BLENHEIM, Ontario, August 25, 2011
RM Auctions confirmed its standing as the world’s leading
collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles on
the weekend, posting the highest auction results of this year’s
famed Pebble Beach motoring week with a record $80,142,000* in
total sales, including a select series of private after sales, and
88% of all lots sold.
The impressive results tally – up from $67 million in 2010 –
represents the highest auction results ever achieved during the
Monterey classic car week and includes 14 individual
million-dollar-plus sale results. In addition, the sale established a
number of new auction records, including that for the highest
dollar single-day collector car auction in history** with over $60.5
million in sales generated during RM’s Saturday sale session on
August 20.
Additional records included the sale of an exceptional 1937
Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster, chassis number 154140
(pictured top), which achieved a final sales price of $9,680,000 to
establish a new world record for a Mercedes-Benz sold at
auction; along with the 1970 Porsche 911s formerly owned by the
‘King of Cool’ Steve McQueen and featured in his epic Hollywood
film Le Mans, which set a new auction record for a 911, realizing
$1,375,000. The sale of the 911s on Friday represented RM’s
200th million-dollar-plus automobile sold at auction.
Also entering the history books was the 1958 BMW 507
Roadster, formerly owned by first ‘Bond’ girl, Ursula Andress with
its record-setting sales price of $1,072,500; and the c.1899
Columbia Electric Landaulet, which more than doubled its
pre-sale estimate, selling for $550,000 – a record price for an
electric car sold at auction.
“We are thrilled with the results from our Monterey sale on the
weekend, which not only reflect our biggest Monterey sale to
date, but also a vibrant market and continued interest and
enthusiasm in the hobby from around the world,” says Rob
Myers, Chairman & Founder, RM Auctions.
“Illustrating RM’s global clientele, bidders represented 20
countries, including as far away as Argentina, the United Arab
Emirates and Japan, with those in the room joined by bidders on
the phone and over the Internet. We look forward to continuing the
momentum at our annual Hershey, Pennsylvania and London,
England events in October,” adds Myers.
In celebration of Mercedes-Benz’s 125th anniversary, the sale
featured the most important collection of historic Mercedes-Benz
vehicles ever presented at public auction – an offering that
generated strong interest among discerning collectors and
spirited bidding. In addition to the sale-topping 1937
Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster, also on offer were four
other supercharged eight-cylinder Mercedes from the 1930s, each
inspected by veteran experts from Mercedes-Benz Classic in
Germany prior to the sale, and each fetching multi-million-dollar
results.
“RM Auctions was honored to join forces with Mercedes-Benz in
Monterey this year for what was an unprecedented sale of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles and a great celebration of the
marque’s rich heritage. The results, including the record-setting
Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster sale, speak for
themselves and reflect the incredible quality of the motor cars
presented. We are grateful in particular to Mercedes-Benz
Classic in Germany for their assistance in inspecting the vehicles
prior to the sale,” added Myers.
Continuing RM’s reputation as the specialists for private and
estate collections, additional sale highlights included the
presentation of a select group of motor cars from the
distinguished Lyon Family Collection. Collectors recognized the
incredible quality and condition of these select automobiles, as
illustrated by the strong prices realized.
RM Auctions’ 2011 Monterey Million-Dollar-Plus Sales:
Lot 148 –1970 Porsche 911S Steve McQueen ‘Le Mans’ Movie
Car -$1,375,000
Lot 152 – 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta - $1,485,000
Lot 229 – 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder - $2,530,000
Lot 232 – 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster -
$4,620,000 (Lyon Family Collection)
Lot 236 – 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Coupe -
$3,080,000 (Lyon Family Collection)
Lot 237 – 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta - $3,685,000
Lot 238 – 1958 BMW 507 Roadster - $1,072,500 (Lyon Family
Collection)
Lot 242 – 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster -
$9,680,000
Lot 244 – 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione -
$5,280,000
Lot 247 – 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Roadster - $3,767,500
(Lyon Family Collection)
Lot 248 – 1953 Ferrari 375 America Coupe - $1,980,000
Lot 249 – 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A -
$2,970,000
Lot 251 – 1924 Mercedes-Benz 28/95 Sport Phaeton - $1,017,500
Lot 252 – 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe - $2,090,000
In addition to RM’s strong auction performance, the company’s
restoration division also enjoyed success on the show field at the
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, with the 1938
Talbot-Lago T150-C Figoni et Falaschi Coupé owned by Richard
Stephens of Auburn, California, judged ‘Best in Class’ and a ‘Best
of Show Nominee’, and the 1960 Plymouth XNR Ghia Roadster,
owned by Kareem Edde from Beirut, Lebanon, judged ‘Third in
Class’ and recipient of the coveted ‘Gran Turismo’ award. Other
award-winning entries included the 1931 Duesenberg J Packard
Roadster, owned by Robert and Brigitte Thayer of Atlanta,
Georgia, which was honored with a class award, along with the
1933 Cadillac 452 C Fleetwood Imperial Sedan, owned by
Michael & Wendy Fairbairn of Ontario, Canada; and, the 1938
Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sports Tourer owned by William Parfet of
Hickory Corners, Michigan. As a special feature, the concours
also included the unveiling of Edsel Ford’s 1934 Model 40 Special
Speedster, restored to its timeless elegance by RM’s
award-winning restoration team for Edsel & Eleanor Ford House.
RM Auctions continues its 2011 calendar in Hershey,
Pennsylvania on October 6-7, 2011, closely followed by its annual
London, UK sale at Battersea Evolution, October 26, 2011.
All figures are reported in U.S. dollars and include the 10 percent
buyer’s premium
Images Peter Singhof www.ClassicCarPhotography.de
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