Juan Miguel Fangio’s 1956 Ferrari 290 MM is the highlight of the RM Sotheby’s Driven by Disruption classic car auction in New York in December 2015. Only 40 cars will be on sale but five are expected to sell for over $5 million each with a further 16 entering the auction with upper estimates of over a million. The other top cars are a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I by Pinin Farina, a 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial by Scaglietti and a 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL “Sportabteilung” Gullwing.
RM Sotheby’s Driven by Disruption Auction in New York 2015
The final classic car auction of 2015 is likely to be one of the best of the year. RM Sotheby’s Driven by Disruption sale in New York will feature only 30 cars but 16 have upper estimates exceeding a million dollars each. The 1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti has the potential to be the most-expensive car sold at public auction in 2015 and if RM Sotheby’s estimate is reached, it is likely to be the second or third most-expensive car ever.
The RM Sotheby’s Driven by Disruption auction will be held on December 10, 2015, at Sotheby’s New York, 1334 York Avenue, New York.
Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s New York 2015 Sale
The following 16 cars are offered for sale at the 2015 RM Sotheby’s Driven by Disruption sale in New York:
Year | Car | Estimate |
1956 | Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti | $28,000,000 – $30,000,000 |
1962 | Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato | $15,000,000 – $17,000,000 |
1958 | Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I by Pinin Farina | $6,000,000 – $7,500,000 |
1955 | Ferrari 500 Mondial by Scaglietti | $5,000,000 – $7,000,000 |
1955 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL Sportabteilung Gullwing | $5,000,000 – $7,000,000 |
1953 | Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe by Vignale | $3,800,000 – $4,500,000 |
2003 | Ferrari Enzo | $3,000,000 – $3,500,000 |
1933 | Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow | $2,500,000 – $3,000,000 |
2006 | Lamborghini Concept S | $2,400,000 – $3,000,000 |
1959 | BMW 507 Roadster Series II | $2,300,000 – $2,600,000 |
1972 | Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone | $2,200,000 – $2,600,000 |
1938 | Bugatti Type 57C Atalante | $2,200,000 – $2,500,000 |
1953 | Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe by Vignale | $2,000,000 – $2,500,000 |
1954 | Siata 208S Spider by Motto | $1,500,000 – $1,900,000 |
1934 | Delage D8 S Cabriolet by Fernandez et Darrin | $1,300,000 – $1,600,000 |
1956 | Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Roadster | $1,200,000 – $1,400,000 |
1973 | Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring | $900,000 – $1,100,000 |
1981 | Lamborghini Countach LP400 S Series III by Bertone | $900,000 – $1,100,000 |
1954 | Pegaso Z-102 3.2 Berlinetta by Touring | $800,000 – $1,000,000 |
1981 | BMW M1 | $800,000 – $1,000,000 |
1973 | Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti | $800,000 – $1,000,000 |
1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti (Tim Scott ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s) |
1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti
The absolute highlight of the RM Sotheby’s Driven by Disruption sale in New York will be the 1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti (estimate $28,000,000 – $30,000,000). If its sells, it is likely to be the most-expensive car bought at public auction in 2015 and one of the most-expensive cars ever.
The 290 was designed to win Ferrari the new World Sports Car Championship, which it duly did in both 1956 and 1957. The Ferrari is a very special Works racing car. It was built specifically for Juan Manuel Fangio to compete in the Mille Miglia. Here he raced in 1956 as car #600 and finished 4th despite being a solo driver in an open car – the first three places went to close Ferraris.
In the 1956 season, Chassis 0626 was further raced as a Works Ferrari by amongst others Phil Hill and Marquis Alfonso de Portago and in 1957 by Wolfgang Alexander Albert Eduard Maxamilian Reichsgraf Berghe (Taffy) von Trips and Peter Collins. As a works entry, this specific chassis’ only outright victory was at the 1957 IV Mil Kilometros Ciudad de Buenos Aires.
In 1957, the Ferrari 290 MM was sold to Temple Bluell and private teams subsequently raced the car until 1964. Astonishingly, this racing car was never in any major accident giving it a remarkably original condition.
1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
Aston Martin’s have been traded above a million dollars with greater frequency at recent auctions but the 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato (estimate $15,000,000 – $17,000,000) clearly must be a very special car to warrant an estimate around three times higher than the top price ever paid for an Aston Martin at public auction.
The 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Chassis no. DB4GT/0186/R on offer was the 14th of only 19 DB4GTs tailor-made by Zagato. While the Aston Martin was designed to compete with Ferraris mostly in the World Sports Car Championship, this specific model was shipped to Australia. It was raced in Australia in the 1962 season driven by Doug Whiteford for owner Laurie O’Neill to several overall and class victories. The 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato was sold prior to the 1963 season and not raced again until historic revival races in the 1990s in the UK.
Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagatos are exceedingly rare. Only 19 were ever produced – far fewer than the Ferrari 250 GTOs and 250 GT SWB Berlinettas that it competed against. No Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato changed hands for the better part of a decade.
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I by Pinin Farina
The 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I by Pinin Farina (estimate $6,000,000 – $7,500,000) is likely to be the most-expensive non-racing car on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Driven by Disruption sale in New York in December 2015.
Enzo Ferrari produced road-going cars primarily to finance his racing cars and the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I with coachwork by Pinin Farina is considered on of the elegant designs of the period. Chassis no. 0791 GT was the 14th of only 40 Series I cabriolets produced.
This 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I is fully restored to its original specifications and color but the engine is the correct type but not the original.
1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial by Scaglietti
The 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial by Scaglietti (estimate $5,000,000 – $7,000,000) is one of the two-liter, four-cylinder barchetta racers Ferrari offered to customers following its double F2 world championships in 1952 and 1953 for Ferrari works driver Alberto Ascari. Chassis no. 0424 MD (originally designated 0564 MD but changed to an existing number for tax purposes) was raced only twice by its first owner and as he never picked it up (or paid the bill) after sending it back to Maranello for refurbishment, the car remained with Ferrari for around two decades.
The high estimate reflects the original condition of the car. It is a masterpiece of automotive conservation with not only its original chassis, engine, coachwork and interior but also its original French racing-blue paint.
1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL “Sportabteilung” Gullwing
Mercedes Benz 300 SLs routinely sell for over a million dollar with very fine examples achieving prices of over a million and a half or occasionally even more than two million. The 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL “Sportabteilung” Gullwing (estimate $5,000,000 – $7,000,000) is clearly a very special car to warrant this high estimate.
Chassis no. 198.040.5500640 was the first of four W198 Gullwings prepared by the racing department (Sportabteilung) of the Mercedes Benz factory for works racers. The car was used for training and competition and although it is unknown whether this specific chassis was raced by Mercedes Benz, it is very likely that drivers such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Karl Kling, John Fitch, and Hans Hermann drove the car at some stage.
After this car was sold by the factory to Bernard Hans Hommel, Stirling Moss drove the Gullwing to second place overall in the 1956 Tour de France races. The car was recently restored to authentic Tour de France specifications.
RM Sotheby’s claim this must be “the rarest and most desirable W198 Gullwing ever offered” and may set an auction record for the model.
1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe by Vignale
The 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe by Vignale (estimate $3,800,000 – $4,500,000) was displayed at the 1954 World Sports Show in New York. It is a one-off design by Vignale on an early road-car chassis. Only 22 Ferrari 250 Europas were produced with only four wearing Vignale coachwork (the other 18 were by Pinin Farina).
The car was shown at the 2015 Cavallino Classic, where it was awarded Platinum and the Ferrari Classiche Cup for most outstanding factory-certified Ferrari.
This 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe (Chassis no. 0313 EU) sold for $2.8 million at the 2013 Bonhams Quail Lodge auction.
2003 Ferrari Enzo
The 2003 Ferrari Enzo (estimate $3,000,000 – $3,500,000) was the 295th of 400 Enzos produced. In recent years, Enzos sold generally for around $1.5 million but RM Sotheby’s sold the 400th Enzo produced (as a gift to the Pope) for $6 million at the 2015 Monterey sale.
The high valuation is due to this Enzo being in top condition, having covered only 560 miles (which is a bit sad for a super car), and its second owner being boxer Floyd Mayweather.
1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow
The 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow (estimate $2,500,000 – $3,000,000) was shown in the “A Century of Progress” exhibition at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair and is credited with inaugurating the streamlined automotive age. This rare car is one of the three known survivors from the five originally built.
2006 Lamborghini Concept S
The 2006 Lamborghini Concept S (estimate $2,400,000 – $3,000,000) is another one-off. This car was shown at the 2005 Geneva Auto Salon but the intention was to produce around 100 as a limited series for special customers. However, the complexities of building this car ensure that it never went into actual production.
The 2006 Lamborghini Concept S is a unique roadster largely based on the Gallardo car. Although it is fully operable and street-legal, the Concept S has been driven a mere 180 km since new.
1959 BMW 507 Roadster Series II
The 1959 BMW 507 Roadster Series II (estimate $2,300,000 – $2,600,000) was much less popular than its contemporary – the Mercedes Benz 300 SL. Only 217 Series II cars were produced and these thus now usually sell for more than the competition from Stuttgart. Although very rare, the estimate seems a bit optimistic – only one BMW 507 sold for this kind of money in the past two years with at least four selling for just less than two million. The value is not helped by being fitted with a factory-correct replacement engine.
1972 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone
The 1972 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone (estimate $2,200,000 – $2,600,000) on offer at RM Sotheby’s Driven by Disruption sale in New York is a superbly restored example with its original body, engine and drivetrain. It is a late production model with the most desirable specification. During the past two years, at least 12 Miuras sold for over a million dollar with four achieving more than two million.
1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante
The 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante (estimate $2,200,000 – $2,500,000) was the last of only 32 Atalantes produced and one of the 12 finished with aluminum coachwork. The car was a barn find in 2007, when it re-emerged after nearly half a decade in storage. It was since restored but with a very high number of original components.
1953 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe by Vignale
The 1953 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe by Vignale (estimate $2,000,000 – $2,500,000) is one of only six featuring this specific coachwork designed by Michelotti for Vignale. Around 82 Ferrari 212s were built in total. The car was restored to its original specification and subsequently received a Platinum Award at the prestigious Cavallino Classic in January 2013.
1954 Siata 208S Spider by Motto
The 1954 Siata 208S Spider by Motto (estimate $1,500,000 – $1,900,000) on offer was the last of 33 Motto-bodied spiders built by Siata. It uses one of the around 200 Fiat Tipo 104 V8 (Otto Vu) engines. The fully restored car won several accolades in recent years including a Premio d’Onore at the 2013 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Lake Como in Italy and Best in Class at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
1934 Delage D8 S Cabriolet by Fernandez et Darrin
The flamboyant 1934 Delage D8 S Cabriolet by Fernandez et Darrin (estimate $1,300,000 – $1,600,000) is a fine example of French Art Deco design of the 1930s. It is one of only two known cars built on a Delage D8 chassis. The lilac paintwork is from the 1980s but goes well with the Rene Lalique crystal Tete de Paon, or peacock’s head radiator mascot.
1956 Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Roadster
The 1956 Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Roadster (estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000) was never as sexy and desirable as the more famous 300 SL but basically used the same chassis and engine but on a much more comfortable, if heavier, Grand Tourer body work. Around 600 of the 300 Sc cars were built of which only 53 were Sc roadsters.
A 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Coupe will also be on offer in the auction but at a lower estimate of $600-$800,000.
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring
The 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring (estimate $900,000 – $1,100,000) is a comprehensively restored example in its correct Signal Yellow color scheme – most were white with red lettering, as this example was too at some stage in its history. Several 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 cars came to auctions in the past two years but only two have actually sold for over a million dollars making the estimate probably more realistic than many others this year.
1981 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S Series III by Bertone
The 1981 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S Series III by Bertone (estimate $900,000 – $1,100,000) is an exquisitely restored car finished in the unique, original color scheme of Verde Metalizzato. Four Contaches sold for over a million in 2014 but only one has achieved that price in 2015. What count in this cars favor is its condition and being the third of 82 Series III cars produced and the first one sold to the public. It has covered only 6,000 km since new.
1954 Pegaso Z-102 3.2 Berlinetta by Touring
The 1954 Pegaso Z-102 3.2 Berlinetta by Touring (estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000) was the Spanish-Ferrari of the early 1950s. Although an outstanding sports car, the expense of producing a limit number of cars meant that the project were suspended after around 84 cars were made. The car, which has always been owned by Spanish residents, is considered possible the finest original and unmolested example.
1981 BMW M1
The 1981 BMW M1 (estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000) is one of only 399 road-going versions of the M1 produced. The 1981 BMW M1 on offer in New York by RM Sotheby’s has been in storage by a BMW dealer in the US and sold to the public for the first time only in 2015. It has thus covered only 682 km since new and is one of the most original and low-mileage examples in existence. It may set new record if the estimate is reached.
1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti
The 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti (estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000) is an eight-time FCA Platinum award winner including the prestigious Coppa Bella Award. It is one of only 30 cars originally finished in black paint and one of only 11 trimmed with a black interior. The car has covered less than 29,000 miles since new. Although the rare Daytona Spiders often sell for well over a million dollar, the Berlinettas seldom achieve that much.