2017 RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba Sale Results

A Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Goutte d’Eau Coupe sold for €3,360,000 as the top result at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 classic car auction.

1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS ‘Goutte d’Eau’ Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi – Fotohalle Unger ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The highest price paid at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 classic car auction was $3.8 million for a 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Goutte d’Eau Teardrop Coupé. The second-highest price paid at the sale was $3.4 million for the fabulous 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Prototype. Eight cars sold for over a million dollar including three Ferraris and two Porsches. The highest bid at the auction was €5,050,00 for the 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Torpedo-Sport Avant-Garde with coachwork by Saoutchik. Of the three hypercars on offer, only the Porsche 918 sold while bidding for the McLaren P1 GTR and Ferrari LaFerrari stopped well short of estimate.

RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 Sale

The fourth RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba sale was held on 27 May 2017 as part of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como in Italy.

RM Sotheby’s grossed €25,355,850 from the sale – just slightly less than the $26.7 million earned in 2015 (from fewer lots but including a model record result for a 1952 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta that sold for €6,720,000 ($7,400,736)). The sell-through rate was a relatively weak 62%.

Million-Dollar Results at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 Sale

The top twelve results at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 classic car auction – including eight million-dollar results – were as follows:

Year Car Price ($) Price (€)
1 1937 Talbot-Largo T150-C SS Goutte d’Eau 3,757,000 3,360,000
2 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Prototype 3,381,000 3,024,000
3 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 2,254,000 2,016,000
4 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS 2,004,000 1,792,000
5 2015 Porsche 918 Weissach Spyder 1,628,000 1,456,000
6 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso 1,597,000 1,428,000
7 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Cabriolet 1,253,000 1,120,000
8 1990 Ferrari F40 1,190,000 1,064,000
9 1961 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder 939,000 840,000
10 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopio 914,000 817,600
11 1959 W.R.E.-Maserati 814,000 728,000
12 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta 814,000 728,000

Auction held in euro, results include 12% premium.

Top Results for 1930s Coupés at Villa Erba 2017

RM Sotheby’s achieved strong results on two of the very special coachwork coupes from the 1930s that were on offer at Villa Erba 2017:

1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS ‘Goutte d’Eau’

1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Coupe front quarter
© Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS ‘Goutte d’Eau’ Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi, chassis no. 90110, sold for €3,360,000 (estimate €3,200,000 to €3,800,000), as the top result at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 classic car auction.

The ‘Teardrop’ is considered by many as one of the most attractive, aerodynamically inspired automotive designs of all time. Only 16 of the Goutte d’Eau cars were ever made.

RM Auctions also sold a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C SS for €3,136,00 ($4,475,00) at the Villa Erba 2011 sale.

See 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS ‘Goute d’Eau’ Announcement for more on this lovely car.

1935 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Prototype

Tim Scott ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Another coach-built masterpiece on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017, the 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Prototype, chassis no. 57254, sold for €3,024,000 (estimate €2,800,000 to €3,200,000).

This car was only the third Atalante ever built and features a very rare Molsheim in-house coachwork. The highly original car has matching engine and coachwork panel numbers. Most of the other around 34 Type 57 chassis built were fitted with bodies by outside coachwork specialists.

Million-Dollar Porsches at RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017

Two Porsches sold for over a million dollar at RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 while a 959 failed to clear the reserve margin with fairly low bids:

1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8

1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8
Tim Scott ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

As expected, the top result for a Porsche at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 sale was for an as-new 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 that sold for €2,016,000 – just within the whopping presale estimate of €2,000,000-€2,200,000.

The spectacular result for a 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 was due to the “as new” condition of the car. It has been driven only 10 km since new and was offered as it was originally delivered – still covered with the factory-applied Cosmoline (and some later dust). It is one of only 51 Carrera RSRs ever produced and one of only two delivered with a fully trimmed interior.

The problem with buying an as-new car that is more than two decades old is that value may drop like a stone with every mile added.

2015 Porsche 918 ‘Weissach’ Spyder

Tom Gidden ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 2015 Porsche 918 ‘Weissach’ Spyder achieved a strong €1,456,000 (estimate €1,200,000-€1,400,000) and was the only one of the three hypercars on offer in the Villa Erba 2017 to have sold. This 918 is the only one ever painted to order in Arrow Blue. The relatively high mileage of 11,000 km affected the presale estimate more than the actual result – it was only marginally off prices paid for very low mileage examples that were sold at previous auctions.

Million-Dollar Ferraris at RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017

Three Ferraris sold for over a million dollar at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 classic car auctions but two more expensive models failed to clear reserve margins:

1965 Ferrari 275 GTS by Pininfarina

1965 Ferrari 275 GTS by Pininfarina
Remi Dargegen ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS by Pininfarina became the unexpected top Ferrari result at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 sale when the LaFerrari and Enzo failed to sale. This Ferrari 275 GTS sold for €1,792,000 – at the top of the presale estimate of €1,600,000 to €1,800,000.

The car is Ferrari Classiche certified and offered in its original color scheme of nero black over nuvola (light blue). The 275 GTS has a known ownership history from new and has covered 54,000 km.

1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso

1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti
Cymon Taylor ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti sold for €1,428,00 just within the estimate of €1,400,000 to €1,600,000.

The matching numbers car is finished in a rarely seen dark brown over beige. It was formerly in the Aldo Cudone collection, as his father owned one in the same color combination.

1990 Ferrari F40

1990 Ferrari F40
Dom Romney ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Of the three supercars on offer in the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017, only the Ferrari F40 achieved above a million dollar with the Lamborghini Countach falling well short and the Porsche 959 failing to clear the reserve margin.

The rather standard F40 with a single owner and 18,600 km on the clock sold for €1,064,000 – well above the presale estimate of €850,000 to €950,000. This F40 was last serviced in 2013 so the new owner will presumable face a garage bill too. F40 prices seem to be increasing at recent auctions.

A 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta achieved a strong €728,000 ($814,000) – one of the better results for the model at recent auctions.

1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Cabriolet by Franay

1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Cabriolet by Franay
Tim Scott ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A second million euro result for a Talbot Lago was achieved at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 sale when a 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Cabriolet sold for €1,120,000 (estimate €1,200,000 to €1,500,000).

Perhaps less dramatic than the Teardrop, the Talbot Lago with a one-off convertible coachwork by Franay is certainly not boring. Only 29 of the T26 chassis were built and all were fitted with unique coach-built bodies. The restored car came with its original Hermes interior and luggage.

1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 Roadster

1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 Roadster
Jorge Nabais ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A 1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 Roadster, with an interesting period racing history, was a stand-out sale result. Raced during the 1962 and 1963 seasons in Angola and Portugal, and a multiple race winner against the very best from Ferrari, Porsche, and Maserati, this early E-Type is fully restored and made an incredible €582,400. This remarkable price is a new world record for a non-competition model E-Type sold at auction.

A 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition sold for $7,370,000 at the Bonhams Scottsdale 2017 auction while an ex-team Cunningham 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Le Mans competitor was announced for the Quail Lodge 2017 sale.

Million-Dollar Cars Failing to Sell at RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017

The following seven cars with million-dollar estimates failed to sell at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 classic car auction:

Year Car Price (€) Estimate (€)
1928 Mercedes Benz 680 S Torpedo-Sport Avant-Garde HB 5,050,000 6,500,000-8,000,000
2016 McLaren P1 GTR HB 2,850,000 3,200,000-3,600,000
2014 Ferrari LaFerrari HB 2,450,000 2,750,000-3,200,000
1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Grand Sport Spider 4th Series HB 1,850,000 2,200,000-2,600,000
2004 Ferrari Enzo HB 1,700,000 1,900,000-2,200,000
1957 BMW 507 Roadster Series I HB 1,375,000 1,700,000-2,000,000
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon HB 820,000 1,000,000-1,300,000
1988 Porsche 959 Komfort HB 775,000 925,000-1,050,000
1970 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Spyder HB 725,000 975,000-1,100,000
1928 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Torpedo-Sport Avant-Garde
1928 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Torpedo-Sport Avant-Garde – Daniel Olivares ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Torpedo-Sport Avant-Garde with coachwork by Saoutchik attracted with €5,050,000 the highest bid at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 auction but this was still more than a million and a half off the lower estimate. This Mercedes Benz was awarded 100 points at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and claimed the coveted Best of Show trophy. Fresh from that result, it achieved $8,250,000 at the RM Auctions Monterey 2013 sale – the tenth highest price paid for a car at public auction in 2013.

2016 McLaren P1 GTR
Simon Clay ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Two of the much-hyped trio of hypercars on offer a the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 auction failed to sale: the highest bid for the 2016 McLaren P1 GTR was €2,850,000 while bidding for the 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari stopped at €2,450,000 – around a million below the lowest LaFerrari result at previous auctions.

Bidding for the Ferrari Enzo and Porsche 959 also stopped well short of recent results.

2014 Ferrari LaFerrari
Pieter E. Kamp ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The highest bid for the 1957 BMW 507 Roadster Series I was €1,375,000 – a bid just short of $2 million was rejected for the same car at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016 sale.

The 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Spider 4th Series achieved a highest bid of €1,850,000. These Alfas are notoriously unpredictable and hard to sell. A Series V with a $2 million estimate was the first high profile car Gooding announced for Pebble Beach 2017.

See also: 2017 RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba Auction Preview for more information on these cars.