The RM Sotheby’s New York City 2015 auction was held December 10 at Sotheby’s headquarters in Manhattan, resulting in $73,514,375 in total sales and 81 percent of all lots sold.
The two-hour 45 minute ‘Driven by Disruption’ auction presented 31 automobiles and select memorabilia before a packed house. Bidders hailed from 18 countries, including Hong Kong, Brazil and Russia, with 22 percent representing new clientele to RM Sotheby’s.As a prelude to the sale, RM hosted a six-day exhibition on Sotheby’s 10th floor galleries, which attracted thousands of enthusiasts to the property.
“We are thrilled that last night in New York, the historic 1956 Ferrari 290 MM sold for $28 million to set a series of records: for a car sold at auction in 2015, for a car sold in New York City, and for a car sold by RM. The Driven by Disruption sale caps off a record year for RM Sotheby’s with 31 of the world’s finest motor cars redefining a series of auction benchmarks,” said Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division. “With the eyes of both the world and New York City on the event, it was fantastic to see an average of over 1,000 people per day viewing and enjoying the 10th floor exhibition within Sotheby’s global headquarters. We were proud to provide a glimpse into the exciting world of collector cars for many new clients, and thrilled by the public’s response.”
The star of the RM Sotheby’s New York City 2015 sale was the ex-Fangio, ex-Works 1956 Ferrari 290 MM, chassis 0626, which powered to a final $28.05 million to claim the highest automotive auction sale of 2015. 0626 was built by the factory for Juan Manuel Fangio for the 1956 Mille Miglia and raced by the many other notables in period. The historic Ferrari was contested by multiple bidders in the room and on the phone.
Another headline result came from the Zagato-bodied 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT, chassis DB4GT/0186/R. One of 19 built, the Aston sold for $14.3 million to set a new record for a British automobile sold at auction.
The Janis Joplin 1964 Porsche 356 C 1600 SC Cabriolet sold for $1,760,000, well in excess of the pre-sale estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. Spurring a bidding contest between collectors in the room and on the phones, seven bidders competed for the daily driver of legendary rocker Janis Joplin. The sales price represents a new record for any Porsche 356 sold at public auction.
Purchased by the Queen of Rock’n’Roll from a used car lot in 1968, Joplin engaged Dave Richards, a friend and roadie with her band, Big Brother and the Holding Company, to customize it with a psychedelic ‘History of the Universe’ mural. The car was offered by Janis’ siblings, Michael and Laura Joplin, fresh from 20 years on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland.
Additional RM New York City 2015 highlights included:
- 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow, chassis 2575029, recognized as the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair show car, sold for an above-estimate $3,740,000;
- 2003 Ferrari Enzo, ex-Floyd Mayweather, chassis 135440, brought $3,300,000;
- 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ‘Roy Rogers’ Nudie Mobile, chassis 863S02964, garnered $308,000; and,
- 1954 Siata 208S Spider, chassis no. BS 535, the last built of approximately 35 Motto-bodied Spiders, achieved $1,650,000.
1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow (Chassis 2575029) – $3,740,000 
1934 Delage D8 S Cabriolet by Fernandez et Darrin (Chassis 38229) – $1,430,000 
1954 Siata 208S Spider (Chassis BS 535) – $1,650,000 
1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato (Chassis DB4GT/0186/R) – $14,300,000 
Janis Joplin 1964 Porsche 356 C 1600 SC Cabriolet sold for $1,760,000 
1972 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV (Chassis 5014) – $2,420,000
2003 Ferrari Enzo (Chassis 135440) – $3,300,000
RM Sotheby’s New York City 2015 – Top Ten Auction Results
1. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM (Chassis 0626) – $28,050,000
2. 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato (Chassis DB4GT/0186/R) – $14,300,000
3. 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet Series 1 (Chassis 0791GT) – $5,720,000
4. 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow (Chassis 2575029) – $3,740,000
5. 2003 Ferrari Enzo (Chassis 135440) – $3,300,000
5. 1953 Ferrari 250 GT Europa Coupe Vignale (Chassis 0313 EU) – $3,300,000
7. 1972 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV (Chassis 5014) – $2,420,000
8. 1964 Porsche 356 C Cabriolet (Chassis 160371) – $1,760,000
9. 1954 Siata 208S Spider (Chassis BS 535) – $1,650,000
10. 1934 Delage D8 S Cabriolet by Fernandez et Darrin (Chassis 38229) – $1,430,000
For complete results, visit RM Sotheby’s.
The company kicks off its 2016 calendar at the Arizona Biltmore Resort, January 28-29 during Arizona Auction Week, closely followed by its annual Paris sale, February 3 during the Retromobile week.
[Source: RM Sotheby’s]
