A 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione sold for $17,990,000 as the top result at the RM Sotheby’s New York Icons classic car auction.
RM Sotheby’s finished 2017 on a high note with 11 cars selling for more than a million dollar at the New York Icons classic car auction. The top result was $17,990,000 paid for a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione – just shy of the model record. A 1952 Jaguar C-Type achieved a strong $5,285,000. A brand new 2018 Bugatti Chiron sold for mid-estimate $3,772,500. Both the Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster and Gullwing sold within estimate.
RM Sotheby’s New York Icon 2017 Classic Car Auction
RM Sotheby’s third New York sale, entitled ICONS, was held on 6 December 2017 at Sotheby’s Manhattan headquarters. Only 31 cars were offered in addition to around 20 other lots that include art, expensive wines and children’s cars. RM Sotheby’s gained $45.5 million with a sale-through rate of 84% on the cars.
At RM Sotheby’s 2015 New York Driven by Disruption sale, a magnificent $73.5 million was realized from 31 cars on offer. The top results were $28 million for a 1959 Ferrari 290 MM – the third highest price for a car at auction at the time – and $14.3 million for a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato – at the time an Aston Martin and British-made car record.
Top Results at RM Sotheby’s New York Icons 2017 Sale
The top results at the RM Sotheby’s New York 2017 classic car auction were:
| Year | Car | Price ($) | Estimate |
| 1959 | Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione | 17,990,000 | 14,000,000 – 17,000,000 |
| 1952 | Jaguar C-Type | 5,285,000 | 5,500,000 – 7,000,000 |
| 2018 | Bugatti Chiron | 3,772,500 | 3,500,000 – 4,000,000 |
| 1965 | Aston Martin DB5 Convertible | 2,700,000 | 2,450,000 – 2,650,000 |
| 2014 | Pagani Huayra | 1,850,000 | 1,900,000 – 2,300,000 |
| 2015 | Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach | 1,732,000 | 1,700,000 – 1,900,000 |
| 1958 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster | 1,407,500 | 1,250,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 1955 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 1,352,500 | 1,300,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 1990 | Ferrari F40 | 1,242,500 | 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 2016 | Ferrari F12tdf | 1,105,000 | 1,100,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 1954 | Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon | 1,083,000 | 1,000,000 – 1,300,000 |
| 1932 | Marmon Sixteen Convertible Coupe | 962,000 | 1,000,000 – 1,200,000 |
| 1952 | Chrysler D’Elegance by Ghia | 885,000 | 900,000 – 1,100,000 |
| 1948 | Cadillac Series 62 Cabriolet by Saoutchik | 857,500 | 850,000 – 1,000,000 |
Million-Dollar Plus Cars at RM Sotheby’s New York 2017
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione
The highest result at the RM Sotheby’s New York 2017 sale was $17,990,000 paid for a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione. This was nearly a million above upper estimate and just shy of the model record $18,150,000 paid at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2016 sale. This was the second highest result for 2017, the 43rd car sold for more than $10 million and the 13th highest price paid at auction for a car ever.
The 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione, chassis 1451 GT, was raced by owner-driver Bob Grossman to fifth place overall at the 1957 Le Mans 24 Hours race.
This car was the second of only eight LWB California Spiders built with aluminum bodies and full racing specification. Ferrari built 50 LWB California Spiders – a non-competition version sold for “only” $9,500,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Ferrari Maranello sale a few months earlier.
See also 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione Announcement for more on this car.
1952 Jaguar C-Type
The second highest result at New York Icons sale was $5,285,000 for the 1952 Jaguar C-Type, chassis XKC007. Only 53 were ever produced with this car the first example imported into the USA. It was raced in period by amongst others Philip Hill.
This was a strong result for a Jaguar C-Type. Bonhams sold one for slightly less in 2013 while the model record is $13.2 million paid at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 sale for one of the three Works Lightweight racing cars.
Modern Hyper Cars at RM Sotheby’s New York 2017
As at other recent auctions, new, or nearly new, low-mileage cars were also popular at the RM Sotheby’s New York 2017 sale, although the LaFerrari failed to sell:
2018 Bugatti Chiron
The third highest result at the RM Sotheby’s New York 2017 sale was a mid-estimate $3,772,500 for a 2018 Bugatti Chiron.
The 2018 Bugatti Chiron wa the first Chiron ordered from the USA and was never registered. It came with only the 250 factory test miles on the clock. The base price for a Chiron is around $3 million without any options.
2014 Pagani Huayra
A 2014 Pagani Huayra sold for $1,850,000 – just below estimate and lower than the original list price of around $2 million. In contrast to many other modern hypercars offered at auction, this Huayra is almost well used with 5,000 miles on the clock.
This car was the 78th of 100 produced. No. 87 with less than 1,000 miles driven is going on sale at Gooding Scottsdale 2018.
2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach
The 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach sold within estimate for $1,732,000. Six other 918s sold for similar money in the past two years (and expect to see more at Scottsdale 2018).
This 918 is one of 306 in US specification and has covered only 270 miles since new but still received a service costing $7,000. It has a factory-applied matte black wrap with Martini livery over its paint to sample Metallic Oryx White.
2016 Ferrari F12tdf
The 2016 Ferrari F12tdf sold for $1,105,000 as the second of this model to achieve a result above a million dollar – about double the original list price.
This 2016 Ferrari F12tdf is in a striking orangey-red Rosso Dino and has covered only 398 miles. It comes with a Ferrari Genuine Maintenance program until 2023.
2014 Ferrari LaFerrari
A 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari failed to sell despite a relatively modest $3,250,000 lower estimate – at least seven LaFerraris sold, or received highest bids, of higher amounts. The car on offer had only 53 miles on the clock.
Mercedes Benz 300 SLs at RM Sotheby’s New York 2017
Mercedes Benz 300 SL prices have been mostly stronger in 2017 after a weak market in 2016 following high numbers available at auctions. Both cars offered in New York sold within estimate:
- A 1958 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster sold for $1,407,500 – the 12th result above a million dollar in 2017.
- A 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing sold for $1,352,500 – the 10th result above a million dollar in 2017.