London, October 29, 2008
RM Automobiles of London Auction braves the "Financial Crisis".
RM auctioned at the Automobiles of London an open headlight Ferrari 250 GT LWB TdF Berlinetta s/n
1385GT for a new World Record Price for this model of PDS 2.225.000 ($ 3.603.089 or € 2.833.270) to an
Russian Broker. Even more fascinating to watch was the bidding fight on the McLaren F1 resulting in another
World Record Price - PDS 2.530.000 for the as new F1.
Needless to say that the Worlds Top Classic Car Market is fine. In anamera's server statistics one can see
an overwhelming demand for Lancia Stratos, BMW 507, Porsche 959 and the McLaren F1 and so it was no
surprise for all of us to see the McLaren F1 going that high.
But the emphasis has to concentrate on the word "Top" due to the fact that almost all more or less murky lots
- rightfully - didn't find new homes. To experts it was absolutely no surprise that the RHD Ferrari Lusso, by the
way resprayed just three weeks ago in an attractive blue metallic, was a no sale with an highbid of only PDS
260.000. Besides the respray the condition of this car was "so-so" and - more importantly - the Lusso
suffered from an installed 250 GTE engine which makes it impossible to get a certificate form Ferrari
Classiche.
Or take the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 as another example. Interestingly a car with the same chassis number and
modified as a Spyder conversion appeared in the 80's. Now one can either believe that this car was later
rebuilt again as a Coupé or....
Really cheap was the 250 LM and this may be the result of a some dealers/brokers "bad mouthing" this car
as to have had a huge accident recently. Anyway it has to be said also that the 250 SWB California Spyder's
highbid of only PDS 2.650.000 was disappointing. The vendor privately offered his cars to all major dealers
asking € 3.0mio for it. It seems that RM promised the vendor a better price but Pandora's box was already
open as there were at least four telephone bidders who stopped bidding at a slightly higher price as €
3.0mio....
The 288 GTO fetched a highbid of PDS 325.000 and we at anamera are wondering why the reserve was even
higher for a car with Thai (!) papers. The expecations seems to have been over optimistic as well as for the
red 275 GTB/4, a no sale at an highbid of PDS 700.000.
And last but not least the Alfa Romeo TZ, s/n 7500003 has to be discussed. Virtually no bidding on this car
took place and searching the internet for the history of this car will completely explain the full story behind 003.
Bjoern Schmidt
some notable results
Lot 221 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante Sold £660.000
Lot 223 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta NS
Lot 235 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta Sold £ 2.255.000
Lot 239 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Sold £ 300.000
Lot 243 1996 Iso Grifo NS high bid £60.000 (very nice car)
Lot 244 1996 Ferrari F50 Sold £319.000
Lot 246 1938 Horch 853 Special Roadster Sold £1.127.500
Lot 247 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta Sold £ 525k
Lot 250 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Recreation Sold £330.000
Lot 257 1965 Ferrari 250 LM Berlinetta Sold £2.255.000
Lot 266 1954 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spyder America Sold £ 165k
Lot 269 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta NS high bid £ 260k
Lot 274 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder NS high bid £ 2.65mio
Lot 275 1997 McLaren F1 Sold £ 2.530.000
Lot 277 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sold £308.000
Ferrari in the RM Auction, London / England
October 29, 2008
|