The RM Auctions London 2012 sale was staged 31st October at Battersea Evolution in central London, resulting in more than £14.26 million in total sales and 84% of all lots sold.
The single-day auction presented more than 90 automobiles and motorcycles, with the top result going to the 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour de France that sold for £1,960,000. Other notable sales included the ex-Tazio Nuvolari Tourist Trophy-winning 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Testa Fissa that made £784,000 and the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible, one of 11 Astons on offer, that brought £632,800. The headline 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy Gullwing failed to sell at the top bid of £2,400,000.
“Once again, our London sale has demonstrated that it successfully unites some the world’s finest cars with an audience of discriminating collectors from all corners of the world. Reflecting RM’s strong international client base, bidders at the sale hailed from 33 countries around the world, including as far away as Argentina, Hong Kong, India and Bahrain,” says Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Europe. “We enjoyed a fantastic night in central London with some incredible results. The sale certainly rounded out RM’s 2012 roster of European sales in the best possible fashion.”
Other top performers included the original 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio Cabriolet for £616,000, while a 2008 Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 from the Zegwaard Collection, sold for £579,600 after a lively bidding contest. The ex-British Motor Show 1952 Bentley Continental R-Type Fastback Sports Saloon also garnered attention from collectors, realizing £532,000, and the 1964 Aston Martin DB5, delivered new to Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney and owned by him for some six years, achieved £344,400.
A 1996 Porsche 911 GT2, just two owners from new, exceeded its pre-sale estimate, selling for £324,880, while the 1988 Porsche 959 ‘Komfort’ also exceeded its pre-sale estimate, realizing £308,000. The 1973 Lancia Stratos ‘Stradale’, one of the first of its kind built, sold for £249,200 against a pre-sale high estimate of £190,000.
Among the motorcycles, the restored 1926 Brough Superior SS100 Alpine Grand Sports sold for £280,800, while the matching numbers, fully authentic 1952 Vincent Series C Black Shadow fetched £78,975.
RM Auctions offered 91 vehicles for sale, with 76 finding new owners, reflecting an 83.52% sale rate. The total sales volume was £13,902,160 ($22,451,988) and the average price per car sold was £182,923 ($295,420).
RM Auctions London 2012 – Top Ten Auction Results
1. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour de France – £1,960,000
2. 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Testa Fissa – £784,000
3. 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible – £632,800
4. 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio Cabriolet – £616,000
5. 2008 Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 – £579,600
6. 1952 Bentley Continental R-Type Fastback Sports Saloon – £532,000
7. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster – £448,000
8. 1998 Ferrari F300 Formula One Racing Car – £400,000
9. 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400S – £397,600
10. 1964 Aston Martin DB5 – £344,400
(See RM Auctions London 2012 – Complete Results GBP)
(See RM Auctions London 2012 – Complete Results USD)
RM concludes its 2012 auction calendar on December 1st in North Palm Beach, Florida with the presentation of the John Staluppi ‘Cars of Dreams’ Museum, featuring nearly 120 automobiles and 50 lots of memorabilia ‘without reserve’. The company will then kick off the 2013 collector car auction season on January 18th in Phoenix, Arizona. RM’s first scheduled 2013 European sale will be held in Cernobbio, Italy in May 2013 in conjunction with the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
For more information, visit www.rmauctions.com.
[Source: RM Auctions]
