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RM Auction - Automobiles of London

Battersea Park, London, 31 October 2007

After their amazingly successful Ferrari Auction at the Fiorano track in Maranello, Italy, in May 2007, RM Auctions in association with Sotheby’s held their second European auction at the Battersea Evolution on the banks of the River Thames in London on 31 August 2007. The main thrust of the auction was an eclectic selection of cars from the collection of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, backed up with a further choice from Italian collector Giuseppe Prevosti, together with examples from the Abraham Cogan collection and some from individual vendors. The venue on the south side of the river in the grounds of Battersea Park, with the trees providing an attractive golden glow in the low autumnal sun, provided easy access from central London, and drew a host of foreign visitors, no doubt also attracted by a good excuse to visit the capital.

The manner in which the cars were displayed was attractive, with plenty of space between them, so that they could be inspected properly and thoroughly from every angle. Particularly nice was the display of the Prevosti Collection Lamborghini Miura, Ferrari 275 GTB/4 and Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada, which were on a raised plinth with an Italian tricolour backdrop. On the opposite side of the hall was the antithesis, with a barn find 1922 Bentley 3 Litre and a 1958 Jaguar Mk IX displayed in settings appropriate to their dilapidated conditions. The cars offered from Bernie Ecclestone’s collection were truly diverse, from a pair of humble Fiat 500s through pre and post war American leviathans, like a 1931 Packard Deluxe Eight Sport Phaeton and a 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special, the ultimate expression of the “fin” era, pre and post war Mercedes Benz models including 500K and 540K Cabriolets, SSK Roadster, SS Sports Tourer, SSKL Replica and a 300 SL “Gullwing” coupe, to a very nicely restored Ferrari 250 Europa GT.

There were a total of 85 cars that went under the hammer, of which only 7 were listed as unsold at the end of the evening, making a sale rate of 91.8%, almost as good as their Maranello Ferrari sale. Equally some of the prices achieved were strong, the 1969 Fiat 500L had an estimate of £7,500 - £10,000 and sold for £12,293, the Bizzarrini had an estimate of £190,000 - £220,000 and made £257,025. a 1963 Ferrari 330 America had an estimate of £55,000 - £75,000 and was hammered at £150,863, and a Maserati A6G/2000 Sport was estimated at £140,000 - £180,000 and made £234,675. The really big numbers were the pre-war Mercedes, with the SSKL Replica breaking the seven figure mark at £1,061,625, the 1928 SSK Roadster made £1,229,250 and the 1937 540K Special Roadster was the star at £3,967,125. All prices were plus 10% buyer’s premium and VAT where applicable.

Keith Bluemel

31/Oct/2007

RM’s  Automobiles of London Auction 31st October, 2007


Selections from the collection of Mr. Bernie Ecclestone:

Lot

201

202

203

204

205

206

207

208

209

210

211

212

213

214

215

216

217

218

219

220

221

222

223

224

225

226

227

228

229

230

231

232

233

234

235

236

237

238

239

240

241

242

243

244

Selections from the collection of Mr. Giuseppe Prevosti:

245

246

247

248

249

250

251

252

253

254

255

256

257

258

259

260

261

262

263

264

Selections from the collection of Mr. Abraham Kogan:

265

266

267

268

269

270

271

272

273

274

275

276

277

278

Various properties:

279

279A

280

281

282

283

284

285