rare Barrelback was estimated at $250,000-325,000, about three times the $80,000-100,000 estimate for the prestigious Convertible. The Sedan’s $70,000-90,000 estimate seemed high; I would have aligned it with the Coupe’s $50,000-70,000. But, being no-reserve cars, anything could happen.

1950 Chrysler Town and Country Coupe sold for $33,600 (€31,000).

Here, we must follow the trail, as it could be blood: the Station Wagon fetched only $117,600 — less than half its estimate. The Convertible’s valuation was just an illusion, as it sold for $53,200. The Sedan fell even lower at $35,840, while the Coupe was the cheapest at $33,600. A disaster: all four together sold for $240,240 against an estimate of $450,000-585,000. Undoubtedly the deal of the day. But the crime? No, these were minor players — small-time offenders. They couldn't be responsible for the auction's outcome.

1942 Chrysler Windsor Town and Country Barrelback sold for $117,600 (€108,500).

But which car would I have taken home? Even though it wasn’t under suspicion, I couldn’t resist interrogating the one I’d have taken: a 64-year-old aristocratic and elegant lady, the 1961 Jaguar E-Type S1 3.8 FHC. First series, first year, one of the earliest chassis without external latches but with welded hood vents. Stunning in Opalescent Bronze with a red leather interior—perhaps the best combination. It was magnificent, and speaking of crimes, I’d have killed to own it. But the market killed its ambitions: estimated at $175,000-225,000 (no reserve), it sold for just $123,200.

So, who attempted to "murder" the auction? No one, according to Cliff Poirot— or, if you prefer, Hercule Goodall. It was just a stumble, a small one at that, as can happen when classic car catalogs hold surprises from event to event. Rest assured — Gooding is in good shape. See you next year.

1961 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8-Litre Fixed Head Coupe sold for $123,200 (€114,000).