Ferraris, of course, led the way at RM’s annual London auction, staged in conjunction with the prestigious Concours of Elegance, but other classic and collector cars offered in original and low-mileage condition also did very well.
The sale offered 80 earth-bound vehicles, plus one aerospace artifact. Sixty-nine of the ground-bound cars sold, an 86.25-percent sell-though, for a total of $36,285, 366.
A 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione “Tour de France” model, one of nine built, topped all sales at $8,118,993. The car had a long racing history and twice finished among the top 10 in the race from which it took its name.
A 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, one of 60 produced with alloy bodywork, achieved $3,266,261. Two other Ferraris — a 2003 Enzo and a 1989 F40 — also were among the top-5 in sales.
The third-highest sale, however, deviated from the Ferrari dominance. It was for a 1964 Shelby 289 Competition Cobra that brought $1,959,756. All prices listed here include RM’s buyer’s premium.
“It is wonderful to be reflecting on yet another remarkable sale,” RM Europe’s managing director Max Girardo said in a post-sale news release. “The London auction has always delivered great cars to the market and achieved strong results, and this year has been no exception. The results, which include a strong 86 percent sell through, are a true reflection of the quality of the vehicles presented.”
Speaking of quality, a 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS in classic Rosso Corsa and beige leather colors — and with fewer than 200 kilometers on its odometer — sold for $261,300, double its pre-auction estimate.
Also, a 1990 25th anniversary Lamborghini Countach with 2,600 k on its odo went for $373,287, well beyond its pre-auction estimate, and a 1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, a Group B World Rally Car, more than doubled its anticipated bids while selling for $261,300.
A highlight of the auction was the sale of the world’s fastest serially produced vehicle, a CIAM-NASA Hypersonic Flying Laboratory “Kholod.” Capable of achieving 4,925 miles per hour, the aerospace artifact sold for $63,367.
RM Auctions London, Top-10 sales:
- 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione “Tour de France,” $8,118,993
- 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB alloy, $3,266,261
- 1964 Shelby 289 Competition Cobra, $1,959,756
- 2003 Ferrari Enzo, $1,586,469
- 1989 Ferrari F40, $1,269,175
- 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400, $1,082,532
- 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster, $1,026,539
- 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio, $989,210
- 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider America, $933,217
- 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta, $905,221
(All prices include buyer’s premium.)
