RM Sotheby’s moved both the date and the venue of its annual auction in London. The date slid 6 weeks later from the early September schedule of 2013-2018 while the venue moved to the Olympia exhibition and conference centre in Kensington.
Neither seemed to have beneficial effect with the sale total the second lowest since RM’s first London auction at Battersea Park in 2007.
While the barely used Lamborghini Miura P400S which sold for $1.6 million captured the headlines, unpublicized was the fact it was the only lot sold on a hammer bid over $1 million. Missing from the “Sold” column were five lots bid to over a million each including all three race cars from the Swiss-based Autobau collection.
The twenty-seven lots that didn’t sell had total hammer bids of $12.4 million. That would have added over $14 million to the sale’s total after including RM’s London Buyer’s Premium of 15% of the first £200,000 and 12.5% of amounts over that.
Results were not helped by the pound, either, which is at its lowest to the US$ since RM’s first London auction thirteen years ago.
Blame it on the thirteenth year being unlucky?
Here are the numbers:
| Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Sold < Low Est | Sold > High Est | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ | Exchange Rate |
| 2019 | 58/85 | 68.2% | 65.5% | 3.5% | $205,285 | $126,691
[61.7%] |
$11,906,543 | $1.2810 |
| 2018 | 50/90 | 53.2% | 72% | None | $242,257 | $118,708
[49%] |
$12,112,837 | $1.2903 |
| 2017 | 37/69 | 53.6% | 56.8% | 13.5% | $251,404 | $121,541
[48.3%] |
$9,301,965 | $1.3211 |
| 2016 | 65/86 | 75.6% | 53.9% | 24.6% | $444,118 | $216,625
[48.8%] |
$28,867,640 | $1.3339 |
Chris Sharpe attended; the final content and comments are my responsibility.
Lots are sorted in Lot # order.
Lot # 131 1961 Ferrari 250 GTE 2 + 2, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 2947; Engine # 2947; Blu Dauphine/Panno Rosso leather; Estimate $416,325 – $480,375; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $454,755 plus commission of 13.91%; Final Price $518,004. – Borrani 15-inch wire wheels, driving lights, woodrim steering wheel, Ansa exhaust. – Fresh restoration completed three months ago in the U.K. The exterior presents well as a fresh restoration should but has minor ripples in the paint around the gutters. There is evidence of filler on many panels. The exterior door and window chrome trim is reused without plating. The fresh interior leather is perfection. The interior is all superb except for scuffs on the door sill kick plates. The Borrani wheels are not freshly polished and are slightly yellowing. The Pirelli Radials have good tread but there is road dust in the arches. Sold new in Italy but spent much of its life in the Western U.S. This example of Ferrari’s first production 2+2 has been subject to an £85k restoration finished last year, including an engine rebuild by GTO Engineering. Represented as an original numbers car which is awaiting Ferrari Classiche Certification. A good presentation with minor niggles. – One of the strongest sales of the auction, this result bucks the trend of Enzo-era V12 Ferraris struggling to bring top dollar, as this was concours-car money for a not-quite concours-quality car.
Lot # 132 2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ99ZAS794170; Sport Classic Grey, Light Grey stripes/Espresso Brown leather with White piping; Estimate $320,250 – $384,300; Unrestored original, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $256,200. – Power Kit (polished inlet with remapped ECU), wider Carrera 4S body, Adaptive Sports seats, ceramic composite brakes, yellow calipers, original manuals and tool kit included. – Showing just 3,498 miles. The interior looks mint at first glance but the driver’s seat side bolster shows light wear. That is the only distraction from a superb-looking barely used limited-production 911. – Porsche Exclusive only built 250 of these refreshingly old-school heritage-driven 911 Sport Classics and far fewer in right-hand drive. RM Sotheby’s sold another one in Arizona at the beginning of the year for an astonishing $654,000, and while that was a 150-mile example, it’s in the States under the Show and Display rule. The gap between these two results for nearly identical cars is difficult to make sense of, but the owner of this one can’t be blamed for expecting more.
Lot # 133 1994 Ferrari 412 T1 Formula 1; S/N 149; Engine # 28; Rosso Corsa/Black; Estimate $1,793,400 – $2,305,800; Competition car, original as-raced, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,537,200. – Early spec “041” 65-degree V12 Engine, transverse mounted semi-automatic gearbox with paddle shifts, carbon fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque, pushrod torsion bar suspension, two sets of spare wheels and tyre blankets, BBS gold painted race wheels with Avon 245/640 R13 tyres, quick release Alcantara Momo steering wheel, digital dashboard. – The body panels appear original with a recent respray. The front edges are worn from sand and stone abrasions. The interior looks tidy. The Alcantara seat is not overly worn, nor is the steering wheel. The BBS gold painted wheels are chipped. The rain tyres look aged but not worn. The second of eight 412 T1s. Comes with Ferrari Classiche Classified and extensive documentation. Driven by both Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger during the 1994 season, it took third in Brazil with Alesi driving and second in Italy with Berger at the wheel. Sold to its first owner in 2002, it has been kept in running order and used at several track days. Autobau Collection. – While the 3.5-liter V12 in this car makes one of the better sounds ever heard in F1, the 1994 season was unremarkable by Ferrari standards with third in the Constructors’ Championship along with a third in the Drivers’ Championship for Gerhard Berger and fifth for Jean Alesi while Schumacher took the first of his seven titles. That said, aside from the heritage, old Ferrari Grand Prix cars are particularly desirable because with Ferrari’s Corse Clienti program people can actually use and drive the cars instead of using them as expensive garage art. Other cars, from better days for Scuderia Ferrari and driven by more famous drivers, have sold for more, including $7.5M for an ex-Schumacher F2001 and $6M for an ex-Lauda 312T. This reported high bid, however, isn’t far off from what other less famous modern Ferrari Grand Prix cars have sold for.
Lot # 135 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Final Edition Coupe; S/N WDDRJ7JA5EA011085; Imola Grey/Black diamond quilted leather; Estimate $352,275 – $416,325; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Reserve; Hammered Sold at $307,440 plus commission of 14.58%; Final Price $352,275. – Speed Shift DCT 7-speed semi-automatic gearbox, gullwing doors, carbon fibre hood with central air outlet, front splitter, carbon fibre rear wing, forged alloy wheels in matte black, red calipers. – The paint has no stone chips or marks. The interior looks and smells new. The wheels and tyres are fresh and unmarked. In as new condition, as it should be given the 75 km showing. – With more powerful than the base SLS AMG along with quicker shifting, interior upgrades and more carbon fiber, the GT is a clear cut above the base model but not as track-focused as the Black Series, and this Final Edition is one of just 350 built. Others can be found on the classified sites asking more, but this result is more than the car would have cost new and the consignor prudently accepted it.
Lot # 136 1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk II Coupe; S/N DB6MK2F14321R; Engine # 4004570F1; Tudor Green/Black leather; Estimate $320,250 – $384,300; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $219,998 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $252,998. – Engine built to Vantage specs with triple Webers, 5-speed ZF gearbox, chrome wire wheels, Blaupunkt radio, woodrim steering wheel. – The paint finish is showing work around the headlamps and has minor swirls here and there, an average respray not to a high enough standard for this car The fender rechroming is even. The black leather looks original, is in good condition without cracks or blemishes but smells musty and old. The roof lining is sagging and yellowing. The wheels are chromed and are in good condition. The Avon tires look aged. Major water leak under the radiator. A very late production DB6, reportedly one of just 46 originally fitted with Brico fuel injection, though it now breathes through Webers. Maintained, but never restored. – A DB6 MKII is a sublimely beautiful, easy on the eye gentleman’s steed, but this example has had better days and could easily be improved. This result appears to be negotiated after it left the block and at this price the new owner has plenty of room to do just that. The price paid is project car money even though the DB6 is better than that.
Lot # 137 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ99ZWS398020; Engine # 62P85805; Grand Prix White/Black; Estimate $550,830 – $614,880; Competition car, original as-raced, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $499,590. – 3746cc/400hp with VarioRam, BBS wheels, roll cage, single Recaro racing seat with Shroth harness, Firesense extinguisher, adjustable front anti-roll bar, high rear wing. – One of 30 Carrera Cup 3.8 race cars and the last shipped to the U.S. Raced in the 1999 SCCA Speedvision World Challenge GT Championship in 10 events with four podium finishes by Rookie of the Year George Biskup, then by Daniel Eastman for the next three seasons. Later modified to look like a GT2 and given an engine upgrade. The paint is fresh, unblemished and superb for a racer. The interior is immaculately presented, even the seat and harness are unmarked. The BBS alloy split rims are as new. Only the tires have any sign of use. Represented to be the original engine, replacement gearbox installed, original included. A superb race car, recently freshened. – An unusually well-restored old race car still capable of competitive performance on track days for which the reported high bid was reasonable, particularly for a lefthand drive Porsche in righthand drive London.
Lot # 139 2006 Maserati MC12 GT1 Coupe; S/N ZAMDF44B000024053; Dark Blue, “Lista”/Black; Estimate $2,305,800 – $2,946,300; Competition car, original as-raced, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,049,600. – 6-speed semi-automatic gearbox, 10-spoke alloy wheels, Brembo brakes. – Actively raced in ALMS when new without significant results. From the nose cone back this car has marks, bug splats and chips. The headlamps covers are cracked and aged. The carbon fibre shows through the paint finish. The wheels are kerb scraped and damaged. The Michelin tyres are aged. The side Perspex windows are opaque. The interior is soiled and well used, the seats have layers of black duct tape. Looks like it just came off the track even though it was last competitively raced in the ALMS over a decade ago. Autobau Collection. – This is a handsome offer for the Ferrari Enzo’s longer brother, a car that has always struggled to find its place in the hierarchy of Italian exotics and one that has little record of success in racing. The reported high bid deserved more serious consideration than it appears to have gotten.
Lot # 140 1989 Jaguar XJR-11 Coupe; S/N 590; White, Purple, “Silk Cut”/Black; Estimate $1,345,050 – $1,601,250; Competition car, original as-raced, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,152,900. – 3.5-liter JRV6 with twin Garrett turbos, carbon ceramic brakes, digital display, Alcantara steering wheel, right side gearchange, Kevlar race seat, Willans blue race harness, BBS wheels, slick tires. – A Group C-spec XJR-11, first campaigned with chassis number 289 and driven to a fourth at Monza then a second at Silverstone. With its current chassis number 590 it finished in second at Spa and fourth at Dijon and the Nürburgring before a podium result in Mexico. TWR Team drivers included Jan Lammers and Andy Wallace. The paint finish looks superb with no chips or marks at all. The panel finish is correctly uneven but the panel gaps and fitments are twisted here and there. The interior is functional and clean with little wear. The pedals and the steering wheel are not worn. No scrapes from driver changes. Even the windshield looks freshly fitted. The wheels are polished well on the rims with the gold centres resprayed. Only the centerlock hexagonal nuts are worn. Very clean and ready to race. – Overshadowed both by the V12 XJR-12 that came after it and by the Mercedes C11, the V6 XJR-11 was nevertheless a highly competitive car from some of Jaguar’s better years in sports car racing, plus it has all the right looks in Silk Cut cigarette livery. It is eligible for historic Group C events, but other opportunities to actually enjoy this big cat are limited. Given that, and its good but not exceptional history, this reported high bid seems reasonable. It was reported sold by Brooks at the Goodwood Festival in 2000 for $225,496, £150,000 at the time, the high bid here is £900,000.
Lot # 152 1985 Lancia Delta S4 Rally Hatchback; S/N ZLA038AR000000202; White, Martini graphics/Black; Estimate $928,725 – $1,024,800; Competition car, original as-raced, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $864,675 plus commission of 13.24%; Final Price $979,164. – 1759cc twin-charged four with supercharger, turbocharger and two intercoolers, all-wheel drive, Weber-Marelli IAW integrated electronic ignition and fuel injection, Halda rally computer, Kevlar shelled Sparco rally seats with driver name stitched in, Abarth Classiche Certification, tubular space frame, carbon composite body panels, white sprayed alloy wheels. – One of 28 Group B-spec S4s built. Won the 1985 RAC Rally, the S4’s debut race, with Henri Toivonen and Neil Wilson. Sold after the end of Group B to private owners and used in slalom events as well as historic rallies more recently. Since restored to original specs. The frontal area has been resprayed but sides and rear appear original. The left front part of the frame has been replaced. The Perspex windows are original with slight scratches. The mechanicals look original but maintained. The white alloy wheel paint has been resprayed but the Pirelli tires are old. Used as a T-car for most of its Group B era career, it was spared the abuse of WRC competition suffered by many of its contemporaries, but this is still a factory-run Delta S4 that won the model’s debut event. – The Delta S4 embodies Group B more than perhaps any other car given its mix of technological wizardry, outrageous performance and lack of safety. Collectors have begun to recognize the significance of the Group B days and the cars that spawned from them, and the homologation special road-going version have traded hands at increasingly high prices for a few years now. The actual rally cars, on the other hand, are a rare sight at auction. This is a lot of money, but it also bought a fascinating and significant car. And since RM also sold a pristine Delta S4 Stradale (street version) in Essen this year for Euros 1,040,000 ($1.142M at the time of the sale), this almost looks like a deal.
Lot # 155 1990 Porsche 962C Group C; S/N 962159; Engine # 962207; White, Blue “Nisseki”/Black; Estimate $1,281,000 – $1,921,500; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,056,825. – Aluminum monocoque chassis, long tail bodywork and high down force aero panels, new fuel, brake and airlines, BBS alloy wheels with hexagonal centre lock nuts and split pins, Avon slick tires, side exit exhaust with gold heatshields. – Raced at Le Mans to 13th place in 1990 and to a DNF during the last hour in 1991 for the Trust Racing Team. More recently given a $300,000 full strip down rebuild at Canepa Design in 2009. The bodywork finish is exceptional with no distractions or marks whatsoever. The interior follows suit with only the original alloy sheet panels showing slight age and scratches. The Avon race slicks look a few years old but are not damaged. An exquisitely presented 962C, probably one of the best available considering its low use and extensive reworking but with lacklustre racing history and little known drivers. Autobau Collection. – Offered by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2008 in as-raced condition where it was bid to only $550,000. There is no shortage of 962s out there, including those built by the Kremer brothers, Richard Lloyd Racing, Al Holbert and others, and despite the immaculate cosmetic presentation the reported high bid here is realistic, even generous, for a car with no meaningful in-period racing success.
Lot # 158 1999 Lamborghini Diablo VT Coupe; S/N ZA9DE01A0XLA12198; Red/Biscuit leather; Estimate $192,150 – $224,175; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $147,315. – OZ Racing alloy wheels, aftermarket exhaust, Brembo brakes with cooling vents, power steering, Alpine CD player, VDO clock, climate control, tool roll with Lamborghini printed tools. – A rare ’99 Diablo with the VT all-wheel drive system. The model was revised from the year before but quickly replaced by the Audi-backed Diablo 6.0. This one shows just 9,271 km (5,761 mi) and has fantastic paint. The door and window trims are original and in good condition. The interior leather is unmarked with only slight soiled marks on the center armrest. The rear exhausts are a little aged. The wheels are mint and unmarked, but the tires are a problem with Pirellis on the rear but cheap ones up front. It’s a good car, but could be better given the mileage. – While the VT model does have all-wheel drive, the Diablo is nevertheless among the last of the truly analog exotic supercars and this one came before the Audi era, both of which are factors that bode well for this car’s long-term collectability. It deserved more than this reported high bid but the Youngtimer Collection should be shamed for presenting it with mismatched tires.
Lot # 159 1973 Iso Grifo GL Series II Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N FA320407; White/Brown leather; Estimate $230,580 – $281,820; Older restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $256,200 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $294,630. – Ford 351 Cleveland V8, automatic, 3.31 rear axle, air conditioning, power steering, alloy wheels, Philips FM radio. – Poor older repaint with uneven ripples in the rear flanks and generally poor preparation. The bumper irons are scratched and the chrome plating is aged, perhaps original. The engine has been matte black painted and looks tidy with no dirt or leaks. The interior is an older refitting with mild cracks in the leather. The window seals are aged. Worryingly, the chassis plate has clearly been drilled and has fresh rivets. This car may have stories to tell, plus the displeasing first impression and automatic gearbox don’t help its case, either. – The presentation may be a disappointment, but the consignor can’t be disappointed with the price it brought.
Lot # 161 1973 Ferrari 246 GT Dino Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 07294; Engine # 11593; Rosso Chiaro/Black leather; Estimate $499,590 – $576,450; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $486,780 plus commission of 13.82%; Final Price $554,033. – Campagnolo wheels, flares, standard seats, Radiomobile radio unit, tools, jack, original books and warranty card. – Originally a chairs and flares Dino with a beige interior but currently fitted with black standard seats. Uneven paint finish all over, especially the rear trunk cover. The exterior chrome is average. The door seals are poor. The wheels are poorly silver painted with too many layers. Light restoration work done in the 1980s, before Dinos were worth very much money, and not particularly striking today. What is noteworthy, however, is that it is a right-hand drive example showing 7,759 miles that are represented as actual. Ferrari Classiche certified. – Whether pounds, dollars, Euros or yen this is a big price for a Dino in any condition and particularly so for this one’s mediocre old repaint and aged condition, not to mention having lost its “chairs”. All credit, then, to the low miles that brought a healthy premium.
Lot # 162 1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder, Body by Ghia; S/N AM115S1179; Giallo/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $512,400 – $640,500; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $448,350 plus commission of 13.93%; Final Price $510,799. – 4,709/310hp, Webers, 5-speed, Becker Mexico AM-FM radio, woodrim steering wheel, alloy wheels. – U.S.-delivered with an automatic but subsequently changed to a more desirable manual. Recently serviced. New-ish paint but it is very flawed, with obvious cracks around the door apertures. The interior is aged, particularly the dash top that is sun dried and damaged. The wheels have been silver sprayed but look overpainted and wrong. The bumpers are neglected. A poor showing for a stylish car. – Sold for $68,250 at Barrett-Jackson WestWorld in 1996. It had the 5-speed then, but was Red. At the time it was noted, “Ghiblis are handsome cars, for one fifth the price of a Daytona Spyder.” And they still are.
Lot # 163 1968 Aston Martin DB6 Mk I Volante; S/N DBVC3677R; Engine # 4003472; Chrome Aluminium Metallic/Red Connolly leather; Black top; Estimate $704,550 – $832,650; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $666,120. – 5-speed ZF gearbox, chrome wire wheels, Blaupunkt radio, black tonneau cover. – The silver exterior paint finish is good but the lacquer layers appear uneven and not fully polished in several areas. The bumper chrome plating is good but the windshield and door trims are reused and aged. The interior leather is superb, as are the dash and gauges. Under the hood tells a different story, with rust on the manifolds and brake and clutch cylinders. Body repair done by Aston Martin Works in 2012 and more recently received a mechanical service, but a less than perfect DB6. – Back in 1992 in the depths of the post-implosion market Coys offered this car at London in September were it was reported bid to $56,879 (£32,000 at the time, the bid here is £620,000.) It was Primrose then and reportedly had 98K miles which makes the current odometer reading of 21,198 a rollover of the wheels. Bonhams offered it at its Aston Martin auction in May 2017 where it was bid to $862,960 (£670,000). The seller could let it go with minimal regret if there was money at the reported high bid here.
Lot # 167 2000 Arrows A21 Formula 1; S/N A2103; Engine # AC028; Orange, Black “Orange”/Black; Estimate $128,100 – $179,340; Competition car, original as-raced, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $89,670 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $103,121. – F3000 Cosworth AC unit (originally powered by a Supertec-badged Renault V10 engine), multi-function quick release steering wheel, BBS alloy wheels, slick tires, pull rod suspension. – One of two 2000 Arrows F1 cars at this sale. This is the ex-Pedro de la Rosa car, driven in 12 Grands Prix for the 2000 season. Its best finish was sixth in Germany. Appears to be in original condition. The paint is cracking on the nose cone, and there are lots of chips on the side pods. There is tape covering the areas on the roll hoop air/intake where cameras used to be. The wheels and tires look old and original. As a display clearly this car would be just fine, but its mechanical fitness isn’t represented and to get a modern Formula One car running, even with a V8 Cosworth engine, is no easy task that entails comprehensive checking of every component for integrity and safety. – Arrows was a consistent mid-pack team, with no wins in its 1978 to 2002 existence, and the A21 was yet another of the team’s mid-pack cars. These old F1s cars have a niche market. Ferraris come with the option to buy into the Corse Clienti program, through which Ferrari will keep a car in running order for track events. This is why the Ferraris sell for more money. People who buy old cars from defunct teams like Arrows, on the other hand, are left to their own devices. This seems cheap for screaming F1 car, but this Arrows will likely never turn a wheel in anger again any time soon so the price seems realistic for garage art.
Lot # 168 2000 Arrows A21 Formula 1; S/N A2105; Engine # AC10; Orange, Black “Orange”/Black; Estimate $128,100 – $179,340; Competition car, original as-raced, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,063 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $92,072. – F3000 Cosworth AC engine (originally powered by a Supertec-badged Renault V10 engine), multi-function quick release steering wheel, BBS alloy wheels, grooved tires, pull rod suspension. – Driven by Pedro de la Rosa to 16th at Spa and a first lap accident at Monza. Aged and as-raced but complete. – As with its Cosworth AC-engined counterpart sold one lot before, this is a realistic price for a piece of garage art, or a very expensive reworking into a vintage racing also-ran. By passing on Lot #167 the buyer of this Arrows saved 12%. [Had there been a third A21 Arrows in the sale it probably would have been free, the Arrows A21 market having been completely exhausted of interested buyers.]
Lot # 169 2003 Ferrari Enzo Berlinetta; S/N ZFFCZ56B000135870; Engine # 80778; Rosso Corsa/Black leather; Estimate $1,921,500 – $2,305,800; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,729,350. – Books and manuals. – Represented with 14,682 km but recently given a mechanical service after a period of storage. Three-owner car. Odometer replaced in 2011 and reset to 10,000 km. Good paint. The tires are from 2014, so they’re not old but getting there. Light wear to the driver’s side seat bolster, but otherwise this car looks superb. – While this is likely one of the higher-mileage examples out there, Enzos cost less than three-quarters of a million when new, but the going rate for the past several years has been at least $2M. This high bid (which would have been ~$1.9 million with commission) is soft.
Lot # 171 1961 Maserati 3500GT Spider, Body by Vignale; S/N AM1011129; Black, Black hardtop/Black leather; Estimate $576,450 – $768,600; Older restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $461,160 plus commission of 13.89%; Final Price $525,210. – ZF 5-speed, Girling disc brakes, Salisbury rear axle, Borrani wire wheels, factory hardtop, tool roll, factory manuals. – Restamped replacement engine. Good paint, and the rare hardtop fits well. The chrome wire wheels are in good condition but the tires are cheap and old, from 2005. The exterior chrome is slightly marked and scratched. The dash and controls are untouched and original. The seats appear to have been recovered but are slightly soiled. The interior is musty as well. The windshield seals are old. Some rare and desirable options and an inherently gorgeous car, but a disappointing showing for this one. – Reported sold by Artcurial at Retromobile in 2015 for $946,282 (Euros 858,240 at the time), then by RM at Villa Erba in 2017 for $938,280 (Euros 840,000 at the time.) This surprisingly inexpensive result is £410,000, Euros 473,200 and it would have been inexpensive even at RM Sotheby’s modest pre-sale low estimate for a car that on its face at least, and even with the restamped replacement engine, should be worth much more. It would seem that no one was interested, to the successful buyer’s enrichment.
Lot # 173 2016 Noble M600 Carbon Sport Coupe; S/N SA9M60L39EF113017; Maroon tinted carbon fiber/Black leather; Estimate $217,770 – $281,820; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $198,555. – 4.4-liter twin-turbo Yamaha-Judd V8 with 662hp, manual gearbox, carbon fibre body, black alloy wheels, no ABS or stability control. – In unmarked as new condition with 500 miles. Storage has been kind. There’s no deterioration to been seen, even on the rotors. – With only delivery miles and a list price of £360,000 in 2016, this car does look as if it should sell for more than this reported high bid. It’s not surprising that a car from a small obscure company like Noble would depreciate substantially, but this is draconian depreciation that the consignor was unwilling to accept.
Lot # 174 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB Anniversary Coupe; S/N ZFF79AMB000233691; Grigio Metallizzato, Dark Red roof/Dark Red leather; Estimate $333,060 – $397,110; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $294,630. – 20-inch forged wheels, adaptive front lights, carbon sill plates, front lift system, parking camera, Scuderia shields, Alcantara floor mats – Represented with 500 delivery miles, one owner from new. Pristine bodywork and paint. The frontal area has no marks. It is in mint condition throughout. One of 70 cars built by Ferrari in 2017, all finished in different liveries, to celebrate the company’s 70th birthday. This car has livery inspired by the Shah of Iran’s 410 Superamerica. – When there’s no intention to use an awesome machine like this it can largely be seen as an investment. The returns on this nearly new car aren’t there yet, but the reported high bid here isn’t far off the price of a base model in the UK or what lightly used ones are asking on the second-hand market, but it requires finding a very specific buyer for these oddly-liveried 70th Anniversary Ferraris and the consignor may have to look for a while to find that one.
Lot # 175 1961 Aston Martin DB4 SII Coupe; S/N DB4566L; Engine # 370586; Raven Black/Black Connolly leather; Estimate $397,110 – $448,350; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $345,870. – Wire wheels, Motorola radio, woodrim steering wheel, later air conditioning. – U.S. delivery car originally finished in Desert White. Older paint with minor swirls, fine scratches and imperfections but they are forgivable. The interior is slightly aged. The seats were recovered some time ago in very good thick quality leather. The engine bay is tidy with evidence of good use and no obvious problems. Generally, a little unkempt but a good working classic driver. – Astons strode on in value a few years ago but values are levelling or lowering in recent years. Middle-of-the-road drivers like this are an even tougher sell. The estimate range is reasonable but the reported high bid is barely project car money for a DB4.
Lot # 176 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N 4245; Engine # 30419; Giallo Fly/Skay Bleu; Estimate $1,024,800 – $1,281,000; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,415,505 plus commission of 12.95%; Final Price $1,598,848. – Original tool kit and manuals. – A barn find (almost) Miura, offered from the family of its second owner who bought it in 1974. Presented with dust and patina after several years of sitting. That doesn’t improve the appeal as much as the originality and known history does. The chassis is in good condition with only surface rust through the original black chassis paint. Even the tubular outriggers look strong. No damage repairs, and the wheels are genuine originals. The 29,020km (18,032) miles showing are represented as actual. An incredible car given its preservation, although it could have been kept better. – This was the most anticipated lot of the auction, and among the strongest sales with a hefty six-figure premium paid for the dust and faded (but original) paint. Only now can the new owner begin the expensive task of going through it from top to bottom, inside and out, replacing all the old worn-out bits, fault-checking the electrical system (and replacing most of it) before it is anything more practical than a trailered Preservation Class object. This is Miura P400 SV money.
Lot # 188 1976 Chevron B36 Group 6; S/N CH7602WH1; Engine # XM02502101091; Cream White/Black; Estimate $230,580 – $281,820; Competition car, original as-raced, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $178,226 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $204,960. – Cosworth BDG 4 cylinder engine (the original power was a Chrysler-Simca), fiberglass racing seat, Willans harnesses, right side gear change, Momo steering wheel, fire system. – One of approximately 21 built and originally raced with a Chrysler-Simca engine. DNF at Le Mans in 1976, won its class there (sixth overall) in 1977 and won its class again (11th overall) there in 1978. It ran at Le Mans for the last time in 1979 but wasn’t classified, then raced competitively at other events until the mid-1980s. More recently given a new tub (original tub is included) and raced at the Le Mans Classic. Lots of chips on the nose from racing. The decals are sun dried and cracking. The panel edges are chipped and bashed. The interior is surprisingly well kept with no soiled areas at all. The wheels are highly polished but the balance weights are taped on. The Avon tyres are old. Probably not ready to hit the track right this second, but close enough and this is a very well-proven, very quick little car both when new and in recent historic events. – Closed post-block with this all-in result and a highly competitive historic race car bought for a price that reflects both its success at Le Mans in ’77-’78 and its current competitiveness in historic racing. It may not be a Porsche 936, but it held its own at Le Mans and with its Cosworth BDG will be a lot less expensive to maintain today.