1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France Berlinetta sells for $3.6 million

1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France Berlinetta

A 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France Berlinetta, the coupe which was restored in 2005 and the Mille Miglia of that year, sold for $3.6 million in a sale of classic autos held by RM Auctions in London on October 26. This Ferrari joins a long list of classic 250s that have sold for seven-figure mark, and is one of just 39 competition Berlinettas produced by the company with all-alloy bodywork.

The 250 GT LWB Berlinetta was purchased by a telephone bidder. Its price including fees was the highest of the evening, amounting to $3.6 million. It was the most highly valued lot, with an expected hammer price of as high as $3.8 million. The Berlinetta lived in the United States for the majority of its years, until a U.K. collector bought it a few years back. It raced in the 2005 Mille Miglia, and the engine was replaced at one point.

1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France Berlinetta interior

But, three of the prominent four lots did not sell at a London auction that includes another Ferrari, an Aston Martin and a Lamborghini. The cars that failed to sell include a 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder, determined at $2.4 million to $2.9 million, and a 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT, one of only 75 built, valued at $1.24 million to $1.4 million. Buyers also passed on a red-and-gold 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV that was extensively restored in Australia in the mid-2000s. Reflecting increasing values for 1970s supercars, this was priced at $1.2 million to $1.4 million.

1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France Berlinetta front view

RM Auctions offered about 100 investment-grade cars in its annual sale at Battersea Park, south London. Including 25 motorcycles, the sale was estimated to raise between $19 million and $23 million. The equivalent event last year, featuring a James Bond Aston Martin DB5 at $4,6 million, made over $30 million with 87 percent of the cars successful. RM’s official selling rate this year, like the total sale figure, was not immediately available and Dave Selby, a senior analyst at the U.K.-based research company Historic Automobile Group International (HAGI), said he estimated it to be about 70 percent.

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Special Cars/1969 Holden Hurricane

Sometimes the future invented by the past is even more exciting than the one we're actually living. The 1969 Holden Hurricane ($TBA) is a perfect example. Originally unveiled at the 1969 Melbourne Motor Show, this sleek ride featured a mid-mounted, 262hp V8 engine boasting advanced components such as the four-barrel carburetor, rear-wheel drive, a glorious fold-forward windshield assembly in lieu of doors, and "futuristic" features like electronic digital instrument displays, a radio with seek capability, automatic temperature control, a rear-vision camera, and a quasi-GPS system called the "Pathfinder". Come to think of it, that sounds an awful lot like the present — only most of our cars aren't this good looking.

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Vintage/ Gold Plated 1920 Pierce-Arrow 48 Coupe

Gold-plated and even more antique certainly attracts the attention. Exactly such an car is 1920 Pierce-Arrow 48 Coupe, probably the first one that can only be described as jewelry. This antique car is 3-passenger Coupe and is available for an asking price of $300,000 from Hemmings.

The Model 48 was powered by a T-head inline six-cylinder engine of 525 cubic inches with a 4-speed transmission on a 142 wheelbase chassis. First, it was designed for salt-mining entreprenuer Emerson Carey in Hutchinson Kansas, and later it was perfected and blinged by a subsequent owner in Great Bend Kansas during 1945. Every one of the Pierce-Arrows finely cast aluminum body panels has been meticulously prepared and plated in 23-karat gold, and the fenders and hood in bright nickel. The engine and chassis received the same treatment. The wood spoke wheels are gold leafed.

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Vintage Cars/Edsel Ford's 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster

We're all aware of the spectacular failures of the car which bore his name, but as it turns out, he actually had great taste in cars himself. For example, take Edsel Ford's 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster ($TBA). Inspired by European rides of the late '20s and early '30s and drawn by Ford's chief designer E.T. Gregorie, the Speedster was based on a 1934 Ford frame but underwent major surgery to appear longer and lower, and has recently been restored to its original specifications, making it as authentic as any 1940 model could reasonably be.

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SPECIAL CARS/1957 Ferrari 250 TR

If the words "1957 Ferrari" aren't enough to get you excited, we can't help you. The 1957 Ferrari 250 TR ($TBA) is one of only 22 of the very rare racers built, with Speed Racer-esque pontoon fenders, black paint with white numbers and a black nose, red seats with white piping, a gated shifter, and racing heritage that includes a fourth place finish in the 1000 km Buenos Aires in January 1958. It's an absolute classic.

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$16.4 Million Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa – Most Expensive Car Sold At Auction

1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa sets a new record as the most expensive car sold at auction, after fetching $16.4 million at  the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance at Monterey Car Week in California. This red Ferrari  has suffered  damage in the Le Mans 24-hour race and been wrecked in a fire, but has since been professionally restored to its former glory.

The car is the first of Testa Rossa built and was used as a prototype for the many others that came during the 1950s and 1960s. The car has 300-horsepower, a 3.0-liter V-12 engine, a four-speed manual transmission and was used in races in both the U.S. and Europe.

The ultra-rich remain ultra-rich, Swiss-based Ferrari historian Marcel Massini told. The very, very best sells easily and incredibly high. The identity of the seller and the buyer is still unknown.

The previous record for a car sold at auction was the $12 million sale of another 1957 Testa Rossa in Maranello, Italy in 2009.

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RM Tops 2011 Pebble Beach Auction Results with Record $80 Millions in Sale

RM’s 2011 Monterey auction posts $80 million in sales with a strong 88% sell-through 14 cars achieve individual million-dollar-plus sale results

Two-day sale establishes numerous new auction records including highest grossing single-day collector car auction with over $60.5 million generated during Saturday’s sale session

Top-sellers: 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster achieves $9,680,000; and 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione brings $5,280,000

Iconic 1970 Porsche 911s formerly owned by the ‘King of Cool’ Steve McQueen and featured in the epic film ‘Le Mans’ realizes $1,375,000

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, 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.

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

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Special Cars/1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster Sold for $9.68 Million at Monterey

The star lot of the second night at RM Auctions’ Monterey Sale, the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen has set a new world-record price for a Mercedes- Benz at auction, selling for a hammer price of $8.8 million ($9.68 million with buyers premium). Opening bid start at $4million, and then right up to $5, then $6, then $6.5m, then $7m,… and finally stop at $8.8 million!!!

The stunning 540 K was joined by a magnificent series of four other supercharged eight-cylinder Mercedes-Benz automobiles from the 1930s, each fetching multi-million-dollar results before the packed house.

Other highlights included a superb roster of historic Ferraris, lead by the sale of a rare alloy-bodied 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione for $5,280,000.

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1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Experimental at Inaugural Salon Prive Auction

1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I

RM Auctions will hold its Quintessentially English auction at the Salon Prive Concours d’Elegance on Thursday, 23rd June, 2011. Held at the Syon Park estate in West London, the Inaugural Salon Prive auction will see a host of great British marques cross the sale block, including Aston Martin, Jaguar and Rolls-Royce among others.

We have pulled together a collection of very interesting and significant collector cars and motorcycles which represent some of the finest vehicles produced in England during the pre- and post-war periods, said RM Europe MD Max Girardo. This new annual sale is wonderful ‘boutique’ style auction, which both complements the nature of Salon Privé and sits very comfortably alongside our broader Automobiles of London event at Battersea in October. It is not to be missed by anyone wanting to secure a genuine piece of English automotive history.

One of the star consignments for the RM Auctions Salon Prive 2011 is the unique and historic 1926 Rolls Royce Experimental Phantom 1 Continental ‘10 EX’.

10EX was one of three experimental Phantom 1 Continentals commissioned by D. Claude Johnson, who was then serving as managing director of the luxury automaker. These cars, unofficially dubbed the CJ sports cars, were designed to compete against Bentley’s Continental models. Along with the torpedo bodywork from Barker, 10EX received a lowered steering column, and was markedly lighter than a stock Phantom.

Three subsequent cars were produced on this design, consecutively known as 15 EX, 16 EX and 17 EX, however, chassis 10 EX was the only experimental Phantom 1 Continental to be kept by Rolls-Royce Motors for six years and the only test car of the factory. During this time, this rakish sporting Rolls was reportedly loaned by the factory to Laurence of Arabia for continental touring.

RM predicts that 10EX Rolls-Royce Phantom I Experimental will fetch between $660,000 and $1.33 million when it rolls across the auction block .

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