A Pagani Zondi Aether sold for a record $6.8 million and Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari 2002 for $6.6 million at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi classic car auction.
The top result at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019 collector car auction was a new model record $6,812,000 paid for a unique 2017 Pagani Zonda Aether. The second highest result at the auction was $6,643,750 paid for a 2002 Ferrari F2002 Formula 1 car driven by Michael Schumacher to three Grand Prix victories. Further top results included $4,281,250 paid for a track-only 2015 Ferrari FXX K and $2,143,750 for the only surviving 1982 Ferrari 126 C2 Formula 1 car. Only around half of the cars on offer sold during the auction.
Top Results at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Auction 2019
Eight cars sold for over a million dollar at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019 classic car auction. A further seven attracted unsuccessful highest bids of more than a million dollar.
The top ten results at the RM Sotheby Abu Dhabi 2019 classic car auction were:
| Year | Car | Price ($) | Estimate ($) | |
| 1 | 2017 | Pagani Zonda Aether | 6,812,000 | 4,500,000 – 5,5000,000 |
| 2 | 2002 | Ferrari F2002 | 6,643,750 | 5,500,000 – 7,500,000 |
| 3 | 2015 | Ferrari FXX K | 4,281,250 | 4,0000,000 – 4,500,000 |
| 4 | 1982 | Ferrari 126 C2 | 2,143,750 | 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 |
| 5 | 1956 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 1,581,250 | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 6 | 2011 | Aston Martin One-77 | 1,440,625 | 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 |
| 7 | 2014 | Koenigsegg Agera R | 1,356,250 | 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 |
| 8 | 1996 | Zagato Raptor Concept | 1,086,250 | 1,000,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 9 | 1993 | Porsche 911 Reimagined by SInger | 825,000 | 800,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 10 | 1993 | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 | 782,500 | – |
| 20 | 2015 | Mercedes Benz G63 AMG 6×6 | 748,750 | 800,000 – 1,000,000 |
Note: Include post-hammer deals included in the first published results.
Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019
2017 Pagani Zonda Aether Roadster
The most-expensive car sold at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019 collector car auction was somewhat surprisingly a 2017 Pagani Zonda Aether Roadster that set a marque record $6,812,000. The previous record of $5,885,000 was set only a few days previously for a 2017 Pagani Zonda Riviera sold by Silverstone Auctions in Riyadh.
The result was more than a million above upper estimate. Bidding twice jumped by nearly a million dollars on a telephone bid before a small increment in the auction room secured the car.
The 2017 Pagani Zonda Aether Roadster was one of the final and most potent examples of this hypercar ever built. The Zonda has an exposed carbon-fiber roadster body powered by a naturally aspirated 7.3-liter V-12 engine producing 760 bhp and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. It has only 1,400 km on the clock.
Michael Schumacher’s 2002 Ferrari F2002 F1 Car
The top car going into the auction, Michael Schumacher’s 2002 Ferrari F2002 F1 Car, chassis #219, sold within estimate for $6,643,750. Schumacher drove this chassis to three Grands Prix victories in 2002: Imola, Zeltweg, and Magny Cours. The victory in France secured Schumacher his 5th World Drivers’ Championship title. This F2002 was also driven to further podium finishes including 2nd with Schumacher at Monaco, and 2nd at Spa and 4th at Hockenheim with teammate Rubens Barrichello.
This result was the second-highest paid for a modern Formula 1 car. The record car is Michael Schumacher’s Grand Prix-winning Ferrari F2001 sold in Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in November 2017 for $7,504,000.
The most-expensive Formula 1 single-seater racing car ever remains a 1954 Mercedes Benz W196R that sold for $29,650,000 at the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013 sale.
1982 Ferrari 126 C2
A second Formula 1 car, the 1982 Ferrari 126 C2, sold for a strong $2,143,750. This car is the sole survivor of seven examples built. Patrick Tambay drove it to his first Formula 1 victory at the German Grand Prix.
Previously, Tambay finished third at the British GP and fourth in both the French and Austrian races in this car. Mario Andretti drove it to pole position and third in the Italian Grand Prix.
A 1983 Ferrari 126 C3 will be available at the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2020 sale – the current estimate is half what this C2 sold for.
2015 Ferrari FXX K
A track-only 2015 Ferrari FXX K sold for $4,281,250 to set a model record (by default as it was the first-ever offered for sale at auction).
This track-only car is based on the Ferrari LaFerrari and remains Ferrari’s most potent track-only, limited production car at 1,035 bhp. The car on offer has done only 250 km and was never actually raced in a Ferrari Corse Clienti XX Programme event.
1956 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing
There were only two top-end classic cars from the 1950-1970 period offered in the sale – a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS that failed to sell and a 1956 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing that sold for a fairly strong $1,581,250. This was the highest Gullwing result since September 2018.
The 1956 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing is one of around 1,400 produced and one of only 300 fitted with optional sport suspension and NSL engine, which is still fitted to the car.
2011 Aston Martin One-77
The 2011 Aston Martin One-77 sold for just below estimate $1,440,625. As the model name suggests, just 77 examples of the One-77 were built, with the car sold in Abu Dhabi being the 38th. Finished in Black Pearl with a Blue Gin interior accented with Anodised Blue and Chrome metal finish, the One-77 has covered less than 1,000 km from new.
This Aston Martin One-77 was donated and sold without reserve to benefit African Parks. However, this seemed to have added no premium. The Aston Martin One-77 is rarely seen at auction – Bonhams sold one, also without reserve, but within estimate for $1,563,221 at the Bonmont-Geneva 2019 sale. Higher bids at earlier offers were refused on similar models.
2014 Koenigsegg Agera R
A 2014 Koenigsegg Agera R, offered without reserve, sold for $1,356,250 at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019 car auction. This car was one of the last of only 18 produced.
The 2014 Koenigsegg Agera R is one of only two finished in blue carbon fibre. At has only 4,400 miles on the clock. A Koenigsegg Agera R set a world record in 2011 for driving 0–300–0 km/h in a blistering time of 21.19 seconds, a record that stood for four years before being bested by Koenigsegg’s own One:1.
1996 Zagato Raptor Concept
A one-off 1996 Zagato Raptor Concept sold for $1,086,250 – the only of the top three top-end concept cars offered to find a buyer at RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019.
The 1996 Zagato Raptor Concept car was built in the hope of convincing Lamborghini to produce it as a limited run car. It is nearly 300 kg lighter than the Diable VT that it is based on. The Raptor was originally unveiled at the 1996 Geneve Motor Show.
Top Cars NOT Sold at RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019
The following were the top highest bids not accepted during the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi classic car auction:
| Year | Car | Highest Bid ($) | Estimate | |
| 1 | 2005 | Maserati MC12 | HB 2,400,000 | 2,600,000 – 3,500,000 |
| 2 | 2010 | Mercedes Benz SLR Stirling Moss | HB 2,150,000 | 2,550,000 – 2,750,000 |
| 3 | 2016 | McLaren P1 GTR | HB 2,050,000 | 2,200,000 – 2,400,000 |
| 4 | 1965 | Ferrari 275 GTS | HB 1,500,000 | 1,600,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 5 | 1990 | Ferrari F40 | HB 1,300,000 | 1,500,000 – 1,750,000 |
| 6 | 2006 | Lamborghini Concept S | HB 1,100,000 | 1,300,000 – 1,600,000 |
| 7 | 2019 | McLaren Senna GTR | HB 1,100,000 | 1,500,000 – 1,750,000 |
| 8 | 2015 | Porsche 918 Spyder | HB 875,000 | 1,000,000 – 1,250,000 |
| 9 | 2015 | Jaguar C–X75 ‘Spectre’ | HB 750,000 | 800,000 – 1,2000,000 |
| 10 | 1992 | Benetton B192 | HB 750,000 | 825,000 – 1,100,000 |
Only just over half of the 40 cars on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi sale were sold. Auctioneers selling at the Riyadh car show events earlier in November 2019 reported very low auction sales but brisk post-auction deals.
Many highest bids were less than 10% off lower estimate so the potential for post-hammer deals certainly existed. Several sellers may also regret holding out for more. While the two McLarens may certainly have another go, a Maserati MC12 rarely sells for more than the highest bid, and often fail to attract much interest at auctions.
The low highest bid and the relatively low estimate for the Porsche 918 confirmed that interest in this model remains low after results above $1.5 million were common in 2017 and 2018.
The real problem car is the 2006 Lamborghini Concept S – it failed to sell for the third time in four years with the failed highest bid at each auction lower than at the previous sale. It has been offered twice before at RM Sotheby’s auctions. At the 2017 Monterey sale, the highest bid of $1.3 million failed to buy the car. At the 2015 New York sale the estimate was almost double the current guide price and the $1.7 million bid rejected.
RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Collector Car Auction 2019
RM Sotheby’s held its first auction ever in the Gulf Region as part of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend on 30 November 2019. The sale included Grand Prix racing machines, road-going sports cars with a historical connection to the world of motorsport, alongside a broader collection of classic and supercars.
RM Sotheby’s earned $31.3 million at the Abu Dhabi 2019 sale. Only around half of the 40 cars on offer sold during the auction.
RM Sotheby’s Abud Dhabi Sale 2019 – Auction Results
RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Sale 2019 (Auction Preview)
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