A 1968 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider is expected to sell for well over $20 million as the leading car at the RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2016 classic car auction. A quarter of the around 80 cars on offer in the main sale is Ferraris but top results are also expected from the only street-legal Porsche 911 GT1, a Peugeot 908 Le Mans participant and the Monte-Carlo Rally-winning Peugeot 205 Turbo.
RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2016 Classic Car Sale
The RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2016 classic car auction will be held on May 14, 2016 at Le Sporting in Monte Carlo. This bi-annual sale coincides with the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique weekend.
The auction will be split into two sessions: an eclectic collection of 39 cars from the Quattroruote Collection will be sold in the afternoon with the main auction of around 80 cars on offer in the evening.
Million Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2016 Auction
The following cars are expected to sell for more than (or near) a million dollar at the RM Sotheby’s 2016 Monaco classic car sale:
Year | Car | Estimate (€) |
1968 | Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider by Scaglietti | €19.000.000 – €23.000.000 |
1951 | Ferrari 340 America Barchetta by Touring | €7.500.000 – €9.000.000 |
1997 | Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution | €2.700.000 – €3.000.000 |
1972 | Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti | €2.400.000 – €2.800.000 |
1967 | Ferrari 330 GTS by Pininfarina | €2.100.000 – €2.400.000 |
1966 | Ferrari 275 GTS by Pininfarina | €1.650.000 – €1.850.000 |
1964 | Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti | €1.550.000 – €1.800.000 |
1948 | Tucker 48 | €1.350.000 – €1.850.000 |
1952 | Ferrari 212 Inter Cabriolet by Vignale | €1.250.000 – €1.500.000 |
2008 | Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Le Mans Prototype | €1.200.000 – €1.600.000 |
1955 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | €1.100.000 – €1.300.000 |
1965 | Alfa Romeo Giulia Tubolare Zagato | €950.000 – €1.200.000 |
1988 | Porsche 959 ‘Komfort’ Stage II | €900.000 – €1.250.000 |
1930 | Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider | €900.000 – €1.200.000 |
1954 | Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner | €750.000 – €950.000 |
2011 | Ferrari 599 GTO | €700.000 – €1.000.000 |
1966 | Lamborghini 350 GT by Touring | €700.000 – €850.000 |
2005 | Porsche Carrera GT | €700.000 – €850.000 |
1939 | Citroën 15 CV Roadster | €650.000 – €1.100.000 |
1984 | Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Evolution 1 Group B | €600.000 – €800.000 |
1973 | Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring | €580.000 – €680.000 |
1949 | Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet by Pinin Farina | €550.000 – €800.000 |
Multi-Million Cars at the RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2016 Sale
The following five cars are expected to sell for more than two million dollars each at the RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2016 classic car auction:
1968 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider by Scaglietti
The 1968 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider by Scaglietti, chassis no. 11057, estimate €19,000,000 – €23,000,000, is the clear headline car for the 2016 RM Sotheby’s Monaco classic car sale. This was the last of only 10 NART Spiders built and the only one sold new in Europe. It was also the third last of any 275 model built by Ferrari.
This very special 1968 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider is a matching numbers example with Ferrari Classiche certification. It is newly finished in its original Grigio Scuro dark-red color although the interior is tan rather than the original black.
The car was originally sold in Madrid and had a variety of owners through the years – five of its previous owners also owned 250 GTOs. The car last sold at public auction for below $7 million in 2009.
The nine American cars are usually titled as Ferrari 275 GTB/4S N.A.R.T. The last one sold at public auction was a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4S N.A.R.T. Spider sold for $27,500,000 by RM Auctions in Monterey 2013. The result was around $10,000,000 above higher pre-auction estimate, the most-expensive Ferrari ever sold at the time of sale and the highest result RM Auctions ever achieved (prior to becoming RM Sotheby’s in 2015). It was also the fifth highest price ever paid for a car at public auction.
1951 Ferrari 340 America Barchetta by Touring
The 1951 Ferrari 340 America Barchetta by Touring, chassis no. 0116/A, estimate €7,500,000 – €9,000,000, was the third of 23 Ferrari 340 Americas built.
The car was delivered to first owner Pierre Louis-Dreyfus a week before the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours Race. He contracted Luigi Chinetti, famous Ferrari importer and team owner in America, and Formula 1 ace Louis Chiron, after whom the next modern Bugatti model is named, to drive the car. Chiron ran out of fuel and an illegal re-fueling on the racetrack led to its disqualification. In the 1952 race, the car retired after five hours with mechanical issues.
The Ferrari 340 is fully restored to its 1951 Le Mans appearance. It participated in several historic races in recent years including five times in the Mille Miglia.
1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution
The 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution, chassis GT1 993-117, estimate €2,700,000 – €3,000,000, is the only road-legal 911 GT1 racecar. Porsche built only 41 of the 911 GT cars: 18 for racing and 23 streetcars.
Porsche 911 GT1 cars are not only very rare but were very successful in racing too. From 1996 to 2003, Porsche 911 GT1s won 47 of 144 races entered. The 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution on offer won 13 of its 31 starts and is a three-time Canadian GT Championship winner run by Bytzek. It was recently restored in Britain at a cost of over £300,000.
1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti
The 1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti, estimate €2,400,000 – €2,800,000, is one of only 18 original left-hand drive Daytona Spiders built for the European market. This car has covered only 27,000 km since new. At recent auctions, Daytona Spiders have failed to achieved the $2.75 to $3.3 million prices paid in 2015.
1967 Ferrari 330 GTS by Pininfarina
The 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS by Pininfarina, estimate €2,100,000 – €2,400,000, is one of only 99 examples built compared to 598 of the 330 GTC coupe versions. The car was restored after an accident in 2014 at a cost exceeding $400,000. It was then also returned to its original nocciola over black color scheme. The car failed to sell at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 sale – the estimate has been lowered by around $300,000.
Other Top Ferraris at RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2016 Sale
RM Sotheby’s will offer 21 Ferraris for sale at its 2016 Monaco sale. In addition to the top Ferraris above, the following are also expected so sell for more than a million dollar:
The 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS by Pininfarina, estimate €1,650,000 – €1,850,000, is in a remarkably original condition with original paintwork and interior. The car’s three previous owners had covered only 24,000 miles in this Ferrari. Although only 200 of the Ferrari 275 GTS cars were produced, this one is expected to sell for a tenth of the price of the 1968 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider by Scaglietti offered in the same sale.
The 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti, estimate €1,550,000 – €1,800,000, was the 306th of 350 examples produced. The Lusso was designed to give customers a more luxurious vehicle but without neglecting the need for high performance. It is a matching numbers example but its dark brown over beige scheme is not original – it left the factory in silver over black.
The 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Cabriolet by Vignale, estimate €1,250,000 – €1,500,000, is one of only four cabriolet bodies made by Vignale for the 212 Inter. (Vignale provided coachwork for around 36 of the 78 Inters produced.) The car is finished in its original black over black colors and has been in Dutch ownership for the past three decades.
The 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO, estimate €700,000 – €1,000,000, is one of only 599 produced. It was only the third model given a GTO name by Ferrari although the model was never designed for homologation for any racing series. The car is offered by its first owner, who has covered only 180 km in this Ferrari. While Ferrari 599 SA Apertas have sold for over a million dollar, the standard 599 GTO thus far has fallen short of this mark.
Other Top Cars at RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2016
Several further cars are expected to sell for more than a million dollar at the RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2016 classic car auction:
- The 1948 Tucker 48, chassis 1049, estimate €1,350,000 – €1,850,000, was the last complete Tucker 48 built by the factory that produced only 51 cars in total. It is the only Tucker 48 in Europe. It is fully restored and in its original color of Waltz Blue.
The 2008 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Le Mans Prototype, chassis no. 908-05, estimate €1,200,000 – €1,600,000, was raced by Team Peugeot Total. It finished second overall at the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours race and the 1000 km Nürburgring. It won the Petit Le Mans in 2009 and the 1000 km Algarve in 2010 before finishing second at its final race, the 1000 km Silverstone in 2010. (The car failed to sell at the RM Auctions Paris 2014 sale – the estimate has since been reduced by around €200,000.)
Another race-winning Peugeot, the 1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Evolution 1 Group B, estimate €600,000 – €800,000, will aim for a top result at the RM Sotheby’s 2016 Monaco sale. This car is one of 20 Works cars produced and won the 1985 Rally Monte Carlo and the Swedish Rally driven by World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen.
The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, estimate €1,100,000 – €1,300,000, is offered from single-family ownership since new. It was part of the Count Augusta Collection of an important Italian industrialists family. The car is largely original and in a very well-maintained condition. Mercedes Benz 300 SLs have been struggling to sell at high prices at most recent auctions with results generally lower than two years ago.
The 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Tubolare Zagato, estimate €950,000 – €1,200,000, is one of only 101 produced. It was successfully raced in period including a first-in-class finish at its debut race at Valvisciolo-Bassiano. The car also participated more recently in historic races including the Coppa d’Italia and Targa Florio. The Alfa Romeo is offered for sale for the first time in 33 years.
The 1988 Porsche 959 ‘Komfort’ Stage II, estimate €900,000 – €1,250,000, is one of only three originally finished in black and the only one also finished with a black interior. The car was upgraded to Stage II performance by Porsche Classic Center in Stuttgart in recent years. The different turbos and intercoolers added around 100 bhp more than the standard car. It has covered only 10,000 km since new.
The 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider, estimate €900,000 – €1,200,000, is the second Alfa Romeo aiming to sell for over a million dollar at the 2016 RM Sotheby’s Monaco sale. This Alfa Romeo participated in the Mille Miglia three times: 1930, 1933 and 1936 – the last two races it ran on an alternative fuel gasogeno. The car has been restored to being petrol driven and is sold from the Augusta Collection.
The 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H,J, Mulliner (estimate €750,000 – €950,000) is one of 207 produced, of which 193 have coachwork by Mulliner. The car has a known history since new and belonged to Luca Bassani Antivari, founder of Monaco’s Wally yachts since 1993. A similar Bentley sold for $1.8 million – well over estimate – at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2016 auction.
The 1939 Citroën 15 CV Roadster is offered with a wide ranging estimate from €650,000 to €1,100,000. This was the first of only four 15 CV Roadsters built (due to the outbreak of the Second World War) and the only surviving example with factory serial numbers confirming that it was formally built by Citroën. The car originally belonged to Mrs Anna Michelin – daughter of the tire baron Edouard Michelin.
Two Porsches from models that have occasionally sold for more than a million dollar but recently mostly failed to, are offered at more realistic estimates: a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, estimate €700,000 – €850,000 (still a bit higher than recent results), and a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring, estimate €580,000 – €680,000.
See also: Bonhams Monaco 2016 Sale Preview – this auction a day earlier will feature a remarkable number of cars similar to what is on offer at the RM Sotheby’s sale.