A 1995 Ford Roush Mustang Cobra SCCA Trans Am sold for $720,000 as the top result at the RM Sotheby’s Dingman Collection sale.
RM Sotheby’s earned just over $7 million with the auction of 740 lots of the Dingman Collection in Hampton, New Hampshire. The 740 lots included comprising automobiles, memorabilia and collectibles. The top result was for a 1995 Ford Roush Mustang Cobra SCCA Trans Am that achieved $720,000, nearly doubling its pre-sale estimate.
RM Sotheby’s Dingman Collection Sale
RM Auctions returned to Hampton, New Hampshire on 23 and 24 June 2018 for the company’s concluding presentation of The Dingman Collection, achieving an overall $7,027,334 in total sales, with all lots finding new homes across the two-day auction event. The Dingman Collection, offered entirely without reserve, comprised the remarkable cars and collectibles of the late Mr. Michael Dingman, long-time Ford Motor Company Director and one of the most important Ford collectors of modern times.
On the same weekend, Bonhams earned a similar amount by selling the world’s largest single Ford collection in the Den Hartogh Museum sale in the Netherlands.
The auction followed RM’s previous successful offerings of lots from The Dingman Collection in both 2012 and 2006 and drew tremendous bidder interest from 36 states across the U.S. and from as far afield as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Asia. In addition to a packed house throughout the weekend, The Dingman Collection drew significant remote bidding interest, with 30 percent of bidders participating via internet, and 20 percent via telephone. Notably, 40 percent of all bidders represented first-time RM Sotheby’s Group clientele.
“We saw wonderful attendance at The Dingman Collection sale from start to finish,” said Alain Squindo, Chief Operating Officer, RM Sotheby’s Group, following the auction. “Discerning collectors recognize the quality associated with the Dingman name and the late Mr. Dingman’s meticulous collecting philosophy and came out in droves to add an important piece to their own garages. The entire RM Auctions team was honored to present this incredible collection on behalf of the Dingman family.”
Cars at the RM Sotheby’s Dingman Collection Sale 2018
The sale featured 37 automobiles, including iconic Fords demonstrating Mr. Dingman’s abiding passion for the blue oval and chronicling important moments in the company’s history, all of which drew great interest. Bidding was competitive from the first motor car lot through to perhaps the most exciting moment of the sale, when the 1995 Ford Roush Mustang Cobra SCCA Trans Am nearly doubled its pre-sale estimate at a final price of $720,000 (est. $300k – $400k). The racecar was used by three-time SCCA Trans Am Champion Tommy Kendall, as confirmed by the extensive efforts of RM’s in-house research team just weeks prior to the sale.
Several other automobiles from the Collection, including iconic Ford woodies that Mr. Dingman was well-known for, cruised past their estimates to achieve fantastic prices across the board.
Americana at the RM Sotheby’s Dingman Collection Sale
The bulk of The Dingman Collection comprised historic pieces of Americana, including more than 500 exquisite neon, porcelain, and metal signs. Amongst a host of fascinating pieces was the Hamburger and Shake Neon Sign, which soared past estimate to a final sale price of $48,000 (est. $15k-$20k), while signs from iconic American brands such as John Deere, Lincoln, Ford, and Shell performed strongly as well.
The much-buzzed-about Silk City Diner by Paterson Vehicle Company, an authentic, beautifully restored 1940s American diner, also impressed with a final price of $336,000. Additional collectibles highlights include the Ford 24-Stud Flathead V-8 Cutaway Display Engine (1946-’48), which had the entire phone bidding desk on its feet, bringing $45,600 against a pre-sale estimate of $4,000 – $6,000.
Squindo adds: “The incredible success of The Dingman Collection once again demonstrates why the RM Sotheby’s Group is the clear choice for the presentation of private collections at auction. Our team managed the organization, cataloguing, marketing, onsite presentation, sale, and settlement of all 740 lots from start to finish, providing a turn-key solution for the family and caretakers of the important collection. The active bidding is also a fantastic example of the power of ‘no reserve’ in drawing pre-sale interest.”
Top 10 Sales from The Dingman Collection
The following were the top results at the RM Sotheby’s Dingman Collection sale 2018:
- 1995 Ford Roush Mustang Cobra SCCA Trans Am – $720,000
- Silk City Diner by Paterson Vehicle Company – $336,000
- 2006 Ford GT – $302,000
- 1937 Lincoln Model K Convertible Victoria – $184,800
- 1947 Ford Super DeLuxe Station Wagon – $145,600
- 1936 Ford V-8 DeLuxe Roadster – $140,000
- 1965 Porsche 356 C 1600 C Cabriolet – $134,400
- 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 – $134,400
- 1946 Ford Super DeLuxe Station Wagon – $123,200
- 1942 Ford Super DeLuxe Station Wagon – $117,600
The RM Sotheby’s Group continues its 2018 auction calendar with its flagship Monterey sale, 24-25 August during the world-famous Pebble Beach motoring week. Featuring more than 120 of the world’s most sought-after motor cars, the auction is led by the recently announced 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, the most valuable car ever offered at auction. Closely following the Monterey sale, the RM Sotheby’s Group returns to the historic Auburn Auction Park for its annual Auburn Fall weekend, 30 August – 2 September, and to Battersea Evolution for the company’s 12th annual London sale, 5 September.