Mathieu Heurtault.
The automotive world is gearing up for one among its most anticipated occasions of the yr: the 2025 Amelia Island Auctions. Set to happen on 6 and seven March on the Omni Amelia Island Resort in Florida, the celebrated annual public sale showcases a stunning array of uncommon and traditionally vital vehicles. Historically held the weekend earlier than The Amelia Concours d’Magnificence, Gooding Christie’s choices are identified to be a standout on the Amelia Island Auctions, often that includes distinctive Porsches and uncommon collections from well-known figures, comparable to Jerry Seinfeld. This yr, the public sale home highlights a unprecedented assortment from Fred Leydorf, whose love for unique vehicles has left a outstanding mark on the trade. The headline providing — a surprising 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta — guarantees to steal the highlight, however it’s removed from the one masterpiece on provide.
Fred Leydorf & Ferrari
Mathieu Heurtault.
Within the traditional automobile world, Fred Leydorf’s legacy brings to thoughts an unwavering ardour for vehicles and a real advocate for Ferrari. Leydorf’s love for vehicles started at an early age — a trait which led him to change into a mechanical engineer at American Motors and Ford Motors. Ultimately, his love for unique vehicles prolonged to the Ferrari Membership of America, the place he performed a key position within the organisation’s institution. From 1971 to 1973, Leydorf turned integral to the membership’s development, serving as its fourth president and main its technical committee. His dedication to preserving the legacy of those autos — alongside together with his intensive community of buddies within the automotive world — allowed him to create a group of uncommon and traditionally vital vehicles.
The 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta holds a very particular place in Leydorf’s coronary heart. This explicit instance — a chassis 0472 AM — is predicted to fetch between USD 8,000,000 and USD 10,000,000, and serves as a historic instance of Ferrari’s engineering prowess and exclusivity. David Gooding, president of Gooding Christie’s, shared his enthusiasm for the sale: “It’s an unbelievable honour to carry the Fred Leydorf Assortment to market, particularly his magnificent Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta which has lengthy been thought of the centrepiece of his well-known assortment for over 55 years. We’re happy with our distinctive catalogue for Amelia Island, and are assured that our first official public sale as Gooding Christie’s can be a most memorable event.”
Initially ordered by Alfred Ducato, the vp of the United California Financial institution in San Francisco and a devoted Ferrari fanatic, the 375 MM Berlinetta was custom-built to Ducato’s specs. The manager had a longstanding private relationship with each Enzo Ferrari and Ferrari’s American distributor, Luigi Chinetti, and his Ferrari orders have been identified for his or her meticulous element. When the automobile was accomplished in February 1955, it was completed in Ferrari’s hanging mild blue Azzurro color, sporting a contrasting black roof and pure leather-based inside. Ducato’s Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta would go on to characterize the top of Ferrari’s road-going sports activities vehicles of the period, profitable First in Class for European Sports activities Automobiles over USD 10,000 on the Pebble Seaside Concours d’Magnificence in 1956.
Ultimately, the automobile handed to Norman N. Thompson, who repainted the automobile within the conventional Ferrari racing crimson through the Nineteen Sixties. Leydorf acquired the automobile in 1969, the place he sought to study extra concerning the automobile’s wealthy historical past. Within the following years, Leydorf consulted with a community of trusted Ferrari specialists, together with the legendary Aurelio Lampredi — Ferrari’s famend engineer — who offered a sketch of the engine’s inner workings. Leydorf’s enthusiasm for historical past and authenticity guided the automobile’s restoration, culminating in a triumphant debut on the Pebble Seaside Concours d’Magnificence in 2006 — precisely 50 years after the automobile was first proven on the occasion by Ducato.
Since its restoration, the Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta has been proven at choose concours occasions, to nice acclaim. Most lately, it earned the Better of Present International award on the 2019 Concours d’Magnificence and the Pavilion Award on the 2022 Cincinnati Concours d’Magnificence. Right now, the 375 MM’s present situation is a testomony to the dedication Leydorf invested within the automobile over greater than 55 years of possession, retaining its authentic engine, gearbox, and differentials.
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An Exhilarating Public sale Lineup
Whereas the Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta is undoubtedly the star of the public sale, different notable autos are certain to seize the eye of collectors.
1959 Porsche 356 A 1600 GS/GT Carrera Speedster
Mathieu Heurtault.
Estimated between USD 900,000 to USD 1,200,000, this 1959 instance is bodied by Reutter, one among Porsche’s most famous coachbuilders, and can also be a notable automobile in The Fred Leydorf Assortment. All through its time, the automobile has competed in among the most prestigious racing occasions of its time, together with Zandvoort, Avus, Solitude, and Monza. In recent times, it was awarded First in Class and Greatest Porsche on the 2017 Cincinnati Concours d’Magnificence, additional elevating its worth as a collector’s merchandise.
1960 Porsche 356 B Roadster
Mathieu Heurtault.
Additionally included in The Fred Leydorf is a 1960 Porsche 356 B Roadster, fetching a worth between USD 175,000 and USD 225,000, with out reserve. That includes coachwork by Drauz, the automobile is completed in Porsche’s uncommon color of Fjord Inexperienced. This explicit 356 B Roadster is a standout instance of Porsche’s dedication to high quality and craftsmanship through the period, with its pristine situation and timeless aesthetic making it a sought-after traditional.
1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 S
The 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 S is undoubtedly one of many star sights on the upcoming Amelia Island Auctions. This Miura showcases its gorgeous Berton coachwork, wearing a hanging Rosso Corsa (racing crimson) with a Skay Nero (black) inside and darkish blue inserts. This instance was owned by Giulio Vignale, nephew of legendary coachbuilder Alfredo Vignale, who acquired the automobile in 1969 and held onto it for a powerful 39 years. In newer occasions, the automobile underwent a complete restoration carried out by Miura specialists Carrozzeria Cremonini and High Motors. Consequently, the automobile is remarkably genuine, that includes quite a few period-correct particulars and retaining a lot of its authentic documentation, together with its Certificates d’Origine. With simply over 7,800 kilometres on the odometer, this case is predicted to fetch between USD 2,500,000 and USD 3,000,000.
1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS
One among solely 108 examples ever constructed, the 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS is an iconic piece of motorsport historical past, estimated at a worth between USD 1,500,000 to USD 1,800,000. Completed in silver metallic with a blue inside, this chassis 904-028 was initially owned by German racer Gerhard Koch. Throughout his possession, the automobile excelled on the racetrack, securing victories such because the Rheinland-Pfalz Trophy on the Nürburgring and a 2nd total end on the Grand Prix de Paris. After passing to a different German racer, Rainer Ising, the automobile continued its success in European occasions earlier than architect Alexander Pollack acquired the automobile in 1972, the place it stayed for greater than 5 many years. Because of its cautious preservation, the Porsche 904 has retained a lot of its authentic parts, together with its physique, tail part, and seating. The automobile is accompanied by an in-depth report by Porsche historian Jerry Pantis, who considers it one of the vital genuine and traditionally vital examples of the Porsche 904 in existence.
1954 Fiat 8V Collection II Berlinetta
The 1954 Fiat 8V Collection II Berlinetta is revered for its gorgeous design by Fabio Luigi Rapi and Carrozzerie Speciali, that includes a particular type of secondary decrease lights and entrance finish. This 8V stays a testomony to its meticulous preservation, retaining its matching-numbers engine (no. 000139) as confirmed by manufacturing facility information. Initially completed in a glossy mild inexperienced (Verde Metallizzata) and trimmed in beige leather-based, it has preserved its authentic inside for a powerful 71 years. The Italian automobile remained in its dwelling nation for many of its life, acquired by Angelo Brinobet in 1980, who owned a Fiat/Alfa Romeo dealership. Beneath Brinobet, the automobile was entered into 1000 Miglia reenactments and earned FIVA certification together with an ASI Gold standing — a uncommon accolade reserved for autos in excellent authentic situation. The Otto Vu additionally boasts entry acceptance for each the 2025 Heat Up USA occasion and the 2026 1000 Miglia, and is predicted to fetch a worth of USD 1,000,000 to USD 1,400,000.
1970 Porsche 914/6 GT
Mathieu Heurtault.
A uncommon gem from Porsche’s racing historical past, the 1970 Porsche 914/6 GT is one among solely 12 manufacturing facility works vehicles constructed for GT endurance testing. It was initially owned by German privateer racer Gotthard Egerland, and the automobile was actively campaigned in quite a lot of occasions, together with on the 1970 ADAC Eifelpokalrennen 500 Kilometers on the Nürburgring, the place it secured a sixth place end. Egerland raced the automobile till 1976, the place subsequent house owners continued the automobile’s racing legacy, comparable to Markus Schachtschneider, who used it in a number of historic European occasions. In 2019, the automobile underwent an exhaustive two-year nut-and-bolt restoration by Porsche specialist Gaswerks Storage. With its authentic color scheme, a 901/25 twin-plug competitors engine, and an in depth report by marque historian Jürgen Barth, the 914/6 GT is priced at USD 850,000 to USD 1,000,000.
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