The most expensive car at the RM Sotheby’s Liechtenstein 2021 auction was surprisingly the 1954 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV Limousine ‘Princess Margaret’ by H.J. Mulliner that sold for CHF2,255,000 ($2,456,000 / €2,081,365), a world-record for a Phantom IV.
RM Sotheby’s sold all 25 Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars on offer in the single-owner “A Passion for Elegance” classic car auction in Liechtenstein in June 2021. Most cars sold for above the presale high estimate with the top result $2,456,000 paid for the 1954 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV Limousine ‘Princess Margaret’ by H.J. Mulliner — four times above estimate. The rare 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Special Brougham, a 1958 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupé, and the ex-Sophia Loren 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Drophead Coupe Adaptation also sold for more than a million dollars.
RM Sotheby’s Liechtenstein Rolls-Royce Sale 2021
RM Sotheby’s held the Passion for Elegance sale on 19 June 2021 in Liechtenstein. The sale of 25 Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars had a 100% sell-through rate and grossed CHF11,134,125.
The format for Liechtenstein was a live auction but with limited attendance. Although closely allied with Switzerland, Liechtenstein is a small independent and very wealthy principality bordered by Switzerland and Austria. In the nearby town Dornbirn in Austria are TWO Rolls-Royce Museums.
Top Results at RM Sotheby’s Liechtenstein Sale 2021
The 25 Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars (and a further Rolls-Royce Aero Engine) on offer at the RM Sotheby’s “A Passion for Elegance” classic car auction in Liechtenstein were from the collection of Norbert Seeger. This collection is considered one of the finest in the world as the results confirmed — 21 of the 26 lots exceeded the presale high estimates.
The top ten results at the RM Sotheby’s Liechtenstein sale were:
| 1 | Lot 110 1954 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV Limousine ‘Princess Margaret’ | CHF 2,255,000.00 |
| 2 | Lot 119 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Special Brougham Town Car | CHF 1,580,000.00 |
| 3 | Lot 107 1958 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupé | CHF 1,220,000.00 |
| 4 | Lot 116 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé Adaptation | CHF 1,045,625.00 |
| 5 | Lot 120 1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Touring Limousine | CHF 567,500.00 |
| 6 | Lot 121 1990 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Special Limousine | CHF 511,250.00 |
| 7 | Lot 113 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Four-Door Cabriolet | CHF 455,000.00 |
| 8 | Lot 115 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Saloon Coupé | CHF 398,750.00 |
| 9 | Lot 111 1920 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pall Mall Tourer | CHF 342,500.00 |
| 10 | Lot 112 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith Sedanca de Ville | CHF 342,500.00 |
Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Liechtenstein 2021
Four cars sold for more than four million dollars in the RM Sotheby’s Passion for Elegance sale in Liechtenstein in 2021:
1954 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV Limousine ‘Princess Margaret’ by H.J. Mulliner
The most expensive car at the RM Sotheby’s Liechtenstein 2021 auction was surprisingly the 1954 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV Limousine ‘Princess Margaret’ by H.J. Mulliner that sold for CHF2,255,000 ($2,456,000 / €2,081,365), a world-record for a Phantom IV offered at auction and a figure that saw the car smash its pre-sale estimate of CHF400,00 – CHF600,00.
This 1954 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV Limousine by H.J. Mulliner is one of only 18 Phantom IVs produced of a car that was the exclusive domain for world leaders and royalty. Of particular interest to collectors was the royal provenance: this Phantom IV was built for the sister of Queen Elizabeth II, HRH Princess Margaret. It boasted a range of bespoke, luxury features, befitting her position as a senior member of the British Royal family. It is a car Princess Margaret retained for 13 years and which covered 27,000 miles in her ownership, and in which she was frequently seen and photographed.
1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Special Brougham by Brewster
The star of the collection is the 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Special Brougham by Brewster was outclassed in the auction but still sold for a mid-estimate CHF1,580,000 ($1,720,000) estimate CHF1,300,000 to 1,750,000. This Rolls-Royce is a one-off design and the first and only of the three special town cars built that still retain their original coachwork.
This Brougham by Brewster was created for the American millionaire, Matthew Dick of Washington D.C., as a true one-off, bespoke automobile that cost an astonishing $31,000. It was the most expensive car built anywhere in the world in 1933. It had only five owners from new.
1958 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupé by Park Ward
The 1958 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupé by Park Ward, was as expected the top Bentley result although at CHF1,220,000 ($1,328,700) it achieved just above the pre-sale estimate of CHF900,000 to CHF1,200,000.
The large Bentley S1 Continental is one of the most stylish British open grand touring cars ever made and frequently achieve a million-dollar at auction. Only 94 were produced.
1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé Adaptation by H.J. Mulliner
The final lot to exceed CHF1M was the 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé Adaptation by H.J. Mulliner, which was purchased new for iconic actress Sophia Loren by her husband, Carlo Ponti. With full documentation, this car boasts incredible provenance and featured with Ms. Loren in Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and is one of only 25 original left-hand-drive models produced. Its final selling price of CHF1,045,625 ($1,138,600 / €965,111), makes it another car in the sale to double its pre-sale estimate of CHF530,000-CHF660,00.
Tonnie Van der Velden, car specialist at RM Sotheby’s says: “Above all else, we always endeavour to achieve the best possible results for our clients, and we have an enviable reputation as the leading specialists for selling single-owner collections. This was a stunning collection of cars that represented one man’s passion for the Rolls-Royce and Bentley marques, and we are delighted all the cars sold so well. It is also a significant indication that the market for these luxurious British cars is extremely robust, and it reinforces RM Sotheby’s credentials in this area of the market.”
Following the very strong results in the Liechtenstein sale and the success of Amelia Island in May, it is expected that many further top cars will test the market later in 2021 with the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK and the Monterey Motoring Week in California in mid-August likely to attract the best cars and highest results.