2015 RM Sotheby’s Monterey Classic Car Auction Results

SOLD 1998 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification
1998 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’ © Daren Schnabe l/ RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s top result at the 2015 Monterey classic car auctions was $17,600,000 for a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM – the highest price paid for a car thus far this year. Several records were broken including highest grossing classic car auction ever, the largest single-vendor classic car auction and new marque records for McLaren and Jaguar. RM Sotheby’s achieved over a million dollar on 35 cars.

RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 Classic Car Auctions

RM Sotheby’s bettered the record for the highest grossing classic car auction set in 2014 by increasing earnings by 20% to $172.7 million at the 2015 Monterey auctions. The new record was largely attributed to The Pinnacle Portfolio, which added a third day of auctions and with $75.4 million also the highest single-vendor earnings ever at a classic car sale.

RM Sotheby’s sold four cars for over $10 million (with a fifth bid of $13.25 million falling short of the reserve margin). In the process, new marque records were set for Jaguar and McLaren, in addition to several individual model records.

In 2015, as in 2014, RM Sotheby’s sold 35 cars for a million dollars and as in 2014, 15 of the million-dollar plus cars were Ferraris. At least three further Ferraris were sold for over a million dollar after the auction but at undisclosed prices.

SOLD The record-setting 1964 Ferrari 250 LM
1964 Ferrari 250 LM © Daren Schnabel / RM Sotheby’s

Top Results for RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 Sale

RM Sotheby’s sold the following 35 cars for more than a million dollar at the three auction days in mid-August 2015 in Monterey:

Year Car Price ($)
1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti 17,600,000
1998 McLaren F1 “LM-Specification” 13,750,000
1953 Jaguar C-Type Works Lightweight 13,200,000
1956 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione “Tour de France” by Scaglietti 13,200,000
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider by Scaglietti 8,500,000
1950 Ferrari 275S/340 America Barchetta by Scaglietti 7,975,000
2005 Ferrari Enzo 6,050,000
1931 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Supecharged Two-Seater Sports 4,015,000
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB / 6C Alloy by Scaglietti 3,960,000
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 by Scaglietti 3,300,000
1994 Ferrari F40 LM 3,300,000
1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti 2,750,000
1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone 2,475,000
1985 Ferrari 288 GTO 2,420,000
2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport “300” 2,310,000
2005 Maserati MC12 2,090,000
1952 Jaguar XK120 Supersonic by Ghia 2,062,500
1995 Ferrari F50 1,980,000
2015 McLaren P1 1,980,000
1910 American Underslung Traveler Toy Tonneau 1,815,000
1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti 1,815,000
2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 “001” 1,815,000
1933 Duesenberg Model SJ “Riviera” Phaeton by Brunn 1,595,000
1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe “Boano Prototype” by Pinin Farina 1,485,000
2008 Lamborghini Reventon 1,375,000
1959 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II Prototype by Pinin Farina 1,320,000
1976 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 “Periscopio” 1,320,000
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Spoets Saloon by H J Mulliner 1,210,000
1960 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster 1,210,000
1966 Shelby 427 Cobra 1,210,000
1988 Porsche 959 Komfort 1,210,000
1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C 1,155,000
1956 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe by Park Ward 1,155,000
1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III Drophead Coupe 1,072,500
1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta US Prototype by Scaglietti 1,045,000

Prices include buyer’s premium. Results exclude cars sold post-auction if at undisclosed prices.

1953 Jaguar C-Type Works Lightweight
1953 Jaguar C-Type Works Lightweight © Daren Schnabel / RM Sotheby’s

Ten-Million Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015

Only 25 cars have ever sold at public auction for more than $10 million. Four of these were sold by RM Sotheby’s during the 2015 Monterey classic car auctions in California, USA.

1964 Ferrari 250 LM

1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti
Patrick Ernzen ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The highest result for any car sold during the 2015 Monterey classic car week in mid-August was $17,600,000 for a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM sold by RM Sotheby’s. This is the second-highest price paid thus far in 2015 for any classic car at public auction.

The car comfortably broke the record $12 million set last year for a 250 LM at RM Auctions 2014 Monterey sale. The new model record is held by a car that was actually raced in period by amongst others Ron Fry, David Skailes and Jack Maurice.

1998 McLaren F1 “LM Specification”

1998 McLaren F1 'LM-Specification' Open Doors
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A new marque record was set when a 1998 McLaren F1 “LM Specification” car sold for $13,750,000 – the second highest result for RM Sotheby’s at Monterey 2015. This McLaren was the second last of the 63 F1 cars McLaren built with road-specification and one of only two that received an upgrade to LM Specification inspired by
the cars that powered McLaren to victory at Le Mans in 1995.

The previous marque record was $8.5 million paid for a McLaren F1 at Gooding Pebble Beach 2013 sale.

1953 Jaguar C-Type Works Lightweight

1953 Jaguar C-Type Works Lightweight
Patrick Ernzen ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A 1953 Jaguar C-Type Works Lightweight became the most-expensive Jaguar ever when it achieved $13,200,000 at the RM Sotheby’s sale in Monterey in 2015. At recent sales, racing Jaguars have often fallen short of expectations but this car took a Jaguar for the first time ever above $10 million.

The car was the second of only three Works Lightweights C-Types produced. It was fourth overall at Le Mans in 1953 and was subsequently sold to and raced by the famous Ecurie Ecosse team.

1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione

1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione 'Tour de France' by Scaglietti
Patrick Ernzen ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A new model record was set when a 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione “Tour de France” by Scaglietti achieved a result of $13.2 million. This car was originally raced by the illustrious Marquis Alfonso de Portago. However, it is most famous for its first place overall in the 1956 Tour de France racing series and the actual car that instituted the Tour de France nomenclature.

A 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Competizione attracted a highest bid of $13.25, which was not accepted. No estimate was published for this car.

Top Results for the Pinnacle Portfolio

Highlights from The Pinnacle Portfolio
Highlights from The Pinnacle Portfolio – Patrick Ernzen © 2015 courtesy RM Sotheby’s

Many of RM Sotheby’s top results came from the single-vendor sale described as The Pinnacle Portfolio. This sale added third auction day and saw 25 cars on offer – 14 sold for over a million dollar each.

Million-dollar cars from The Pinnacle Collection included:

  1. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM
  2. 1988 McLaren F1 “LM-Specification
  3. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
  4. 2005 Ferrari Enzo
  5. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
  6. 1994 Ferrari F40 LM
  7. 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider
  8. 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV
  9. 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO
  10. 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport
  11. 2005 Maserati MC12
  12. 1995 Ferrari F50
  13. 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
  14. 2008 Lamborghini Reventon
  15. 1988 Porsche 959 Komfort

Many of these cars are fuller described at 2015 RM Monterey Pinnacle Portfolio Results.

Top Results on Pre-War Cars at RM Sotheby’s Monterey Sale 2015

RM Sotheby’s 2015 Monterey sale achieved over a million dollar on four pre-war cars (Gooding had similar success at Pebble Beach 2015):

1910 American Underslung Traveler Toy Tonneau

1910 American Underslung Traveler Toy Tonneau
© Daren Schnable / RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s achieved a remarkable result on the 1910 American Underslung Traveler Toy Tonneau. The car sold for $1,815,000 – double the top pre-auction estimate. This beautifully restored car was a Best in Class winner at the Pebble Beach 2014 Concours d’Elegance.

1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C

1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C
© RM Sotheby’s

A 1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C sold for $1,155,000 – well above estimate. The year of manufacture is as interesting as the car – it is believed to have been the last Aston Martin built before the Second World War brought production to a halt. This stylish car is one of only 23 full competition-specification Speed Models produced and one of 8 Type C versions.

1931 Bentley 4 ½ Litre Supercharged Two-Seater

1931 Bentley 4½-Litre Supercharged Two-Seater Sports in the style of Vanden Plas
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A 1931 Bentley 4 ½ Litre Supercharged Two-Seater in the style of Vanden Plas sold for a strong $4 million. It is one of only 50 original supercharged “Blower” Bentleys ever produced.

1933 Duesenberg Model SJ “Riviera” Phaeton

A1933 Duesenberg Model SJ “Riviera” Phaeton by Brunn sold for $1,595,000. Only three of these four-door cabriolet bodies were built by Brunn. This car is the famous “Hot Rod Harry” Riviera Phaeton that after an engine convertion in the 1950s could achieve 140 mph.