A 1994 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’ sold for a marque-record $19,805,000 as the most-expensive car at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 sale.
The most-expensive car by far sold during the Monterey week 2019 collector car auctions was the 1994 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’ that achieved $19,805,000 at the RM Sotheby’s sale. Despite failing to sell the 1939 Porsche Type 64, RM Sotheby’s earned by far the highest amount of all auctioneers at Monterey 2019 and sold 21 cars for more than a million dollar.
RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 Sale
RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 classic car auction: 15 – 17 August 2019 with the first day dedicated to Aston Martin marque cars only.
In 2019, RM Sotheby’s earned $107 million from the three-day Monterey sale. The sell-through rate was 74%.
At the 2018 Monterey auction, RM Sotheby’s earned $158 million by selling 124 of 150 lots (83%). The average sale price was $1,270,903.
At the 2017 auction, RM Sotheby’s earned $133 million with a sell-through rate of 88% and 32 cars sold for over a million dollar. RM Sotheby’s three-day Monterey 2016 auction remained the highest grossing classic car auction ever with $173 million earned and 35 million-dollar cars sold.
Million-Dollar-Plus Cars at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019
The following 21 cars sold for over a million dollar each at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 classic car auction:
| Year | Car | Price ($) | Estimate | |
| 1 | 1994 | McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’ | 19,805,000 | 21,000,000 – 23,000,000 |
| 2 | 1962 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta | 8,145,000 | 8,000,000 – 10,000,000 |
| 3 | 1965 | Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype | 7,650,000 | 7,000,000 – 9,000,000 |
| 4 | 1965 | Aston Martin DB5 “Bond Car” | 6,385,000 | 4,000,000 – 6,000,000 |
| 5 | 1960 | Porsche 718 RS 60 Werks | 5,100,000 | 5,750,000 – 7,750,000 |
| 6 | 2006 | Ferrari FXX | 3,520,000 | 2,850,000 – 3,250,000 |
| 7 | 1995 | Ferrari F50 | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 – 3,500,000 |
| 8 | 2014 | Ferrari LaFerrari | 2,947,500 | 2,900,000 – 3,400,000 |
| 9 | 1969 | Ferrari 365 GTS | 2,205,000 | 2,250,000 – 2,750,000 |
| 10 | 2014 | Pagani Huayra Tempesta “Scozia” | 2,040,000 | 2,000,000 – 2,400,000 |
| 11 | 1966 | Ferrari 275 GTB | 1,985,000 | 2,200,000 – 2,400,000 |
| 12 | 1965 | Aston Martin DB5 Shooting Brake by Radford | 1,765,000 | 1,000,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 13 | 1991 | Ferrari F40 | 1,682,500 | 1,500,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 14 | 1961 | Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II | 1,517,500 | 1,500,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 15 | 1963 | Aston Martin DB5 Convertible | 1,325,000 | 1,350,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 16 | 2017 | Ford GT | 1,242,500 | 1,200,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 17 | 1959 | Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe | 1,226,000 | 900,000 – 1,200,000 |
| 18 | 2005 | Porsche Carrera GT | 1,193,000 | 1,200,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 19 | 1927 | Bentley 6 1/2 Litre Le Mans Sports | 1,160,000 | 900,000 – 1,200,0000 |
| 20 | 1955 | Lincoln Indianapolis Exclusive Study by Boano | 1,105,000 | 800,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 21 | 2008 | Bugatti Veyron 16.4 | 1,050,000 | 1,100,000 – 1,300,000 |
Top Cars at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019
The top five cars sold at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey classic car auction were all from different brands:
1994 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’
The most-expensive car by far sold during the various Monterey Week 2019 auctions was the 1994 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’, serial # 018, that sold for a new McLaren marque record of $19,805,000. The car just missed the $20 million mark and the final result was below the pre-sale estimate of $21-23 million, as well as the above $25 million that some market specialists predicted.
This 1994 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’ is one of only two production models upgraded to LM specification by the factory. It is in exceptionally good condition with only 21,000 km on the clock.
The sister car in LM-Specification, the 1998 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’, serial no. 073, sold for $13,750,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 sale, at the time raising the marque record by more than $5 million.
The McLaren marque record was then increased to $15,620,000 at the Bonhams Quail Lodge 2017 sale for the 1995 McLaren F1, number 044, which was the very first McLaren F1 imported into the US and the very first of only a handful of F1s to become fully federalized as a US road-legal car.
Previously, these were the only two McLarens sold at public auction for more than $10 million.
1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
The most-expensive Ferrari sold in the RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale was the 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, chassis #3359GT, that achieved $8,145,000. Given current market uncertainty, it was brave for the car to be offered without reserve but it not only made estimate, but also sold for around half a million dollar more than a similar car achieved earlier in the year.
The fully restored car is Ferrari Classiche certified and received a mention of honor at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’este in 2012.
The only more expensive Ferrari at Monterey 2019 was the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider that sold for $9,905,000 at Gooding. A 1959 Ferrari 250 Monza received a $20 million bid but Dana Mecum refused to let the car go.
1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype
The 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype sold for $7,650,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 as the most-expensive American car thus far sold this year. It is also one of the most-expensive Fords ever.
This Ford was the eighth of 12 GT40 prototypes built and the first of a mere five roadsters. It is the only example of its kind to have continually survived in its original form.
The Ford GT40 Roadster was built for Shelby American as a test and development car and is one of two cars also used by Kar Kraft for “J” and “X” Series development. It wa raced in period by legendary drivers such as Carroll Shelby, Ken Miles, and Jim Clark.
1965 Aston Martin DB5 “Bond Car”
The 1965 Aston Martin DB5 “Bond Car”, often termed the most-famous car in the world, set a model record when it achieved $6,385,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 sale. It was the star car at the special Aston Martin only sale day and is the most expensive 007 James Bond movie related car ever sold at public auciton.
This DB5 was used as a promotional vehicle and received all modifications as presented for the film Goldfinger. In contrast to the cars used in the filming, the modifications on this DB5 are actually fully functioning.
1960 Porsche 718 RS 60 Werks
With the Type 64 failing to sell, the top Porsche result was for the 1960 Porsche 718 RS 60 Werks, chassis 718-044, that achieved $5,100,000. It was one of 18 built and the final of four used as official factory entries.
The Porsche was a very competitive car in races but reliability let it down at amongst others Le Mans and most famously at the Targa Florio where Stirling Moss retired while in the lead only 8 km from the finish.
Further Top Results at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019
A few further noteworthy results at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 sale included:
While most auctioneers struggled with modern supercars, RM Sotheby’s managed to sell several modern Ferraris. The ‘time capsule’ 2006 Ferrari FXX sold for a model record $3,525,000 while a 1995 Ferrari F50 sold for $3 million post hammer.
A 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari sold for $2,947,500 – although within estimate, this was possibly the lowest public auction result for this model ever. In contrast a 1991 Ferrari F40 achieved a fairly strong $1,682,500 – other auctioneers failed to sell their F40s.
RM Sotheby’s also set a new model record when selling a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT for $1,193,000. It was the first time ever that an auctioneer other than Mecum sold a Carrera GT for over a million. (Mecum has done it three times.) A second Carrera GT in the same sale sold for the more model standard $720,000.
RM Sotheby’s also sold a 2017 Ford GT for $1,242,500 and a 2017 Ferrari F12tdf for $962,000.
Another ‘record’ was set when a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Shooting Brake sold for a $1,765,000, exceeding estimate (est. $1m/1.4m) to become the most valuable Shooting Brake bodied-car of any marque sold at auction.
Top Cars Not Sold at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019
The following cars received received unsuccessful highest bids of a million dollar at more, as reported by Hagerty, at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 auction:
| Year | Car | Highest Bid ($) | Estimate |
| 1939 | Porsche Type 64 | HB 17,000,000 | Upon request |
| 1962 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider | HB 9,400,000 | 10,500,000 – 13,000,000 |
| 1953 | Aston Martin DB3S Works | HB 7,500,000 | 8,750,000 – 10,500,000 |
| 1962 | Ferrari 196 SP by Fantuzzi | HB 7,000,000 | 8,000,000 – 10,000,000 |
| 1955 | Ferrari 375 MM Coupe Speciale by Ghia | HB 4,700,000 | 5,000,000 – 7,000,000 |
| 1952 | Ferrari 225 Sport Spider by Vignale | HB 3,400,000 | 4,000,000 – 5,000,000 |
| 1961 | Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupe Aerodinamico | HB 2,700,000 | 2,900,000 – 3,500,000 |
| 1954 | Maserati A6GCS | HB 2,700,000 | 3,250,000 – 3,750,000 |
| 1961 | Aston Martin DB4GT | HB 2,500,000 | 3,000,000 – 3,400,000 |
| 2017 | Pagani Huayra Roadster | HB 2,500,000 | 2,750,000 – 3,250,000 |
| 1985 | Ferrari 288 GTO | HB 2,400,000 | 2,550,000 – 2,800,000 |
| 1966 | Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy | HB 2,300,000 | 2,900,000 – 3,500,000 |
| 1930 | Bentley 6 1/2 Litre ‘Speed Six’ Sportsman’s Saloon | HB 2,200,000 | 2,600,000 – 3,200,000 |
| 1966 | Aston Martin Short-Chassis Volante | HB 1,200,000 | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 1932 | Duesenberg Model J Victoria Coupe by Judkins | HB 1,200,000 | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 2019 | McLaren Senna | HB 1,200,000 | 1,350,000 – 1,650,000 |
| 1962 | Aston Martin DB4 “GT Engine” Series IV | HB 1,100,000 | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 1996 | Porsche 911 GT2 | HB 1,100,000 | 1,250,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 1965 | Shelby 427 Cobra | HB 1,100,000 | 1,250,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 1957 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster | HB 1,000,000 | 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 |
The top failure at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 was the 1939 Porsche Type 64 – the first car ever to wear the Porsche name. Bidding stopped at $17 million – far off the well in excess of $20 million that was unofficially expected. Embarrassingly, the auctioneer was mishead and the auction display instead briefly recorded $13 and $17 million as rather more magnificent $30 and $70 million bids.
As a result, the current Porsche marque record remained $14,080,000 paid for a 1971 Porsche 917K with a Steve McQueen connection at the 2017 Gooding Pebble Beach auction. The only other Porsche to ever have sold for more than $10 million was the 1983 Le Mans 24 Hours winning 1982 Porsche 956 in Rothmans livery that Gooding sold for $10,120,000 at the 2015 Pebble Beach sale.
Bidding for the 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, 1953 Aston Martin DB3S Works and 1962 Ferrari 196 SP stopped around a million short of lower estimates. For many further top cars, the gap to lower estimate was large leaving little room for post-hammer deals.
Although low-mileage modern supercars at RM Sotheby’s sold better than higher mileage supercars at other auctioneers, it is somewhat heartening that the sellers of the 2019 McLaren Senna at both RM Sotheby’s and Gooding failed to flip the cars for a quick profit.
Monterey Week 2019 Car Auctions News
Auction Results
- Bonhams Quail Lodge 2019 Auction Results
- Gooding Pebble Beach 2019 Auction Results
- RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 Auction Results
Auction Previews:
- Bonhams Quail Lodge 2019 Auction Preview
- Gooding Pebble Beach 2019 Auction Preview
- RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 Auction Preview
Pre-Sale Auction Announcements:
- RM Sotheby’s: 1939 Porsche Type 64
- RM Sotheby’s: McLaren F1 LM-Specification
- RM Sotheby’s: Top Ferraris (incl. LWB California Spider & 196 SP)
- RM Sotheby’s: Aston Martin DB3S
- RM Sotheby’s: James Bond Aston Martin DB5
- RM Sotheby’s: Low-Mileage Hypercars (incl. an FXX)
- RM Sotheby’s: Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype
- RM Sotheby’s: Works 1954 Maserati A6GCS
- RM Sotheby’s: 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
- Gooding: Pre-War Classics (incl. 1913 Isotta Fraschini)
- Gooding: 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta
- Gooding: Niki Lauda’s 1975 Ferrari 312T F1 Racing Car
- Gooding: Four Pininfarina Coachbuilt Cars
- Gooding: Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
- Bonhams: Classic Pre-War Bentleys
