RM Sotheby’s | Records Set for Any American Car and Any British Car at RM Sotheby’s Friday

RECORDS SET FOR ANY AMERICAN CAR AND ANY BRITISH CAR AT RM SOTHEBY’S FRIDAY MONTEREY AUCTION

 

• Le Mans legend: Ex-Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar D-Type smashes record for a British automobile sold at auction at final $21.78 million
• CSX 2000, the very first Shelby Cobra, achieves $13.75 million, setting a new auction benchmark for an American car
• RM Sotheby’s flagship Monterey, California sale continues, Saturday, August 20

 

MONTEREY, California (August 19, 2016) –  RM Sotheby’s kicked off its flagship Monterey, California sale before a packed house tonight, setting a series of records for automobiles offered fresh to the market.

Leading the charge, a 1955 Jaguar D-Type, chassis no. XKD 501, sold for $21,780,000 – the highest price ever achieved for a British automobile at auction. The 1956 Le Mans-winning D-Type, widely recognized as the most important Jaguar ever made, was the subject of a 15-minute bidding contest between four determined collectors before selling for a final $21.78 million, comfortably surpassing its $20 million low estimate.

Lot 135 1955 Jaguar D-Type $3,750,000 – $4,250,000

Lot 135 1955 Jaguar D-Type $3,750,000 – $4,250,000

Lot 135 1955 Jaguar D-Type $3,750,000 – $4,250,000

The first D-Type supplied by Jaguar to a privateer team, XKD 501 was sold new to the famed Scottish Racing team, Ecurie Ecosse, who campaigned it to victory at the grueling 1956 Le Mans 24 Hours. It was offered at tonight’s sale following almost two decades in one of America’s leading collections. The record-setting Jaguar is only the fourth British car to have sold for more than $10 million at auction and eclipses the previous record by over $7 million. That was set by a $14.3m 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato sold by RM Sotheby’s in New York in December 2015.

Closely following the sale of the legendary D-Type was an American legend – CSX 2000, the very first Shelby Cobra, which also roared into the record books, commanding a final price of $13,750,000 – a new auction benchmark for an American automobile. One of the most highly anticipated lots of this year’s Monterey auction week, the original Shelby Cobra was constructed and kept from new by the legendary Carroll Shelby and never left his care. Offered by the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust, CSX 2000’s strong sales price represents a new record for an American car sold at auction, besting the previous record ($11m for a 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf / Mirage), which was set at the same sale in August 2012.

Rounding out the top three sales for the evening was a 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider, chassis no. 0510 M, driven by the big three of American racing in period: Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby and Jim Hall. Presented by its owner of 60 years, Jim Hall, who addressed the standing-room only audience, it commanded $5,225,000 to establish a new auction record for the model.

“Tonight’s records for any British car, any American car, and for a Ferrari 750 Monza demonstrate that collectors remain prepared to part with significant sums to secure the rarest, fresh-to-the-market automobiles,” says Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division. “These outstanding prices achieved at our flagship sale are a reassuring sign that the market remains healthy and vibrant.”

RM Sotheby’s continues its flagship Monterey sale tomorrow evening from 7pm PT. For further information, please visit www.rmsothebys.com. Full results will be published in the coming days.

*Results are listed in USD and include 10 percent buyer’s premium.

RM Sotheby’s | THE MOST IMPORTANT AMERICAN SPORTS CAR TO EVER BE OFFERED FOR SALE: THE VERY FIRST SHELBY COBRA

• Unprecedented sale: RM Sotheby’s presents the first Shelby Cobra—CSX 2000—at its flagship Monterey, California sale, August 19-20
• Offered by the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust, CSX 2000 was owned from new by the legendary Carroll Shelby and has never left his care
• RM’s Monterey sale to also feature the 1965 Shelby Cobra 427, CSX 3178, also retained from new by the great Carroll Shelby and offered from the Carroll Shelby Foundation
• Further information, images and a frequently updated list of entries for RM Monterey available at www.rmsothebys.com

  

BLENHEIM, Ontario (June 29, 2016) – CSX 2000, the most important modern American car—period—and a vehicle that revolutionized the automotive world, will cross the auction block this summer as part of RM Sotheby’s flagship Monterey sale, August 19–20, in California. Offered for sale by the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust, the iconic Cobra was constructed and kept from new by the legendary Carroll Shelby and never left his ownership. A truly unprecedented event, its presentation in Monterey will command the attention of the global collector community.

The original Shelby Cobra, CSX 2000 marked the start of Carroll Shelby’s incredible automotive legacy. The car was born in 1962 in a small garage in Santa Fe Springs, California, after Carroll Shelby, joined by a handful of hot-rodders, shoehorned Ford’s new, lightweight, high revving 260-cubic inch V-8 into a modified AC Ace chassis. The result—a fierce sports car armed with incredible performance in a lithe, stylish package—became the cornerstone on which the great Carroll Shelby set the world on fire and forever changed the course of automotive history.

“When it comes to American sports cars, CSX 2000 is without peers. Its historical significance and impact on the global sports car scene cannot be overstated,” says Shelby Myers, Car Specialist, RM Sotheby’s. “In the automotive world, CSX 2000 was the shot heard ‘round the world; it revolutionized not only American racing, but the greater auto industry as a whole. Had Carroll Shelby never decided to squeeze that high performance V-8 into its engine bay, there would be no Cobra and certainly no Shelby American, nor GT40, nor the others that followed. The automotive landscape and sports cars as we know them would be very different.”

CSX 2000 played a multitude of roles during its early days. As the only one of its kind, it was not only used in testing and development, but also driven by the motoring press, and shown in cities across the U.S. to drum up interest and sales for the fledgling company, Shelby American, Inc. During this time, thanks to clever marketing, Shelby also convinced the public that Cobra production was in full swing; the car was repainted a different color for almost every appearance to give the impression that Shelby had more than one car in their inventory. In reality, it remained the first and only Cobra for seven months. CSX 2000’s technical specifications were also extraordinary. A 1962 road test by Road & Track revealed a 0–60 mph sprint in just 4.2 seconds, a standing quarter-mile run in 13.8 seconds at 112 mph, and a top speed of 153 mph.

Throughout its life, even after Cobra production ended, CSX 2000 never shied away from public view, nor did it change ownership. It has been featured in countless books and magazines, continually driven and critiqued in road tests, and a frequent motor show starlet. It was even used for a period of time by employees at the Carroll Shelby School of High Performance Driving. To commemorate the 50^thanniversary of the Shelby Cobra in 2012, CSX 2000 took center stage at some of the country’s most prominent events that year—the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion included. Since then, it has been a prominent and much-admired display at the Shelby Heritage Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Carroll and Rob Myers discussed Cobra #1 many times, and they were good friends. Their agreement that Rob would offer the car for Carroll’s Trust, after he was gone, was a very emotional one for both of them,” states Joe Conway, Co-Trustee with Neil Cummings of the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust. “Neil Cummings and I are now simply carrying out Carroll’s wishes, with no disrespect meant to the other individuals who meant so much to Carroll and did so much for his business and his Foundation over the years.”

Shelby Myers, on behalf of RM Sotheby’s adds, “We feel both incredibly honored and privileged to have been entrusted with CSX 2000’s sale by the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust. It is, without exception, the single most important and history-rewriting sports car ever offered at auction, after over 50 years of ownership and without ever leaving the care of its founding father. Supremely original and with extraordinary history, we’re beyond thrilled to celebrate and present this national treasure in Monterey this August.”

As part of a fantastic showcase celebrating 50 years of Shelby heritage, RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale will also offer the 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra, CSX 3178, on behalf of the Carroll Shelby Foundation. Another car in single-ownership with Carroll Shelby from new, CSX 3178 was fitted with a rare automatic transmission for his personal driving use. Also set for the RM Monterey podium, a 1999 Shelby Series I Roadster, CSX 5064, finished in Centennial Silver with Candy Apple Blue stripes, and sporting only 2,637 miles, and Carroll Shelby’s personal 1986 Dodge Shelby GLHS Omni, GLHS 086, showing just 7,733 miles, both of which are offered from the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust.

More on RM Sotheby’s

Amelia Island 2016: Results

RM Sotheby’s celebrated its 18th year in Amelia Island by presenting a terrific series of best-of-category automobiles across the block on March 12th. As one of the auction calendar favorites, our Amelia Island sale achieved a strong $38 million in sales to a standing room only crowd packed with bidders who journeyed from 20 countries. 

1956 JAGUAR D-TYPE WORKS “LONG NOSE” LEADS RM SOTHEBY’S RETURN TO ARIZONA

 

• RM Sotheby’s returns to the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa for its 17^thannual sale in Phoenix, January 28 – 29, 2016
• Two-day auction presents diverse roster of more than 100 blue-chip automobiles
• Early sports and racing highlights led by a rare 1956 Jaguar D-Type Works ‘Long Nose’
• Further information and frequently updated list of entries available online at www.rmsothebys.com

BLENHEIM, Ontario (October 27, 2015) – RM Sotheby’s, the world’s largest auction house for investment quality automobiles, will present more than 100 hand-selected motor cars from some of the most iconic automotive marques at its 17^th annual Arizona sale, returning January 28 – 29 to Phoenix. Held at the stunning Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, the two-day auction will build on RM’s strongest performance at the venue to date in 2015, an event which generated an incredible $63.7 million and witnessed the sale of the most valuable automobile in Arizona auction history. In keeping with past tradition, entries for the 2016 sale offer tremendous diversity, ranging from pre-war classics through to important sports and racing greats and contemporary supercars. 

Coming out of the gate strong, early highlights for the January auction are led by a 1956 Jaguar D-Type Works ‘Long Nose’, chassis no. XKD 604, the first of just six works long-nose examples built for the 1956 season, the final year of Jaguar’s D-Type racing effort. Throughout 1955, the Jaguar experimental department had been developing an independent, de Dion rear suspension, along with fuel injection for petrol delivery, and decided to incorporate these innovations into the first car built for the 1956 Jaguar works team.Following testing by Jaguar’s famed test engineer, Norman Dewis, XKD 604’s first competitive outing came at the Daily Express Silverstone event in May 1956; with Desmond Titterington behind the wheel, the featured Jaguar competed alongside two other works team cars. While the length of the Silverstone race did not warrant using the still novel Lucas mechanical fuel injection over the tried and true Weber carbs, XKD 604 was the only D-Type raced with an independent rear axle. At season’s end, the team cars were retired and XKD 604 was acquired by renowned Scottish racing team, Ecurie Ecosse, where it remained in storage until the team closed its doors in 1971. The Long Nose was eventually obtained by Scotsman Jim Tester in the 1970s, and later passed onto Michael Fisher of Britain, who commissioned its restoration by marque experts to original fuel-injected specification in 1986. It was then imported into the U.S. in 1992, landing with the vendor in 2004.

In recent years, the D-Type has been displayed at numerous hobby events, including the 2011 Monterey Motorsports Reunion, where it was part of the Jaguar Heritage Display, as well as at the 2012 Dana Point Concours d’Elegance, where it received the Featured Marque Award. XKD 604 comes to auction as a fantastic example of a very rare breed, ready to return to the track (Estimate available upon request).

“We’re thrilled to return to the Biltmore following what has been another record-setting year for RM Sotheby’s,” says Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division. “Arizona represents one of our strongest venues on the auction calendar, and we’re always working to secure the most desirable, fresh-to-market vehicles for this true collector car destination. The long-nose D-Type is a perfect example, as it has not changed hands in more than a decade, and offers a number of untapped historic event participation opportunities for its next enthusiast owner.”

Additional early European highlights secured for RM’s Arizona sale include a desirable array of Ferraris spanning several decades of the famed marque’s history. Leading the group is a U.S.-specification 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta, chassis no. 14819, finished in its factory-original colors of bright Giallo Fly over Nero, fitted with factory air-conditioning, and having travelled less than 27,000 miles from new (Est. $700,000 – $800,000). Representing two points in the Testarossa’s evolution are a 1991 Ferrari Testarossa, chassis no. 87482, with just 4900 miles on the odometer and originally owned by Luigi Della Grotta, a friend of Enzo Ferrari’s and the first importer of Ferraris into Canada (Est. $225,000 – $300,000, offered without reserve), along with a potent 1995 Ferrari F512 M, chassis no. 100154, one of just five delivered new to the U.S. in striking Giallo Modena paintwork (Est. $400,000 – $500,000). The modern era prancing horse is offered in the form of a rare 2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta, chassis no. 182788, one of only 80 examples produced and showing a mere 1200 miles from new (Est. $1,100,000 – $1,500,000).

RM’s sale will also present two very different yet equally desirable examples of Porsche’s timeless 911 design, each offered without reserve. The pair includes a highly original, well-optioned and numbers-matching 1976 Porsche 911 Turbo Carrera, chassis no. 9306800074, a California car finished in Grand Prix White with a Cinnamon leather interior (Est. $225,000 – $275,000); and, a 1968 Porsche 911 S ‘Soft Window’ Targa, chassis no. 11850368, the recipient of a recent nut-and-bolt restoration by marque specialists, complete with a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity (Est. $200,000 – $250,000).

Leading up to the sale, the Arizona Biltmore will host the Arizona Concours d’Elegance, January 24, of which RM Sotheby’s is a proud sponsor, creating an ideal destination for enthusiasts looking to enjoy a week of classic car camaraderie.

For further information, or to discuss limited consignment opportunities for the Arizona sale, please visit www.rmsothebys.com or contact an RM Sotheby’s car specialist at +1 310 559 4575.

 

 

 

RM SOTHEBY’S TO OFFER THE EX-FANGIO, FERRARI 290 MM IN NEW YORK CITY

 

• RM Sotheby’s secures ex-works 1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti, chassis 0626, for its ‘Driven by Disruption’ sale, December 10 in New York City
• Built for racing legend and five-time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio to compete in the 1956 Mille Miglia, 0626 was driven by the ‘Who’s Who’ of motorsport in period
• Career highlights include 1^stoverall in the 1957 World Championship Buenos Aires 1000 KM
• Fully documented and never crashed, 0626 is one of the world’s most significant and original competition Ferraris
• ‘Driven by Disruption’ to also present an exceptionally original 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial, chassis 0564MD/0424MD
• A showcase of automotive perfection and beauty, December 10 auction features carefully curated roster of 30 creatively-styled, cutting-edge automobiles and select memorabilia
• Further information and a frequently updated list of entries available online at www.rmsothebys.com 

NEW YORK, New York (19 October 2015) – In the history of motor racing, it is hard to imagine two names with greater stature than Ferrari and Juan Manuel Fangio, the enigmatic five-time Formula One World Champion. To find a car which so closely connects these two great motor racing legends is the Holy Grail for car collectors and aficionados the world over. RM Sotheby’s is thrilled to announce it will offer one such automobile, the ex-Works 1956 Ferrari 290 MM, chassis 0626, at its exclusive Driven by Disruption sale, December 10 in New York City. Raced not only by Fangio but also future World Champion Phil Hill, along with numerous other celebrated Ferrari Formula One drivers, the featured Ferrari is undoubtedly one of the greatest, most original, and most valuable cars ever offered at public auction.

Chassis 0626 was specifically built by the Ferrari factory for Juan Manuel Fangio to drive in the 1956 Mille Miglia. Certainly the best driver of his era, and classed by many as the greatest driver who ever lived, Fangio raced 0626 in the 1000-mile event single-handedly, finishing an impressive 4th overall in a race hindered by appalling conditions. Dressed in the unique factory Argentinian color scheme for Fangio, the car featured a totally new 3.5-liter V-12 engine and was one of only four 290 MMs to be built. Furthermore, it was one of the first Ferraris raced in Europe by Phil Hill and also heralded the beginning of Wolfgang von Trips’ Ferrari-driving career. It was famously piloted to victory in the 1957 Buenos Aires 1000 KM by Eugenio Castellotti, Luigi Musso, and Masten Gregory. During its illustrious career, 0626 was also campaigned by other legendary names including Alfonso de Portago, Peter Collins, Olivier Gendebien, and Joakim Bonnier.  

“It’s hard to know where to start when describing just how important this 290 MM is,” says Peter Wallman, Car Specialist, RM Sotheby’s. “Driven by the greatest drivers of the 1950s and built for possibly THE greatest driver in history, this is a car with which Enzo Ferrari was personally involved and is a fundamental part of Ferrari folklore. Its originality, coupled with its extraordinary provenance and history, which are truly second to none, can only lead you to conclude that it is one of the most desirable and valuable cars that will ever come to the open market.”

Combining rarity, powerful mechanical specification, important racing history, and purposeful good looks, 0626 is the ultimate 1950s factory sports racing car. An integral part of Ferrari’s 1956 and 1957 Manufacturer’s World Championship-winning teams, it participated in a roll-call of classic races during its period racing career, a selection of which are outlined below.

April 28/29, 1956                 Mille Miglia                                           Fangio

May 27, 1956                       Nürburgring 1000 KM                         Hill/de Portago/Gendebien/Wharton

July 8, 1956Rouen              Grand Prix                                            de Portago

August 11/12, 1956             2^nd Sveriges Sports Car GP              von Trips/Collins

January 20, 1957                Buenos Aires 1000 KM                       Gregory/Castellotti/Musso

June 9, 1957                        Portugal GP                                          Gregory

In 1957, 0626 was sold through Luigi Chinetti to enthusiast Temple Buell, a friend of Enzo Ferrari, who continued to campaign the car around the world with Masten Gregory and Jo Bonnier behind the wheel. It then passed through the hands of two enthusiastic Ferrari team owners and continued to be raced up to 1964, eventually making its way into a private U.S. collection.

Following the end of its racing career, 0626 remained in the United States before it was acquired by renowned collector Pierre Bardinon, remaining in his incredible Mas du Clos Collection for almost 34 years before being purchased by its current custodian. It has since been presented at numerous prestigious events, including the 1987 Cartier “Hommage to Ferrari” exhibition and the UK’s Concours of Elegance, as well as participating in the Mille Miglia Storica. Ferrari Classiche certified, it remains the best of all the four examples built, having never fallen victim to the crucible of motorsport, and retaining its original chassis, matching-numbers engine, gearbox, and body. It comes to auction accompanied by an extensive history file and is eligible for all major historic events, including its 60^th anniversary at the Mille Miglia next year (Estimate available upon request).

The 290 MM will be joined at RM Sotheby’s New York sale by another great competition Ferrari of the same era, the 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial, chassis 0564MD/0424MD. Finished in French Blu and equipped with a Lampredi four-cylinder engine with dual overhead camshafts, 0564MD/0424MD was sold new to French gentleman driver Mr. Yves Dupont in 1955 and successfully campaigned in period. It made its racing debut at the 12 heures de Hyères in May 1955 and later entered the famous and demanding Liège-Rome-Liège. Following the end of the 1955 season, 0564MD/0424MD was returned to the factory to be refurbished; it was never picked up by its owner and instead remained there for the next two decades, during which time it was oversprayed red by the factory and displayed at the Monza Museum. In 1975, the factory sold the car to French enthusiast Jean-Francois du Montant. Over the ensuing years,0564MD/0424MD passed through the hands of a number of respected, enthusiast owners.

In 2008, the then-owner of 0564MD/0424MD arranged for a Padova-based body shop to delicately remove the red paint to reveal the original French Blu paint underneath, a project that took three months to complete. The car still wears its original French Blu paint today. In recent years, 0564MD/0424 MD has participated in a number of historic events, including multiple appearances at the Mille Miglia Storica, as well as at various concours events including Salon Privé. Extraordinarily original, it comes to auction following a fresh engine rebuild and complete with Ferrari Classiche certification. It is eligible to participate in all key historic events (Est. $5,000,000 – $7,000,000).

RM Sotheby’s Driven by Disruption event rounds out an already record year for the international auction house. The upcoming New York sale, to be held at Sotheby’s Manhattan headquarters on December 10, will feature a carefully curated selection of some 30 creatively-styled and pioneering motor cars, along with select automobilia. Each of the auction vehicles have been handpicked by RM specialists to showcase the extremes of motoring history and the molds that were broken by engineers and designers in pushing the automotive envelope.  As a prelude to the sale, an exclusive six-day exhibition will open over the weekend of December 5 in Sotheby’s 10^th floor galleries.

For further information, or to view a frequently updated list of entries, please visit www.rmsothebys.com

RM SOTHEBY’S SETS NEW COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION BENCHMARK WITH $172.9 MILLION MONTEREY EXTRAVAGANZA

 

• RM Sotheby’s generates highest ever total for a collector car auction: $172.9 million in sales at its flagship Monterey, California event
• 1964 Ferrari 250 LM claims top sale of the 2015 Monterey Car Week at a record $17,600,000
• Pinnacle Portfolio sets new auction benchmark for a single-day, single-vendor auction at $75.4 million
• RM Auto Restoration claims sixth Best of Show win at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
• Complete results available at www.rmsothebys.com

 RM SOTHEBY’S MONTEREY BY THE NUMBERS:

More than 3,600 auction attendees

Bidders from 31 countries

Nine hours of auction action

129 cars sold

$172.9 million in sales

36 individual million-dollar-plus results; seven lots achieve more than $5 million; four lots exceed $10 million

LOS ANGELES, California (August 19, 2015) – RM Sotheby’s cemented its undisputed leadership position in the global collector car auction industry on the weekend, generating a remarkable $172.9 million* in auction and post-auction private sales during its three-day Monterey event in California. The impressive tally ranks the event as the highest grossing collector car auction of all time, besting the company’s 2014 Monterey performance by more than 20 percent.

In addition to posting the top auction sales of the weekend, the RM team clinched its sixth ‘Best of Show’ win at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, with the spectacular 1924 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A F. Ramseier & Cie Worblaufen Cabriolet, owned by The Patterson Collection and freshly restored by RM Auto Restoration, taking top honors at the prestigious event. The win represents RM’s sixth ‘Best of Show’ at Pebble Beach in the new millennium, an unmatched achievement, and was joined by a number of other awards for other RM Auto Restoration prepared cars.

“We’ve certainly reached new heights with this year’s Monterey sale, setting multiple new benchmarks,” says Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division.

“The results truly speak for themselves and reflect our commitment to bringing not only the best to the market, but backing our product by extensive research and documentation. In addition, the Monterey event was truly a fantastic showcase of the RM and Sotheby’s teams working in concert to build a global platform for collector cars. Bidders hailed from 31 countries, 20 percent represented first-time clientele, and we welcomed increased participation from collectors in the 30 – 40 age bracket. It was definitely a weekend for the history books, and to cap it off with a Best of Show win at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance made it all the more thrilling and memorable.”

RM’s Monterey sale was extended to three days in 2015, with the auction room attracting a standing-room-only audience across all sessions. Bidders from 31 countries were drawn to the carefully curated offering, with multiple bidding contests erupting between those in the room and on the telephone, including collectors bidding with Sotheby’s representatives. No less than 36 lots achieved individual million-dollar-plus results, with four lots exceeding $10 million. In total, RM Sotheby’s was responsible for six of the top 10 sales of this year’s Monterey Car Week, including the top sale of the week – a historic 1964 Ferrari 250 LM from the Pinnacle Portfolio, which garnered a terrific $17,600,000 to set a new auction record for the model.

The Pinnacle Portfolio

Offered on Thursday evening, it was the Pinnacle Portfolio – an extraordinary private collection of 25 post-war sports cars – that set the tone for the three-day event, realizing an incredible $75.4 million in auction and post-auction private sales to comfortably set a new record for a single-day, single-vendor automobile auction, along with establishing numerous other auction benchmarks. In addition to the sale-topping Ferrari 250 LM, the group was highlighted by strong results for contemporary supercars, for which strong pre-sale interest led to record-setting values. Headlining this group was the iconic 1998 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’ which spurred lively bidding to sell for a remarkable $13,750,000 to set a new record as the most valuable British car ever sold at auction. One of the sale’s most exciting moments came when the 2005 Ferrari Enzo, originally gifted by the factory to Pope John Paul II, crossed the block, more than tripling the previous record for the model at a final $6,050,000. Additional highlights included a 1994 Ferrari F40 LM for a record $3,300,000; a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren for an incredible $495,000; and the 2005 Saleen Twin Turbo for $682,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $350,000  – $500,000.

Additional Highlights

Multiple new auction benchmarks were set during the course of RM’s three-day Monterey event. A 1953 Jaguar C-Type Works Lightweight brought $13,200,000 on Friday to become the most valuable Jaguar sold at auction, while on Saturday, a 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione ‘Tour de France’, the first ‘Tour de France-winning’ TdF, also achieved $13,200,000, a record price for the model at auction.

Illustrating the incredible quality of RM’s 2015 catalogue, as well as the company’s strength across all categories, other notable sales included:

 

• Aston-Martins from all eras achieved strong results, with many examples well-exceeding pre-sale expectations. Stand-out lots included: a 1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C for $1,155,000; a 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Mk I Shooting Brakefor $682,000; and a 2013 Aston-Martin Centennial DB9 Spyder by Zagato for $693,000 (against a pre-sale estimate of  $380,000 – $450,000);

• Representing American marques, a 1910 American Underslung Traveler Toy Tonneaudoubled its estimate at a terrific $1815,000 (a record for the model); and a 1933 Marmon Sixteen Victoria Coupe also well-exceeded expectations at a strong $907,500; and,

• A stunning 1952 Jaguar XK120 Supersonicattracted tremendous pre-sale interest to sell for $2,090,000 – a record for a Jaguar XK120 sold at public auction.

RM Sotheby’s top 10 Monterey sales:

1. Lot 113: 1964 Ferrari 250 LM – $17,600,000 (record for a Ferrari 250 LM at auction)
2. Lot 107: 1998 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’ – $13,750,000 (record for a British car sold at auction)
3. Lot 235: 1953 Jaguar C-Type Works Lightweight – $13,200,000 (record for a Jaguar sold at auction)
4. Lot 332:1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione ‘Tour de France’  – $13,200,000 (record for a TdF sold at auction)
5. Lot 118: 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider – $8,500,000(post-sale transaction)
6. Lot 217: 1950 Ferrari 275S/340 America Barchetta- $7,975,000.00
7. Lot 103: 2005 Ferrari Enzo – $6,050,000 (record for a Ferrrari Enzo sold at auction)
8. Lot 342: 1931 Bentley 4½-Litre Supercharged Two-Seater Sports – $4,015,000
9. Lot 309: 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy – $3,960,000
10. Lot 116: 1994 Ferrari F40 LM – $3,300,000 (record for a Ferrari F40 LM sold at auction)
11. Lot 121: 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 – $3,300,000

A full list of RM Sotheby’s million-dollar-plus sales in Monterey is available for viewing here, and a short video highlights reel here.

RM Sotheby’s continues its busy summer calendar of events, September 7 in London, England for its annual sale at Battersea Evolution held in partnership with the UK’s Concours of Elegance.

For further information on the upcoming London sale, or to view full results from RM Sotheby’s Monterey, please visit www.rmsothebys.com.

RM Sotheby’s announces one of the most important Ferrari competition cars of all time for Monterey

BLENHEIM, Ontario (July 24, 2015) – RM Sotheby’s has announced the historic 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione ‘Tour de France’, chassis 0557GT, as the final headline attraction for its flagship Monterey sale, returning to California, August 13-15.

An important piece of Ferrari history, this influential berlinetta is the actual car that instituted the ‘Tour de France” nomenclature following its overall victory at that race in 1956. The announcement of its addition to RM’s Monterey lineup coincides with the release of the company’s complete digital Monterey catalogue, now available at www.rmsothebys.com.

“Our Monterey sale continues to raise the bar for collector car auctions year after year, and we’re excited to continue the tradition next month. Our specialists have handpicked a truly outstanding roster of vehicles for this year’s sale, each vetted for its correctness and authenticity – it will certainly be a great showcase of our focus on quality of product and inventiveness of presentation,” says Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division.  “We’re thrilled to round out what is certainly our finest Monterey offering to date with a car of such incredible historical significance as the first ‘Tour de France’-winning, Tour de France!”

The fifth of only seven Scaglietti-bodied first-series competition berlinettas, 0557GT is certainly one of the most important ‘Tour de France’ examples in existence and among the most historically important Ferrari competition cars ever built. Destined for the track, it was sold new to the legendary Marquis Alfonso de Portago, the flamboyant and daring Spanish driver, who, joined by his close friend Ed Nelson, entered the car in the 1956 Tour de France Auto. The event saw 0557GT routed at 3,600 miles and undertake two hillclimbs, one drag race, and six races at various circuits, including Le Mans, Comminges, Rheims, and Montlhéry. Portago and Nelson managed to win five of the six circuits, claiming 1st overall and beating both Stirling Moss’s Mercedes-Benz 300 SL and future three-time Tour winner Olivier Gendebien’s Ferrari 250 Europa GT. 0557GT’s spectacular performance marked the first of four consecutive victories for the mighty 250 GT Berlinetta model at the French race, a foundation of its legend and TdF namesake.

0557GT is essentially undefeated in its racing career. Following its triumph at the Tour de France, Portago piloted the car to a 1st-overall finish at the Coupes du Salon at Montlhéry in October 1956, followed by a 1^st place finish at the Rome Grand Prix that same year. He went on to drive the car to the top of the podium at the Coupes USA in April 1957. Following Portago’s tragic and untimely death at the Mille Miglia in May 1957, 0557GT was returned to the Maranello factory and offered by the Portago family to Alfonso’s friend, C. Keith W. Schellenberg, of Richmond, Yorkshire, England, who kept the car for the next two decades.

Since that time, 0557GT has passed through a well-documented chain of owners, has been the recipient of a ground-up restoration by marque specialists, and subsequently, exhibited at many of the world’s leading events. It is important to note that it has never been wrecked or suffered any major damage, and remains highly original, which is unusual for a car with such phenomenal racing pedigree. In recent years, 0557GT’s success on the track has transferred to the show field, with the ravishing Ferrari earning numerous awards, including at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Presented in wonderful cosmetic and mechanical condition, it is offered at RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale for the first time in 23 years, where it is expected to set a new benchmark for the model. A short video of the Tour de France in action is available for viewing here: http://bit.ly/1Is2Oix (Estimate available upon request).

“The Tour de France is the first significant model in Ferrari’s successful 250 lineage – it predates the Testa Rossa, the SWB Berlinetta, the 250 GTO and the 250 LM, and, as such, represents an important milestone in the company’s history,” says Alain Squindo, Vice President, RM Sotheby’s.

Squindo continues, “0557GT is part of a very exclusive group of Ferrari’s most historically important individual cars, as famous designations like “Mille Miglia,” “Daytona,” and of course “Tour de France” were earned by singular cars that reigned victorious at those races. 0557GT therefore stands head and shoulders above its fellow stablemates, which it effectively named. Add to that the car’s history with Fon de Portago, its exquisite presentation and freshness to market, and the scene is set for a very, very memorable Monterey auction.”

In a year where Ferrari is set to take center stage at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, it is fitting that the TdF is surrounded at the RM sale by no less than 37 other examples from the famed Maranello marque. Among other highlights, the previously announced 1950 Ferrari 275S/340 America Barchetta, chassis 0030MT, one of nine Works-entry Ferrari barchettas of the 1950s and raced in period by Alberto Ascari, Giovanni Bracco and Gianni Marzotto (Est. $7,500,000 – $10,000,000); and, the 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe ‘Boano Prototype’, chassis 0435GT, the fourth of nine Pinin Farina-bodied prototypes and formerly owned by racing manager, Paul Blancpain (Est. $1,250,000 – $1,750,000).