RM Auctions held its 2011 Sports and Classics of Monterey auction on August 19-20 at the Portola Hotel in Monterey, California, unofficially resulting in nearly $80 million in total sales and 85% sales rate.
The headline consignment of the 2011 RM Auctions Monterey sale, a spectacular 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster, chassis number 154140, attracted spirited bidding in the room and on the phones, selling for $9,680,000 – a new world record for a Mercedes-Benz sold at auction.
The 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 roster of Ferraris, led by the sale of a rare alloy-bodied 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione for $5,280,000 and the 340 Mexico at $3,685,000. All told, a total of 14 automobiles sold for more than one million dollars at the 2011 RM Monterey sale.
RM Auctions offered 144 automobiles for sale, with 123 finding a new owner, reflecting a 85% sales rate. Total sales volume was $78,192,700, inclusive of buyer’s premiums. The average price per car sold was $635,713. In 2010, RM offered 221 automobiles for sale, with 209 finding a new owner, reflecting a 95% sales rate. Total sales volume was $67,004,800, inclusive of buyer’s premiums. The average price per car sold was $329,597.
RM Auctions Monterey 2011 – Top 15 Auction Results
1. 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster – $9,680,000
2. 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione – $5,280,000
3. 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster – $4,620,000
4. 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Roadster – $3,767,500
5. 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta – $3,685,000
6. 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Coupe – $3,080,000
7. 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A – $2,970,000
8. 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder – $2,530,000
9. 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe – $2,090,000
10. 1953 Ferrari 375 America Coupe – $1,980,000
11. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta – $ 1,485,000
12. 1970 Porsche 911S Steve McQueen Le Mans Movie Car – $1,375,000
13. 1958 BMW 507 Roadster – $1,072,500
14. 1924 Mercedes-Benz 28/95 Sport Phaeton – $1,017,500
15. 1934 Duesenberg Model J Riviera Phaeton – $990,000
15. 1935 Bugatti Type 57 “Grand Raid” Roadster – $990,000
See RM Auctions Monterey 2011 – Complete Auction Results
The Monterey sale was RM’s biggest ever sale on the Monterey Peninsula, attracting record bidder registrations from 20 countries, including Argentina, Japan, and United Arab Emirates. A series of private after sales completed following the auction propel total sales for the weekend to over $80 million, the highest tally ever achieved during Monterey’s classic car week.
[Source: RM Auctions]
