Formula 1 racers, track-only hypercars, and supercars will be on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019 collector car sales during Grand Prix weekend.
RM Sotheby’s inaugural Abu Dhabi collector car auction will include a range of super and exclusive cars. Michael Schumacher’s race-winning Ferrari F2002 will lead the selection of Formula 1 racing cars on offer. Several track-only hypercars, including a Ferrari FXX K and McLaren P1 GTR, will be on offer in addition to regular hypercars such as a Maserati MC12, Mercedes Benz SLR, Koenigsegg Agera R, and an Aston Martin One-77. Concept cars on offer include a Lamborghini Concept S, Zagato Raptor and a Jaguar C-Y75 used in the James Bond film ‘Spectre’. A Ferrari 275 GTS and Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing are the only two top-end mid-twentieth -century classics in the sale.
Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019 Sale
Half of the 40 cars on offer have upper estimates exceeding a million dollar each:
STAT
| Year | Car | Estimate ($) | |
| 1 | 2002 | Ferrari F2002 | 5,500,000 – 7,500,000 |
| 2 | 2017 | Pagani Zonda Aether | 4,500,000 – 5,5000,000 |
| 3 | 2015 | Ferrari FXX K | 4,0000,000 – 4,500,000 |
| 4 | 2005 | Maserati MC12 | 2,600,000 – 3,500,000 |
| 5 | 2010 | Mercedes Benz SLR Stirling Moss | 2,550,000 – 2,750,000 |
| 6 | 2016 | McLaren P1 GTR | 2,200,000 – 2,400,000 |
| 7 | 2014 | Koenigsegg Agera R | 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 |
| 8 | 1982 | Ferrari 126 C2 | 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 |
| 9 | 1965 | Ferrari 275 GTS | 1,600,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 10 | 2011 | Aston Martin One-77 | 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 |
| 11 | 2019 | McLaren Senna GTR | 1,500,000 – 1,750,000 |
| 12 | 1990 | Ferrari F40 | 1,500,000 – 1,750,000 |
| 13 | 1956 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 14 | 2006 | Lamborghini Concept S | 1,300,000 – 1,600,000 |
| 15 | 1996 | Zagato Raptor Concept | 1,000,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 16 | 2015 | Porsche 918 Spyder | 1,000,000 – 1,250,000 |
| 17 | 1992 | Benetton B192 | 825,000 – 1,100,000 |
| 18 | 2015 | Jaguar C–X75 ‘Spectre’ | 800,000 – 1,2000,000 |
| 19 | 1993 | Porsche 911 Reimagined by SInger | 800,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 20 | 2015 | Mercedes Benz G63 AMG 6×6 | 800,000 – 1,000,000 |
Formula 1 Cars at RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Sale 2019
The leading car on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019 sale is the 2002 Ferrari F2002, chassis 219, driven by Michael Schumacher to victory at the Imola, Zeltweg and Magny Cours Formula 1 Gand Prix races. It was his victory in France that allowed Schumacher to claim his fifth World Driver’s title with six races remaining in the season.
The 1982 Ferrari 126 C2 is the sole survivor of seven examples built. Patrick Tambay drove it to his first Formula 1 victory at the German Grand Prix. previously he finished third at the British GP and fourth in both the French and Austrian races. Mario Andretti drove it to pole position and third in the Italian Grand Prix.
The 1992 Benetton B192, chassis B192-06, was another Formula 1 car driven by Schumacher early in his career. He drove this chassis to third place in the German and Italian Grands Prix and to fourth in the British race.
The record price for a modern Formula 1 car is $7,504,000 paid for Michael Schumacher’s Grand Prix-winning Ferrari F2001 in Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in 2017. A 1954 Mercedes Benz W196R remains the most-expensive Formula 1 single-seater racing car – $29,650,000 was paid for it at the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013 sale.
Track-Only Supercars at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Sale 2019
Several hypercars built for private track-use only will be on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019 collector car auction. Freed from regular regulations, these cars allow their fortunate owners to explore the absolute limits that technology allows. However, as several of these cars were hardly driven they are offered almost as new and somewhat unfortunately for the new owner will also likely incur a VAT bill upon registration (in addition to other applicable taxes and charges)!
Sami Sasso ©2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
The 2015 Ferrari FXX K is clearly the most-desirable car in this exclusive group. 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.
Two track-only McLaren GTR cars will be on offer at Abu Dhabi:
- The 2016 McLaren P1 GTR is one of only 58 built. It was the first P1 GTR delivered to the USA but despite its unique special-order color scheme of Canepa Green and Papaya Orange is offered as new with only delivery mileage.
- The 2019 McLaren Senna GTR is sold as brand new and unregistered by its first owner. This is the ultimate version of the Senna – only 75 are produced – and at 814 bhp probably the most-powerful non-hybrid car the factory ever builds.
Moder Hypercars at RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Sale 2019
Several exotic hypercars will on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Adu Dhabi auction. Most of these are low-mileage versions too in superb condition:
The 2017 Pagani Zonda Aether is a one-off ‘760’-specification roadster and the 131 of only 140 Zondas built. Its natural aspiration engine develops 749 bhp and is fitted with a six-speed manual transmission. It ha sonly 1,400 km on the clock.
Only slightly less exclusive is the one-of-18 built 2014 Koenigsegg Agera R. Enticingly it is offered without reserve. With 4,4000 miles on the clock, this hypercar is almost well-used, although it is a bit of a mystery how the car achieved this as a California-based car not built to US-specification.
The 2005 Maserati MC12 is similarly well-used with 1,950 miles on the clock. Only 50 examples were produced but it generally struggles more at auction than the 400 Ferrari Enzos on which this car is based. Auction results range from $1.5 to just over $3 million but more often highest bids failed to clear reserve margins.
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Stirling Moss is also a very exclusive roadster with only 75 ever built. This single-owner car has done only 500 km – some of it with Mika Hakkinen at the wheel for a Hermes Paketshop commercial.
The 2011 Aston Martin One-77 will be offered as charity lot to benefit African Parks. It is offered without reserve, which is fortunate for potential buyers as most previously offered at auction failed to reach the reserve market. Bonhams sold a similar no-reserve car for nearly $1.6 million at the Bonmont-Geneva 2019 sale.
In this exalted company, the 1990 Ferrari F40 works almost as an afterthought. This car was delivered new to Saudi Arabia and spent most of its life as a static display. However, it was recommissioned and restored in Maranello in 2015. The relatively high guide price is partly due to Sebastian Vettel’s autograph on the bonnet and low mileage – catalog photos show an odometer with only 1,141 on the clock.
A 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder with similar mileage is also almost overlooked in this company. Its most noticeable feature is the remarkably low guide price – two years ago these models sold for around $1.8 million.
Perhaps, the more interesting Porsche is the 1993 Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer. Using the 964-generation 911 as base, Singer reimagine the 911 to try and combine the best of the car’s remarkable history – to achieve a 911 with “the delicacy of the ’63 original, the race-bred chic of the ’70s, the solidity of the ’80s, and the sophistication of the ‘90s.”
Concept Cars at RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Sale 2019
Several high-end, unique concept cars will be on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019 sale. These cars are both difficult to value and to sell – the 2006 Lamborghini Concept S 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.
The 1996 Zagato Raptor Concept car was similarly built in the hope of getting 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 2015 Jaguar C-X75 was the first of four stunt cars built by William Advanced Engineering for use in the James Bond film Spectre.
Classic Cars at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Sale 2019
Mid-twentieth-century classics hardly features at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019 sale. The 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS by Pininfarina was the 189th of 200 built. The car originally belonged to Prince Abdallah Moulay, brother of the king of Morocco.
The oldest million-dollar car sale on offer is a 1956 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing – one of the few originally fitted with sport suspension and an NSL engine.
In stark contrast to this iconic mid-twentieth century sportscar is the mammoth 2015 Mercedes Benz G63 AMG 6×6. Needing only 7.8 seconds to 60 mph it is only half a second off the Gullwing time but very much readier for the desert.
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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