2020 RM Sotheby’s Elkhart Collection Sale (Results Announced)

A 1952 Ferrari 225 S Berlinetta by Vignale sold for $2,810,000 as the top result in the RM Sotheby’s Elkhart Collection sale 2020 in Indiana.

1952 Ferrari 225 S Berlinetta by Vignale Top Results at sold at RM Sotheby's Elkhart Sale 2020
Darin Schnabel ©2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The top results at the RM Sotheby’s Elkhart Collection in October 2020 were $2,810,000 paid for a 1952 Ferrari 225 S Berlinetta and $2,040,000 for a 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia. For the first time in 2020, RM Sotheby’s had eight million-dollar results in a single auction with the Elkhart sale also setting price levels for three Jaguar Continuation cars.

RM Sotheby’s Elkhart Collection Sale in Indiana 2020

RM Sotheby’s presented the exceptional Elkhart Collection in a live auction held in Elkhart, Indiana, on 23 & 24 October 2020. Featuring over 240 highly collectible cars and a wide selection of memorabilia offered almost entirely without reserve, the two-day auction executed on behalf of trustees of U.S. Bankruptcy Court grossed a total of $44,385,420 in sales.

Kenneth Ahn, President and CEO, RM Sotheby’s, said: “We are extremely pleased with the results, especially considering the complexities and challenges of executing such a high-profile auction with multiple constituents in the current market environment. I believe this auction highlighted RM Sotheby’s key strengths and capabilities as a global market leader for achieving successful results for private collections. The Elkhart Collection auction was also another case study for the power of ‘no reserve’ collection auctions, with many of the lots seeing incredible results”

Top Ten Results at the RM Sotheby’s Elkhart Collection Sale

The top ten results at the RM Sotheby’s Elkhart Collection 2020 collector car auction were:

YearCarPrice ($)
11952Ferrari 225 S Berlinetta by Vignale2,810,000
21953Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia2,040,000
31957Jaguar XKSS Continuation1,985,000
41955Cooper-Jaguar T38 Mk II1,765,000
51963Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Continuation1,710,000
61955Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing1,495,500
71955Jaguar D-Type Continuation1,325,000
81969Lamborghini Miura P400 S by Bertone1,160,000
91967Toyota 2000GT912,500
101954Fiat 8V Coupe by Vignale907,000

Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Elkhart Collection Sale 2020

red 1952 Ferrari 225 S Berlinetta by Vignale top results at RM Sotheby's Elkhart Sale 2020
Darin Schnabel ©2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Strong prices were achieved across both sale days with a total of eight motor cars achieving in excess of $1,000,000 — the first time in 2020 that RM Sotheby’s sold eight cars for more than a million-dollar in a single auction. Cars from the mid-1950s performed particularly well while two Jaguar Continuation series cars were also sold to help establish a valuation for these new models.

1952 Ferrari 225 S Berlinetta by Vignale

The most-expensive car sold at the RM Sotheby’s Elkhart Collection sale in Indiana in October 2020 was a 1952 Ferrari 225 S Berlinetta by Vignale, which achieved $2,810,000. The fifth of an estimated 21 examples built, the 225 S Berlinetta was highly competitive in period, having finished 2nd overall at the 1952 12 Hours of Casablanca, 4th overall at the 1952 Monaco Grand Prix, and 10th overall at the 1952 Mille Miglia, among other events.

Fiat 8V Results at RM Sotheby’s Elkhart 2020 Sale

1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia sold at RM Sotheby's Elkhart Sale 2020
Darin Schnabel ©2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s managed to sell three Fiat 8V cars at the Elkhart Collection 2020 sale. These large-engined Fiats are rare but often struggle to meet reserve margins at auctions.

The one-of-15 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia, originally delivered to famed General Motors designer Henry S. Lauve, was the second-most-expensive car in the auction. It sold for a strong $2,040,000.

Following close behind was a unique pair of 1954 Fiat 8V Coupes by Vignale, the first of which was based upon the famous Demon Rouge design, and the second of which wears stunning, subtle coachwork and is believed to have been exhibited at the VII Concorso d’Eleganza di Roma in 1954. The two Otto Vu examples achieved $907,000 and $775,000, respectively.

Jaguars at the Elkhart Collection Sale

1955 Cooper-Jaguar T38 Mk II sold at RM Sotheby's Elkhart Sale 2020
Darin Schnabel ©2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Jaguars performed well at the Elkhart Collection sale — both cars with competition history as well as continuation cars:

A 1955 Cooper-Jaguar T38 Mk II sold for $1,765,000. The second of a mere three examples built of this unique Cooper design powered by Jaguar’s racing-specification XK engine, the highly authentic Cooper-Jaguar saw six victories at Goodwood and Silverstone in the 1956 and ’57 seasons and today has been recommissioned by marque specialists for recent participation in prestigious international events.

Also claiming spots within the top ten were three extremely rare Jaguar continuation cars— believed to be the first example offered publicly, a 1957 XKSS Continuation, one of nine examples produced, sold for $1,985,000; an as-new 1963 E-Type Lightweight Continuation, known as “Car 0”, the first of seven built by Jaguar Classic and used as the North American press car, brought $1,710,000; and a 1955 D-Type Continuation, one of 25 D-Types produced by Jaguar Heritage and finished in the iconic Scottish Racing Blue of Ecurie Ecosse, generated a final $1,325,000. 

Other Top Results

Silver 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing open door from above rear sold at RM Sotheby's Elkhart Sale 2020
Darin Schnabel ©2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Additional standout highlights at the RM Sotheby’s Elkhart 2020 sale included:

  • 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, originally delivered to Scuderia Ferrari driver Umberto Maglioli and retaining its matching-numbers chassis, engine, gearbox, and body, which achieved $1,495,500.
  • 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S by Bertone, boasting a very well-maintained restoration, sold for $1,160,000.
  • 1967 Toyota 2000GT, one of 62 original left-hand-drive, U.S.-market examples and retained for over 30 years by the original owner and famed American racer Otto Linton achieved $912,500.