RM Sotheby’s, Online Only: Open Roads, The European Summer Sale July 14-22, 2020

RM Sotheby’s is gobbling up the online space for major auctions.

They hit the ground running with the quickly restructured RM Auctions Palm Beach auction, followed up two months later with a late May Online Only presentation, then in quick succession did a remarkably successful European sale on June 11, this European Summer auction and segued instantly into an Open Roads North America auction in advance of the planned Shift/Monterey Online Only sale that takes over for canceled Monterey, a busy couple of weeks with online auctions from RM Sotheby’s, Gooding & Company and Bonhams.

The numbers for all through European Summer follow.

RM still intends going forward with its live Auburn Fall sale to take advantage of the more lenient Hoosier lockdown rules. Mecum Auctions, which had retained its Monterey live auction on its schedule, on July 20 confirmed Monterey was “postponed”. I wonder if, being “postponed”, they’ll still call it Mecum Monterey 2020 in 2021?

RM’s “Open Roads, the European Summer Sale” suffered further indignities from COVID-19 restrictions that prevented its specialists from rendering condition reports due to travel limitations. The condition reports are one of RM’s Online Only auctions’ distinguishing features and they are missed which may account for some of this sale’s modest success rate.

Here are the numbers for RM’s 2020 Online Only sales:

Cars Sold/ Offered Sale % Sold < Low Est Sold > High Est Average Sale Median Sale Total $ Exchange Rate
Palm Beach, March 27-28
172/259 66.4% 82.6% 1.7% $80,191 $48,400

[60.4%]

$13,792,865 $1
Summer, May 29,2020
114/193 59.1% 65.5% 9.7% $142,547 $55,000

[38.6%]

$16,250,410 $1
European, June 10-11, 2020
173/191 90.6% 60.7% 6.9% $123,349 $57,173

[46.4%]

$21,339,361 $1.1378
96 cars from the Petitjean Collection were No Reserve; sell-through on cars with reserves was 76.7%
European Summer, July 21-22, 2020
61/109 56% 76.7% 5% $151,690 $83,040 $9,253,085 $1.1438*

*Exchange rate is as of July 17

Observations are by Rick Carey and Andrew Newton.

Photos are © and courtesy RM Sotheby’s with photographer credits noted.

Lots are sorted in lot number order.


Lot # 118 1961 Lancia Flaminia GT 2.5 Convertible, Body by Touring; S/N 824041035; Engine # 823002666; Grigio Cascine/Beige leather; Beige top; Estimate $171,570 – $205,884; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $137,256. – 2,458/119hp, 4-speed, woodrim steering wheel, beige painted wheels with hubcaps, Autovox radio, stainless steel brakes, heated seats. – Represented as the original engine and gearbox. Lightly and invisibly upgraded for comfort and performance. Thoughtfully restored with quality cosmetics in the original colors and shown on a lift with a spotless, nearly like new chassis and suspension. A car anyone will be proud to drive and to show. – Originally intended for a Maserati, this Touring series ended up gracing the Flaminia chassis to good effect. One of the first 82 built, it has Maserati features not seen on the later examples. This would be a sound value at the pre-sale low estimate of Euros 150,000 and the Euros 120,000 high bid during active bidding was appropriately declined.

Lot # 119 1970 Ferves Ranger 4×4 Utility; S/N FVS0815; Green/Black; Estimate $45,752 – $68,628; Older restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $15,441 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $16,985. – 499/18hp Fiat engine, 4-speed manual, four-wheel drive, steel wheels, woodrim steering wheel with Fiat center cap, jack, spare, tool roll. – Represented as one of 600 built and about 50 left, and equipped with the optional four-wheel drive. From the last year of production. Four owners from new, all in Northern Italy. Restored in the 1990s. Uneven fit on the engine cover. Thick paint in places. Base of the doors sit low. Dent on the left rear side of the bumper. Carpet is glued down. Gauges look good other than a dent on the ring around the tach. Tidy, driver quality engine bay that got some detailing recently. Old tires. Old undercoating and some cracked rubber bushings underneath. A pocket-sized off-roader that oozes charm despite its age and flaws. – Built with a mix of Fiat parts under a cute but utilitarian body, the Ferves Ranger’s small size and lack of overhangs make it a better off-roader than it looks like at first glance. The cute factor is still the major appeal here, though. And, usually, cute sells. RM basically has the market cornered on Rangers, having sold three other ones over the years, including one restored two-wheel drive Ranger in Monterey last year for a staggering $196,000 against a $40,000 high estimate. Lightning didn’t strike again online in 2020, as this more weathered example sadly got little attention with just 16 bids over eight days.

Photo by Tom Gidden

Lot # 120 1976 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 1Z37L6S428206; Engine # 16S428206; Orange Flame/Black leather; Estimate $20,588 – $28,595; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $8,007 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $8,807. – 350/180hp L48, automatic, Edelbrock air filter, Radial G/T tires, luggage rack, T-tops, Grant woodrim steering wheel, modern stereo. – On temporary bond in the UK. Matching numbers. Showing 17,921 miles. The windows don’t touch the top of the roof when rolled up. Old tires. Very good original seats, but aged door panels. Dirty engine bay with some oxidized bits, and the heat shield under the hood is rough. Aged original underbody as well. A decent driver. – Late C3s in decent driver condition are a dime a dozen here in the States, but they’re a lot more special to European eyes and RM’s last European online sale saw several unremarkable Corvettes sell for high prices. Not so this time, however. After just 11 bids, this is about what this car would sell for back home.

Photo by Dirk de Jager

Lot # 123 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N AR370818; Engine # AR0010231041; Black/Light Green vinyl; Estimate $91,504 – $114,380; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $80,066. – 1,290/80hp, Solex carburetor, 5-speed, silver steel wheels, Vredestein tires, Condor radio, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, heater, Siebel “Princess” air horn. – Sound repaint with minor defects and touched up edge chips along the front door edges, covered in the online photos. Good major chrome, some thin trim chrome, very good interior in an unusual color combination. The underbody is undercoated and mechanically restored. The engine compartment is orderly but showing age, particularly the rusty brake fluid reservoir. A sound but aged and used older restoration. – Alfa Giuliettas and Giulias have become one of the hottest commodities on the market recently, but turning down this reported high bid for a single carburetor “Normale” is optimistic in the extreme.

Photo by Dirk de Jager

Lot # 124 1952 Jaguar XK 120 Fixed Head Coupe; S/N 679599; Engine # G92668S; Black/Cognac leather; Estimate $68,628 – $91,504; Older restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $46,896 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $51,585. – 3442/210hp XK 140 engine, 4-speed, body color steel wheels, hubcaps, – Same number on the head and the block. Flawed old repaint with rust worms growing under the paint in places, chipped edges. Tired but sound upholstery and interior trim. The interior wood needs to be refinished. Stored many years and sound but needs extensive attention. – Reported sold for $60,076 (Euros 52,800) at last month’s RM Online European auction from the Petitjean Collection. The result here is Euros 41,000 on the hammer and even with its many needs is a decent car bought for a price that gives the new owner abundant opportunity to enjoy it while making it better for its next sale opportunity. It is an expensive lesson for the “winning” bidder last month.

Lot # 126 1972 Brabham BT38C Formula Ford; S/N BT38C18; Yellow/Black; Estimate $28,595 – $40,033; Competition car, original as-raced 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $24,592 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $27,051. – 998/120hp Ford Anglia 109E engine, single throat downdraft Weber, black center Gotti modular wheels, Avon tires, various spares including gears and tires. – Raced by Tony Brise in 1972 to three firsts and two seconds. Acquired by the Richoz Collection from Brice in 1972. Sound and complete but aged and will need comprehensive attention before taking to the track. – Brabhams are well-regarded for their quality of construction, quality that does not detract from their performance. The BT 38 has applications from Formula 2 to this F Ford configuration, abundant opportunities for the new owner to start slow and work upward to higher performance, particularly at this modest price, albeit one that reflects the modest engine back there.

Lot # 127 1976 Inaltera Cosworth GTP; S/N 001; Blue/Black; Estimate $514,710 – $629,090; Competition car, original as-raced 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $388,892 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $427,781. – Cosworth DFV V-8, 5-speed manual. Avon tires. Comes with many spare parts. – 4th overall, 1st in class at Le Mans in 1977 driven by Jean Rondeau and Jean Ragnotti. In the Richoz collection since 1977. Has done some events, including the Le Mans Classic in 2016. It has the minor cracks and blemishes endemic to old fiberglass-bodied race cars, and the doors rub against the body. Cloudy headlight covers. Cracked windscreen. Very good engine bay. Lightly aged underbody. An unrestored, well-preserved piece of French Le Mans history. – Jean Rondeau was born in Le Mans so it’s no wonder he became a racer. But before winning the 24-hour classic in a car bearing his own name in 1980, he struggled to get financial backing for his new team. He found it in the form of a wallpaper company called Inaltera. This is the first of the three Inalteras built, and the test car for the team while the other two chassis were built up. It didn’t race at Le Mans in ’76, (Chassis 002 finished 8th overall and first in class), but finished fourth overall and 1st in Class at Le Mans in 1977 with Jean Rondeau and Jean Ragnotti driving. This is the car’s first time coming to public market. Inaltera isn’t exactly a household name even in the racing world, and that limits the appeal compared to something like a Porsche or a Ferrari. Even so, it has event eligibility going for it and a cool history despite its obscure name. This price makes sense, even if it does come in well below RM’s Euros 450,000 low estimate.

Lot # 129 1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series I Coupe, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 7029; Engine # 7029; Silver-Grey/Black leather; Estimate $137,256 – $171,570; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $131,537 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $144,691. – 3,967/300hp, 5-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Blaupunkt multiband radio – Represented as the original engine. Blistered and edge chipped old repaint. Worn and stretched original upholstery and interior trim. Oily, road grimy chassis and underbody. The engine is clean and recently rebuilt but the compartment it sits in is old and quickly repainted over old chips and paint loss. Dead, cracked rubber bits and seals. Generally neglected. – Reported sold by Bonhams at Gstaad in 2005 for $46,315 (CHF 59,732) and it hasn’t gotten any better during its eleven years sitting in the Richoz Collection. This hammer price of $131,537 is perilously close to the pre-sale low estimate of $137,256 and an optimistic result considering the car’s condition.

Photo by Remi Dargegen

Lot # 130 1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 17885; Engine # 110; Red, Black sills/Beige leather, Black bars; Estimate $228,760 – $343,140; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $280,231 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $308,254. – 4,390/380hp flat 12, 5-speed, alloy wheels, Voxson 8-track stereo, power windows, owner’s manuals, tools. – Sound older repaint with edge and wheel chips. Sound but dry original upholstery and trim with scuffs. Original underbody and engine compartment with seepage and dribbles. Represented as the original engine and gearbox. Said to run with good cold oil pressure but long-stored in the Richoz Collection and in need of full recommissioning. – RM Sotheby’s bidders liked this Berlinetta Boxer despite its history of sitting in the Richoz Collection, as well they might given its rarity and performance, but this is a generous price for a Ferrari with many apparent (and probably many more less obvious) needs. When it’s done it might be a half-million dollar car. The problem is getting there without exceeding the $192,000 between the acquisition cost and the goal.

Lot # 131 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 13827; Engine # B642; Red/Magenta leather, Black bars; Estimate $457,520 – $571,900; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $451,801 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $496,981. – 4,390/352hp, 5-speed, AM-FM, Plexiglas nose panel, fixed lights, Veglia air conditioning, power windows, Cromodora alloy wheels, Michelin XWX tires, owner’s manual, tool roll. – Represented as the original engine and a replacement gearbox. Indifferent repaint from the original Grigio Ferro with bumps and chips, sound upholstery. Aged but orderly engine compartment and road grimy chassis and suspension with paint loss. Flawed chrome. Stored many years in the Richoz Collection, neglected and in need of comprehensive recommissioning. Many photos but no inspection report. – This is a handicapped Daytona and it was bought for a handicapped price. Daytonas have been the poster car for value declines for the past two or so years. The problem here is that the best Daytona in the world with a luminous history isn’t going to bring $700K. This Daytona has an obscure history and many needs; even a tick below its pre-sale low estimate it is expensive.

Lot # 132 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Berlinetta Alloy, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 08193; Engine # 784/64; Red; Estimate $1,944,460 – $2,173,220; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,486,940 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,635,634. – 3,286/240hp, 3×2 Webers, 5-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, power windows, owner’s manual, full tool roll – Restamped replacement engine from s/n 07899, original gearbox. Thick old repaint over old paint with edge chips and dings. Weak chrome, peeling wheel nut chrome. Dirty but orderly engine, oily, grimy chassis and suspension. Cracked headlight covers. Sound but stretched and surface creased original upholstery. A tired and poorly repainted old car from the Richoz Collection that hasn’t been used and needs careful recommissioning after which it will be a decent but not attractive driver. – This alloy-bodied Pininfarina-designed, Scaglietti-built 275 GTB is an unusual hybrid that isn’t a pure competition 6C, and it’s not in very good condition. Condition isn’t really bad, it’s just deficient in pretty much every respect. It will be worth more after a comprehensive restoration, but it still has the wrong engine. RM’s pre-sale estimate was optimistic, the bidders’ (and the consignor) were realistic and this is a solid value.

 

Photo by Mathieu Bonnevi

Lot # 133 1962 Jaguar XKE SI 3.8 Roadster; S/N 877306; Engine # R55369; Opalescent Silver Blue/Dark Blue leather; Dark Blue top; Estimate $160,132 – $183,008; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $160,132 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $176,145. – 3,781/265hp, 4-speed manual, chrome wire wheels, Michelin tires, heater. – Originally a U.S. market car but made its way to Europe years ago. Good repaint and fair newer upholstery. Old chrome with some peeling. Beat up wheel nuts. Older engine bay. Varnish on the steering wheel is starting to peel. A driver-quality restoration in its original colors. – RM Sotheby’s had this E-Type at its 2020 Paris auction, where it went unsold at a Euros 140,000 high bid ($154,084 at the time). That seems like a lifetime ago but it has only been five months. Since then the car has gotten a JDHT Certificate, which it didn’t have in Paris, to back up claims of matching numbers and original color. We noted that it should have sold then, and given that it went at the exact same high bid here in July, the seller could have taken the money in February and saved the effort of sorting out the paperwork.

Photo by Marcus Kreuger

Lot # 135 1987 Ferrari Testarossa ‘Monodado’ Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFSG17AXJ0075283; Engine # 00884; White/Beige leather; Estimate $68,628 – $102,942; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $114,380 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $125,818. – 4,942/380hp, FI, 5-speed, centerlock alloy wheels, Goodyear Eagle tires, manuals, jack, tool roll. – Known history from new, U.S. specs. Partially repainted, stone chipped nose and front bumper. Good original upholstery showing wear appropriate to the claimed 26,746 miles. Clean, orderly engine compartment. Curb rashed right side wheels. A reassuring driver-quality Testarossa. – There is no way to rationalize the price this mediocre Testarossa brought, not even the obscure “Monodado” designation for the centerlock alloy wheels. The winning bidder didn’t win in this transaction.

Lot # 138 1989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante; S/N SCFCV81V6KTL15802; Engine # V5805802X; Windsor Red/Magnolia leather piped in Red; White top; Estimate $285,950 – $343,140; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $239,158 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $263,074. – 5340/432hp, quadruple Webers, automatic, X-Pack engine, fog lights, Avon tires, wood dash and door trim. – Sold new in Italy. Stored from 1996 until 2009, then went to its second owner. Represented with 27,000 km (16,777 miles). Several chips and scratches throughout as well as some light paint swirls. Light corrosion on the center caps of the wheels. Clean, well-preserved interior with light wear on the seats. Clean, recently detailed engine bay but the underbody (not shown) reportedly needs a detailing as well. A straightforward, lightly used Vantage with the desirable high-performance X-Pack engine – Bid to Euros 205,000 in the live session and reported sold later by RM for Euros 230,000 all-in, an effective hammer bid of Euros 209,091. Bonhams sold this car in 2009 for $194,812 (GBP 129,100 and Euros 144,400 at the time.) It had 26,516 km on it at the time, so presumably it’s in nearly identical condition, just eleven years older. Aston V8 prices have come on in a big way over the past decade and this is an increase of some 60% in Euros and 62% in GBP on the price that it changed hands for back then even if the US$ result is only 35% more.

Lot # 139 2008 Ferrari 612 Sessanta Coupe; S/N ZFFJY54B000158626; Avorio, Blu Scozia/Cioccolato leather; Estimate $148,694 – $183,008; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $142,975 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $157,273. – 5748/532hp V-12, automatic, 19-inch forged alloy wheels, electrochromic glass roof, carbon ceramic brakes, Bose stereo and navigation, diamond-stitched seats, white-face gauges, books and manuals. – Number 36 of 60 Sessantas built to celebrate Ferrari’s 60th anniversary and offered to select customers. Sold new in Italy but went to the UK in 2014 and has UK headlights (original headlight pods included.) Represented with 21,000 km (13,049 miles). Serviced last year. Minor rock chips on the nose and one small scratch on the hood. Small paint blister behind the left front wheel well. Light wear to the driver’s seat outer bolster. An unusual but interesting limited production model, showing age consistent with its low mileage. – This is a strange special order livery (also found on the GTZ being offered in RM’s “Shift/Monterey” auction next month.) Livery aside (assuming it can be tolerated) this is an impressive package that started out at $270,000 and then worked its way up in impressive increments with various options, making this purchase something like fifty cents on the original invoice dollar, representative depreciation for current generation Ferraris with more than minimal mileage.

Lot # 143 1975 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Coupe; S/N 9305700065; Engine # 6750065; Copper Brown Metallic/Brown leather; Estimate $314,545 – $371,735; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $251,636. – 2994/260hp, 4-speed manual. Special-order paint, black painted Fuchs wheels, Dunlop tires, books and tools. – The 55th of 275 first-year 930s built. Matching numbers. Extensively documented. Fully restored in 2016 in its original colors and has traveled just 2698 km (1800 miles) since. Fresh paint but has a small chip near the fuel filler door, two small blisters on the edge of the passenger’s side front fender and slight overspray on the top edge of the side mirror. Fresh restored interior, engine bay and underbody. Extremely rare and very good. – This is a very early 930, and the first 911 Turbos didn’t even come to our shores until 1976. That, the oh-so-1970s colors, and the fresh restoration are all big pluses. Despite softening 930 prices over the past few years, this car deserves considerably more than the reported high bid.

Lot # 144 1952 Lancia Ardea 800 Furgoncino Panel Truck; S/N 7490; Engine # 34056; Grey, Ivory sides/Black leatherette; Estimate $45,752 – $57,190; Truck restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $37,745. – RHD. 903cc/30hp, 4-speed, barn style rear doors, black wheels, hubcaps, semaphore turn signals. – Good repaint and upholstery. Clean, orderly restored engine compartment, chassis and suspension showing age and some use but sound and presentable. Restored in the 90’s but looks more recent, an unusual panel truck bodied Lancia in usable truck condition. – There’s one Furgoncino that’s been kicking around the West Coast for several years before finally selling at Mecum’s Monterey auction last year for $34,100. It is based on the Appia while this 903cc Ardea (the smallest engine ever to power a Lancia) V-4 has even less urge available to pull the skin off a pudding but the Furgoncino itself is in better condition. It’s hard to imagine it being worth more than Euros 40,000 ($45,000) but it’s apparently worth more than this to the consignor.

Photo by Jack Margerison

Lot # 145 1965 Peel P50 Coupe; S/N D506; Engine # 80416094651; Maroon/Black; Estimate $51,471 – $57,190; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $62,909 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $69,200. – 49cc, 4.5hp two-stroke single, 3-speed manual (no reverse but equipped with a handle so the driver can pick up the back and turn it around). Three wheels, carpet and a door. – Represented as the sixth P50 built. Repainted in the 1970s and it’s showing age with microblisters, age and cracks. Original interior with the optional carpeting. Some surface rust on the exhaust and plenty of age in the engine bay and underbody, but the car runs. Well known among Peel enthusiasts, and RM claims fewer than 30 P50s are left. The ones that have popped up have mostly been restored, so this one’s originality makes it even more of a standout. – Peel P50 is a darling among microcars. Not only is it one of the rarest, it’s also the micro-est, holding the Guinness World Record for smallest production car in the world. Famously advertised as “almost cheaper than walking,” they hardly ever come to market but occasionally they do pop up. RM has sold three of them for six-figure results, the highest of them being a $176,000 car in Monterey four years ago. The most recent one we’ve seen was a $78,000 no-sale on Bring a Trailer this July. Despite its wear and tear, this looks like a bargain in comparison. And even a full restoration on a 53-inch-long, 123-pound three-wheeler can’t cost all that much.

Photo by Alex Penfold

Lot # 146 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTC Convertible; S/N AR760007; Engine # AR0050216189; White/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $85,785 – $114,380; Modified restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $68,628. – RHD. 1,570/140hp, dual 40 DCOE Webers, 5-speed, upgraded suspension and Campagnolo-style alloy wheels, Michelin tires, aftermarket stereo. – Restored and upgraded in 2018, one of 99 built in righthand drive. Good paint but with minor rust weepage at some body joints. Good chrome. Very good recent upholstery and interior trim, bright gauge faces, lightly pitting gauge bezels. A quality GTC that should be a blast to drive. – Being an original righthand drive car makes this GTC particularly attractive to a British (or Australia/New Zealand) owner. The modifications are something else, attractive to a serious driver, but an obstacle to a serious Alfa collector. Step-nose Giulias are enjoying a renaissance but the logic of declining the reported high bid here is questionable, particularly taking into account the minor issues noted which call into question the quality of body preparation and finishing.

Photo by Tom Gidden

Lot # 153 2004 Maybach 57 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N WDB2400781A000692; Caspi Black, Gray/California Beige leather; Estimate $22,876 – $28,595; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $54,902 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,393. – 5.5/550hp twin-turbo V-12, automatic, rear folding tables, rear seat entertainment system, sunroof, solar panel, Maybach-branded car phone and cell phone, manuals and books. – Sold new in France but currently on temporary bond in the UK. Showing 30,433 km (18,910 miles). Clean engine bay. Some serious curb scrapes on the left front wheel and a blister on the left rear tire. Good paint other than light scratching on the rear bumper. Good interior other than a missing plastic cover from the passenger’s side rear grab handle. Comes with original service booklet, but it’s unclear when its last service was. Clean and low miles, but buying a used top-tier luxury car always carries risks. – Although the 57 was the lower tier model in the Maybach range, it still carried a base price in 2004 of around $300,000, and that’s not even counting for inflation. Maybachs suffer from massive depreciation just like their rivals from Bentley and Rolls-Royce, but RM’s Euro 20,000 – 25,000 estimate on this car had us assuming something was wrong with it. That’s now up to the new owner to find out having paid generously for the opportunity.

Photo by Uros Modlic

Lot # 157 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 1427GT; Engine # 1427GT; Grigio Scuro/Beige leather; Estimate $629,090 – $743,470; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $526,148. – 2,953/240hp, 4-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Pilote X tires, grille-mounted fog lights, Borrani spare with new tire, Ferrari Classiche Red Book certified, – Very good recent paint, chrome, upholstery and interior. Small bump on the trunk lid and a chip above the left rear bumper but otherwise better than new. Very attractive restored engine and the compartment it sits in distinguished by carefully preserved old decal labels on some electrical components. The trunk looks great until the carpeted floor is raised revealing superficial repaint below applied over old, chipped paint. No RM inspection report but enough good photos to show this is a quality Pf Coupe retaining its original engine, gearbox and rear axle. – Reported sold by RM at Monterey in 2013 when it was yellow and blue for $390,500, then by Bonhams at Bond Street in 2014 for $624,113 (GBP 399,100, this high bid is GBP 419,000.) Bidding was less than enthusiastic with only five bids and Euros 375,000 during the preview and closing here with just eleven bids. 250 GT PF Coupe values have been on a tear which both RM and the consignor expected to continue but the bidders were of a different mind. Whether this is a signal remains to be seen, but it is unsettling in an otherwise buoyant 250 GT market.

Photo by Alex Penfold

Lot # 159 1964 Elva-BMW Mk VIIs Sports Racer; S/N 70024; Light Blue/Black; Estimate $85,785 – $114,380; Competition restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $66,340. – RHD. 1,991cc BMW engine, dual Weber 45 DCOE carburetors, Hewland Mark 8 4-speed transaxle (#LH0112), black painted alloy wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, fire system, Schroth harness, covered headlights, spares (two sets of wheels, gears, starter, front wishbones, etc.) – FIA HTP valid through 2026. Impressively tidy, orderly and clean. Not fresh but well-maintained and with a good record in historic racing through the early 00’s, with a recent appearance in the 2016 Silverstone Classic driven by Martin Stretton. The cosmetics are good, too, aside from edge chips on the front of the engine cover. – Justly renowned for their performance and quality, Elva race cars are highly valued by competitive sorts. Powered by all manner of engines, from Coventry Climax fire pumps to Porsche flat fours, the BMW engine in this one is representative of the variety. The pre-sale low estimate of Euros 75,000 ($85,000) is more realistic given its condition and performance potential.

Photo by Dirk de Jager

Lot # 219 1975 Ferrari Dino 208 GT4 2 + 2, Body by Bertone; S/N 11018; Engine # 00099; Red/Black leatherette, cloth inserts; Estimate $45,752 – $57,190; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $32,026 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,229. – 1,990/170hp V8, 4 Weber carburetors, 5-speed, Sony cassette stereo, power windows, Borletti air conditioning. – Represented as 74,319 km and four owners from new. A tax-oriented 2-liter version of the Dino 308 GT4 to avoid a 38% surcharge in Italy on cars over 2 liters, but with the expected reduction of power and performance. Thick old repaint with edge chips and some rust worms under the paint. Sound original upholstery and interior trim. Orderly engine compartment and original chassis. A usable driver. – Reported sold for $51,315 (Euros 45,100) six weeks ago in RM Sotheby’s first Online European auction. It’s hard to say (RM’s not talking) what happened but that was a 308 price for an underpowered 208. The result here is much more appropriate.

Photo by Cymon Taylor – CTP

Lot # 222 1968 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 11557; Engine # 11557; Argento Metallizzato/Blu Nuvola leather; Estimate $114,380 – $137,256; Unrestored original 4- condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $103,982 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $114,380. – 4,390/320hp, three Webers, 5-speed, centerlock alloy wheels including the spare, air conditioning, power windows, power steering, Grundig cassette stereo, tool roll, jack. – Sad and neglected barn find stored since 1998. Rubbed through original paint, torn and cracked original upholstery, rumpled carpets, filthy engine compartment missing the alternator. Some of the interior may be salvageable, but not the front seats. The air conditioning compressor is included but not installed and there are various trim bits in cartons. The rear suspension has collapsed. Rust blisters in the left sill behind the front wheel but otherwise there is no evidence of significant rot. Not known if the engine turns over. It is appropriate to say that this Ferrari needs “everything”. – Bid to Euros 83,000 during the live session, reported sold later with this optimistic result for a project that can only hope to be worth the cost of its comprehensive restoration when it’s finally done. Some barn find projects can be mechanically resuscitated and driven, a prospect that this project doesn’t offer. It’s straight from here to the restoration shop accompanied by an open check book.

Lot # 224 1967 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N AM115128; Engine # AM115128; Avorio Santa Anita/Black leather; Estimate $240,198 – $297,388; Recent restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $188,727. – 4,709/340hp, ZF 5-speed, Autovox cassette stereo, Borrani chrome spoke wire wheels, dual front brake calipers, Marchal headlights, air conditioning, power windows, tool roll and owner’s manual. – U.S. delivered new. Restored in Italy in 2015. Sound paint with minor stress cracks at corners. Lightly stretched upholstery, clear, crisp gauges and good interior trim chrome. Thin window trim chrome and old window seals. Restored underbody and chassis done to good driver standards. Some lubricant leakage visible from the rear transmission seal. Restored in close to showroom condition and still shows well. – The exterior color is unusual and unusually handsome while the car is competently restored to presentable and usable superior driver quality. Its attributes make it more desirable and worth more than the reported bid here which stalled out in the final minutes of bidding and closing with only eleven bids.

Photo by Dirk de Jager

Lot # 225 1957 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N AR1900C10464; Engine # AR130810464; Black/Ivory leather, cloth; Estimate $211,603 – $245,917; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $171,570. – 1,975/115hp four, 5-speed, dual Solex downdraft carburetors, silver painted wire wheels, – Represented as the original engine. Mediocre, swirled old repaint, weak trim chrome, wiper gouged windshield molding. Sound but stretched front seat upholstery. Loose driver’s door panel. Gauge lenses are yellowed, the gauge faces are crisp but some of the bezels have weak chrome. The chassis and underbody have old undercoat but the suspension appears to have been apart and restored. A reasonable example, restored some time ago to competent driver standards and now aged. – A “charming amount of cosmetic patina” indeed, this is a tired example with an aging restoration that was never better than touring quality. It would have been a decent but not exceptional value at the pre-sale low estimate of Euros 185,000 ($210,000) and is worth enough more than the reported high bid here that the decision to keep it made sense especially when it attracted no further bids in the final few minutes of bidding.

Photo by Tom Wood

Lot # 230 1954 Fiat 8V Coupe; S/N 106000104; Engine # 104000000156; Red/Brown leather; Estimate $1,372,560 – $1,601,320; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $937,916. – 1,996/110hp V8, two dual choke Weber 36 DVF carburetors, synchromesh 5-speed (original crash box included), 4-point belts, silver painted Borrani wire wheels, Nardi-style woodrim steering wheel. – Represented as the original engine with the original gearbox included but not installed. Good paint and impressively well-matched body contours and panel gaps. Very good interior with barely stretched seat upholstery. Other than some fuel seepage stains on the carburetors the engine compartment is neat and tidy, if not fresh and with some paint defects. Thin door handle chrome and rusty headlight bezels. Better than a driver, if not a show car. – This is the factory-built Rapi-designed coachwork, less extreme than some of the coachbuilders’ exercises on the 8V chassis. It’s attractive and practical, however its Euros 1.2-1.4 million estimate is a fever dream more appropriate to a Zagato coupe. Bidding was serious, but never even close to the low estimate and stalled at this Euros 820,000 bid with over six minutes remaining, a big difference of opinion between the consignor and the people with money today.

Photo by Guido Bissattini

Lot # 234 1967 Honda S800 Coupe; S/N 1000431; Engine # 1004802; Red/Black vinyl; Estimate $28,595 – $40,033; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $24,020. – 791/70-hp, 4-speed manual, hub caps, woodrim steering wheel, pushbutton radio. – Tidy engine bay with a correct replacement engine. Reportedly aged underbody, but not photographed. Also unclear if this is an earlier chain drive car or a shaft drive one, although the vast majority of S800s are shaft drive. Old driver-quality paint with orange peel and runs on the right front fender. Numerous touch ups and cracks as well. There is a dent on the driver’s door and another on the left rear fender. Rough chrome, pitted brightwork and dry rear window seal. Lightly worn driver’s seat. A presentable driver. – This car was also a no-sale at Artcurial’s sur le Champs sale in 2017. Honda’s first sports cars (S500, S600 and S800) are rare and sophisticated compared to rivals like the MG Midget. An S600 even gave Honda its first four-wheeled victory in motorsports, so it’s no surprise that these tiny two-seaters are a bit pricy relative to their size. But not so pricy as to justify refusing this reported high bid. This S800 has plenty of flaws, and the high bid was appropriate to its condition. Although the high bid held at Euros 21,000 for the final two days, it was enough to see the car sell.

Photo by Dirk de Jager

Lot # 238 1994 Alfa Romeo SZ Coupe, Body by Zagato; S/N ZAR16200003000590; Red, Black roof/Beige leather; Estimate $120,099 – $142,975; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $88,073. – 2,959/210hp V6, 5-speed, ten-hole modular telephone dial wheels, air conditioning, power windows. – 1994 was the swan song for the SZ or ES30 as it was known internally. This one apparently got put away when new, shows 1,281 km on the odometer and no more than that on the car although there are some paint defects, the interior is dry and lightly stretched. The suspension needs lubrication. A time capsule in need of having its clock reset. – It’s debatable what the long term collectability of the idiosyncratic SZ and its RZ sibling will be but they have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years and there is the allure of negligible mileage in this one. Even taking that into account this is a generous offer, the highest ever seen at auction, and could have been sold even well under the totally outrageous pre-sale low estimate of $120,000.

Photo by Alex Penfold

Lot # 239 1974 Alfa Romeo Montreal Coupe; S/N AR1428608; Engine # AR00564S0855; Oro Metallizzato/Black leather; Estimate $85,785 – $102,942; Modified restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $77,778. – 2.593/230hp V8, FI, 5-speed, woodrim steering wheel, Kenwood CD stereo, power windows, upgraded brakes and suspension. – Torn dash top corner, pitted door handles, good repaint in the original color. Sound upholstery and interior trim showing a little wear and age. Clean largely original engine compartment. Good underbody and suspension. A better-than-driver-quality Montreal, but not much better. – Despite its race-bred V8 power Alfa’s Montreal has never achieved a great following. Many have languished, too intriguing to be scrapped but not valuable enough to be restored. There are exceptions to that, however, and this is the poster child for it. Like the Giulia GTC that crossed the virtual auction block earlier (Lot # 146) its restoration is competent if less than brilliant and it has Alfaholics suspension modifications, invisible improvement that doesn’t detract from its collector appeal. Like the GTC it was bid to a realistic number and attracted twenty bids with several extensions, none of which was enough to separate it from its owner. The $85,000 low estimate is not unreasonable, but neither is the $77,778 high bid.

Lot # 240 1985 Lancia Delta S4 Rally 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N ZLA038AR000000207; Engine # 233ATR18S1068; White, “Martini”/Blue cloth; Estimate $1,000,825 – $1,258,180; Competition restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $800,660 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $880,726. – Twincharged (supercharger and turbocharger) inline four, 1,759/483hp, 5-speed, fully rally equipment, SIEM headlights and six driving lights. – 2nd in the 1985 WRC Lombard RAC rally with Marku Alen and Ilkka Kivimaki for the factory Lancia/Martini team. Rallied in 1986 also in Martini livery by Jolly Club and through 1988 in the European Autocross Championship. Restored to its 1985 appearance with meticulous mechanical presentation and attractive cosmetics showing some usual competition car nicks and scrapes. – RM sold s/n 202 a year ago in London for $979,164, also a Lancia team car and winner of the 1985 RAC Rally with Toivanen and Neil Wilson where this car finished second. This restoration is in better condition, accounting for some of the $100,000 difference in value but arguably the biggest difference is between finishing second and winning. The million dollar low estimate is a stretch; this result is just right.

Photo by Peter Singhof

Lot # 247 1983 Aston Martin Lagonda S2 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N L00L13222; Engine # V5803222; Black/Black leather; Estimate $57,190 – $80,066; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $58,334 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $64,167. – 5,340/289hp V-8, quadruple Weber carburetors, automatic, Avon narrow whitewalls, added rearview camera. – Sold new in Paris. Represented with 7,700 km (4,785 miles). Recently overhauled electronics and reportedly everything works other than the outdoor temp gauge, which is a big (and unusual) plus on these `80s-tech heavy cars. Has also gotten Euros 15,000 worth of mechanical service in the past few years. Lightly scratched windshield. Older repaint with some light chips and scratching. Dry plastic bumpers. Sound leather for the age, but it does show wear. Unrestored but maintained engine bay and underbody with engine built by Don Osborne (we didn’t know Donald had that experience.) Certainly aged, but the mileage is impressively low, and the level of care and maintenance is better than most Lagondas. – It was one of the most expensive automobiles in the world when it was new, but most Lagondas sell in the mid-five-figure range and have for quite some time. The price, which jumped from a high bid of Euros 33,000 in the final 10 minutes of the auction to the final successful bid of Euros 51,000, is a reasonable balance between the car’s age, preservation, and working electrics.

Photo by Guido Bissattini

Lot # 248 1939 Lancia Aprilia Bilux 4-Dr. Sedan, Body by Stablimenti Farina; S/N 43910730; Engine # 17631; Grey-Green, Light Grey-Green roof and hood/Blue cloth; Estimate $51,471 – $62,909; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $41,177. – 1,352/48hp, 4-speed, pillarless 4-door body. – Cracked and chipped old repaint applied over old paint and peeling filler. Gauge legends are in German. Missing body side spear pieces. Usable upholstery, interior trim, dash and gauges. A superficial cosmetic redo, now a project waiting for a willing buyer. – Most online auction bidding occurs in the final minutes and often in extensions of the bidding cutoff. Not so in this case where the final bid (of only seven made) was made on the day before the auction closed. Even more surprising, there was no bidding at all until the penultimate day. It’s an intriguing and unusual pillarless 4-door with adequate performance and the new owner can enjoy it as is before deciding on whether to restore it or not.

Photo by Stephan Bauer

Lot # 250 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss Roadster; S/N WDD1999761M900066; Silver/Red, Black leather; Estimate $2,173,220 – $2,516,360; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,601,320. – 5,439/641hp supercharged V-8, automatic. – One of 75 built. Sold new in Luxembourg. Three-owner car showing 8,496 km (5,279 miles). Serviced this February. No inspection report from RM but there is little age apparent in the photos and there isn’t reason to expect any problems. – The Stirling Moss roadster is the rarest version of the SLR McLaren and by far the coolest. This one was a Euros 1.5M no-sale at Villa Erba last year, and although the pool of buyers for a car like this isn’t huge, other examples have sold for more recently. The Euros 1.4 million high bid isn’t encouraging, however.

Photo by Alex Penfold

Lot # 257 1970 Bristol 411 SI Sedan; S/N 4117534; Engine # D383236626; Gray/Red leather; Estimate $57,190 – $80,066; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $48,040. – RHD. 6,277/340hp Chrysler V-8, automatic, Edelbrock carburetor, chrome hub caps, wood dash and window trim, modern Alpine CD stereo, air conditioning. – Bought new by aeronautical engineer Harold Roxbee Cox, Lord Kings Norton, who used it as his daily driver until he died in 1997. Cosmetically restored and overhauled mechanically in 2013. Very good paint and chrome other than some suspect blisters on the sills. Even panel gaps. Very good redone interior with excellent wood. Tidy engine bay and underbody. A mostly very good example of one of these hand-built, alloy-bodied, Mopar-powered English GTs. – Bristol, not very well known outside of Britain, always built cars in very small numbers. The 287-car run for the 411 is actually quite high by Bristol standards. Many production figures are measured in the dozens rather than the hundreds. Bristols have a small but enthusiastic following of people who appreciate the hand-built exclusivity of the cars combined with the robust Chrysler running gear, but they don’t tend to command a ton of money. This one got little attention, with the high bid hovering in the mid-20s for the first several days and only a handful of last-minute bids. The reported high bid isn’t far off from what others have gone for in the UK.

Photo by Remi Dargegen

Lot # 259 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ96ZNS491596; Engine # 62N82391; Black/Black, Purple leather; Estimate $160,132 – $205,884; Unrestored original 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $137,256. – 3.6/260hp H6, manual steering, manual windows, alloy wheels, aluminum hood, books and manuals. – Sold new in Germany. Showing 147,621 km (91,727 miles). No inspection report from RM but the photos show a tidy, maintained engine bay and the close-ups of the paint show chips and age consistent with the high mileage. There is also a cracked spot on the tail, a scrape on both mirrors, and a few scratches. Light wear to the carpets and leather, but less than the age or mileage would suggest and the multi-colored purple seats are very cool. Not a collector-grade Carrera RS, but reasonably well cared for and presentable for someone who wants one of these rare lightweight 964s for driving events or occasional track time. – This car was a Euros 155,000 no-sale in Essen last year ($175,212 at the time.) Although other 964 Carrera RSs have sold for over 200 grand in both Europe and the States (where they were never officially sold), this one’s mileage and wear and tear will likely turn off most serious Porsche collectors. The offer in Essen was reasonable, and now looks like a missed opportunity. It hit the high bid on Monday and stayed there right to the end with only ten bids in total, effectively implying that the bidders had certainty in their offer.

Lot # 260 1976 Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 19709; Silver/Black leather; Estimate $91,504 – $137,256; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,491. – 4,390/320hp, 6×2 Webers, 5-speed, centerlock 5-spoke alloy wheels, air conditioning, power steering, Ferrari Classiche certified. – Thin repaint, rusty chrome trim, poor masking, shrinking body filler, worn out air vent hoses, scraped rear bumper corner, sound lightly creased upholstery. The engine and its compartment are orderly but aged. This is represented as the last 365 Ferrari built. It deserved better treatment but it has survived well. – It may be the last 365 Ferrari built, and it is an intriguing car in any event with its array of six Webers under the hood, but its bad repaint and sloppy masking are not reassuring about the maintenance and care of all the stuff that’s less visible. The reported high bid here extended beyond the scheduled close of bidding to a reasonable offer for it and it could very well turn out to be a bid the consignor will in retrospect regret not taking.

Photo by Tom Gidden

Lot # 266 2000 Fiat Barchetta Convertible; S/N ZFA18300000039492; Red/Black; Black top; Estimate $17,157 – $22,876; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $10,580 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $11,638. – 1.8/129hp, 5-speed manual, Pirelli tires, factory cassette stereo. – Showing just 1,101 km (684 miles). Some paint flaws around the edges of and scratches on the driver’s door. Nearly like-new interior. Same with the engine bay and underbody. The odometer reading is impressive, but no word on service history or the running condition of this 20-year-old convertible. – Even if it has been sitting for a little too long, getting this car roadworthy shouldn’t be too hard. And if the Fiat Barchetta ever becomes properly collectible, ultra-low-mile ones like this will be the ones to look for. They’re still low-priced used convertibles if this price is any indication, however. There was a brief flurry of bids at the end, but in small increments and they still settled in four-figure Euro territory. A comparable Miata is worth more even while being more common, but a comparable Miata is a known quantity with legendary bullet-proof reliability.

Photo by Guido Bissattini

Lot # 268 1958 Lotus 11 Sports Racer, Body by Westfield; S/N 11551; Engine # FWE400419605; Green, Polished aluminum sills/Red leather; Estimate $102,942 – $125,818; Competition restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $88,073. – RHD. 1,220cc Coventry Climax, two dual choke 40DCOE Weber carbs, leather rim steering wheel, two seats, modern gauges, full width windscreen, silver painted wire wheels. – Originally sold by Lotus as a damaged chassis with miscellaneous parts for GBP 70. Reconstructed in Italy with a Westfield reproduction body and described by the Historic Lotus Registrar as, “Overall, this car has an Eleven chassis and is generally in the exterior shape of an Eleven. The engine and presumably the gear box plus rear axle are the normal fitment. Otherwise it does not conform in most detail except for the seats.” Decent paint, chassis, engine compartment and interior with scuffs and bumps expected for a competition Lotus. There are at least three cars claiming chassis 11/551. –

Photo by Tom Gidden

Lot # 271 1977 Panther J72 Roadster; S/N 713; White/Red leather; Estimate $22,876 – $28,595; Unrestored original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $15,441 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $16,985. – 4.2-liter Jaguar XK engine, automatic. Wire wheels, rear-mounted spare, luggage rack, wood dash. – U.S. market car. Showing 12,775 miles. Decent paint and chrome, possibly original. Replacement top with minimal use. Newer tires. Tired-looking wood dash with cracks and discoloring, but clear gauges. Minor wear and light wrinkling on the leather. Carpets are lightly faded. Tidy and maintained but used engine bay. The brakes are reportedly binding. Condition of the underbody isn’t shown or represented. A presentable driver-quality British neoclassic. – There isn’t much in the way of history represented for this car, but it was still in the States in the early 2000s, when it went to Branson in 2002 to a $17,000 no-sale and to Barrett-Jackson in 2003 to a $17,500 no-sale. Nearly two decades and a trip across the ocean haven’t made much of a difference in this car’s desirability, and indeed the appeal of an old car made to look like an older one is limited. The age, lack of history and automatic transmission didn’t do it any favors, either. The new owner doesn’t have much at risk in this transaction, a safe acquisition and a potentially satisfying weekend driver.

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