A 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider and a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster were the top results at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022 sale.
RM Sotheby’s achieved record results at the three-day Monterey 2022 classic car auction in California, USA. The top result was $22,005,000 for a 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider with exceptional provenance and in-period racing history by amongst others Fangio, Hill, and Shelby. The second most expensive car in the RM Sotheby’s sale was a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster that sold for $9,905,000 — the second most expensive Mercedes-Benz roadgoing car ever. A 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Tulipwood Torpedo sold for a marque record $9,245,000. In all, 52 cars were sold for over a million dollar.
RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022 Classic Car Auction
RM Sotheby’s flagship Monterey classic car auction during the annual Monterey / Pebble Beach motoring week: 18, 19 & 20 August 2022 at the Monterey Conference Center in California, USA.
The Monterey sale is traditionally the most important car auction of the year:
- In 2022, RM Sotheby’s set a new auction total record of $239,258,340 selling 52 cars for over a million dollar and a 95% sell-through rate.
- In 2021, RM Sotheby’s earned $148.5 million at Monterey selling 43 cars for over a million dollar and an impressive 90% sell-through rate.
- RM Sotheby’s earned $30,412,810 from the Shift / Monterey 2020 online-only sale.
- In 2019, RM Sotheby’s earned $107 million, in 2018 $158 million (including $48,405,000 for the most expensive car ever sold at auction, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, and in 2017 $133 million.
- RM Sotheby’s three-day Monterey 2016 auction remains the highest-grossing classic car auction ever with $173 million earned and 35 million-dollar cars sold.
Top Results at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022 Sale
The following 52 cars sold for more than a million dollars at the RM Sotheby’s 2022 Monterey classic car auction:
| Year | Car | Price ($) | Estimate | |
| 1 | 1955 | Ferrari 410 Sport Spider | 22,005,000 | 25,000,000 – 30,000,000 |
| 2 | 1937 | Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster | 9,905,000 | 9,000,000 – 12,000,000 |
| 3 | 1924 | Hispano-Suiza H6C Tulipwood Torpedo | 9,245,000 | 8,000,000 – 12,000,000 |
| 4 | 1957 | Ferrari 500 TRC Spider | 7,815,000 | 8,000,000 – 10,000,000 |
| 5 | 1954 | Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet | 7,595,000 | 6,500,000 – 7,500,000 |
| 6 | 1966 | Ferrari 275 GTB/C | 7,595,000 | 7,500,000 – 9,000,000 |
| 7 | 1953 | Ferrari 375 MM Spider | 7,485,000 | 8,000,000 – 10,000,000 |
| 8 | 1938 | Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe | 7,265,000 | 9,000,000 – 11,000.000 |
| 9 | 1958 | Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I | 6,825,000 | 6,000,000 – 7,000,000 |
| 10 | 1998 | Ferrari F300 | 6,220,000 | 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 |
| 11 | 1958 | Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider | 5,972,500 | 7,000,000 – 8,500,000 |
| 12 | 1959 | Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour de France | 5,340,000 | 5,000,000 – 6,000,000 |
| 13 | 1955 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing | 5,010,000 | 5,000,000 – 7,000,000 |
| 14 | 1935 | Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe | 4,680,000 | 4,000,000 – 4,500,000 |
| 15 | 1985 | Ferrari 288 GTO | 4,405,000 | 3,750,000 – 4,250,000 |
| 16 | 1959 | Porsche 718 RSK Werks Spyder | 4,300,000 | 4,800,000 – 5,200,000 |
| 17 | 1992 | Ferrari F40 | 3,855,000 | 2,500,000 – 2,900,000 |
| 18 | 2022 | Porsche 911 ‘Sally Special’ | 3,600,000 | – |
| 19 | 1967 | Ferrari 275 GTB/4 | 3,525,000 | 3,200,000 – 3,600,000 |
| 20 | 1957 | Maserati 200SI | 3,112,500 | 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 |
| 21 | 1947 | Talbot-Lago T26 Record Cabriolet | 2,975,000 | 1,800,000 – 2,500,000 |
| 22 | 1965 | Ferrari 275 GTB/6C | 2,810,000 | 1,800,000 – 2,000,000 |
| 23 | 1968 | Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Prototype | 2,315,000 | 2,250,000 – 3,000,000 |
| 24 | 1965 | Ferrari 275 GTS | 2,260,000 | 1,700,000 – 1,900,000 |
| 25 | 1964 | Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso | 2,205,000 | 1,750,000 – 2,250,000 |
| 26 | 1963 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 2,095,000 | 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 |
| 27 | 1953 | Fiat 8V Supersonic | 2,040,000 | 1,700,000 – 2,000,000 |
| 28 | 2008 | Lamborghini Reventon | 1,952,000 | 1,750,000 – 2,000,000 |
| 29 | 1932 | Stutz DV-32 Super Bearcat | 1,930,000 | 1,000,000 – 1,300,000 |
| 30 | 1936 | Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A | 1,875,000 | 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 |
| 31 | 1958 | Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe | 1,875,000 | 1,800,000 – 2,200,000 |
| 32 | 1939 | Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Cabriolet A | 1,765,000 | 1,750,000 – 2,500,000 |
| 33 | 1935 | Mercedes-Benz 500 K Cabriolet | 1,710,000 | 1,750,000 – 2,250,000 |
| 34 | 1929 | Duesenberg Model J Sport Sedan | 1,710,000 | 1,200,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 35 | 1956 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 1,655,000 | 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 36 | 1939 | Bugatti Type 57C Arvis Special Cabriolet | 1,545,000 | 1,600,000 – 2,300,000 |
| 37 | 1939 | Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A | 1,435,000 | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 38 | 1936 | Lancia Astura Cabriolet Series III Tipo Bocca | 1,380,000 | 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 |
| 39 | 1962 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 1,380,000 | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 40 | 1931 | Rolls-Royce Phantom II Henley Roadster | 1,297,500 | 900,000 – 1,300,000 |
| 41 | 1936 | Mercedes-Benz 500 K Normal Roadster | 1,270,000 | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 42 | 1991 | Jaguar XJR-15 | 1,270,000 | 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 43 | 1938 | Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A | 1,132,500 | 1,000,000 – 1,250,000 |
| 44 | 1961 | Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II | 1,105,000 | 1,300,000 – 1,600,000 |
| 45 | 1938 | Bugatti Type 57S Roadster | 1,105,000 | 750,000 – 900,000 |
| 46 | 1984 | Lamborghini Countach LP5000 S | 1,061,000 | 700,000 – 900,000 |
| 47 | 1930 | Duesenberg Model J Convertible Berline | 1,061,000 | 1,200,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 48 | 1938 | Mercedes-Benz 540 K Drophead Coupe | 1,050,000 | 1,250,000 – 1,750,000 |
| 49 | 1965 | Shelby 289 Cobra | 1,050,000 | 1,000,000 – 1,200,000 |
| 50 | 1959 | Maserati 250 GT Spyder Prototype | 1,025,000 | 1,200,000 – 1,600,000 |
| 51 | 1955 | Maserati A6G/54 2000 Spyder | Sold | 4,500,000 – 5,500,000 |
| 52 | 1958 | Maserati 450 S | Sold | 9,000,000 – 11,000,000 |
Two cars were listed as sold after the auction at an undisclosed price.
Sale Highlights at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022 Sale
RM Sotheby’s three-day Monterey 2022 auctions totaled $239,258,340, more than all other Monterey auctions combined. 9 out of 10 of the most expensive cars sold during Monterey Car Week were sold by RM Sotheby’s. RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022 sale broke a world record for the highest-grossing automotive auction ever.
No fewer than 180 cars were sold in 11 hours of auctioneering spread over three days:
- Thursday night’s auction brought over $41M with the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen being the highest-selling car at $9,905,000 and the sale achieving an overall 95.7% sell-through rate
- Friday night’s auction brought in nearly $75M with the 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider by Scaglietti being the highest-selling car at $7,815,000 and the sale achieving an overall 94.6% sell-through rate
- Saturday night’s auction brought in $123.3M with the 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider by Scaglietti being the highest-selling car at $22,005,000 and the sale achieving an overall 94.2% sell-through rate.
Top Ferrari Results at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022 Sale
The most expensive car by far sold during the Monterey Motor Week 2022 auction series was the 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider that achieved $22,005,000 at the RM Sotheby’s sale — more than double the $10,345,000 paid for a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Atalante at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2022 sale. It became the 15th car ever to sell for more than $20 million at a public auction (nominal).
The 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider was raced in period by amongst others Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill, and Carroll Shelby. It was entered into 40 races, won 11, and achieved podium finishes 19 times. The car retained the matching-numbers engine, chassis, and body, and is fitted with the original fuel tank inscribed by Carroll Shelby “Mr. Ferrari told me that this was the best Ferrari he ever built”. Shelby won more races in this Ferrari than in any other car.
RM Sotheby’s sold 17 Ferraris for over a million dollars each at Monterey 2022 including five for over $7 million and a further four for over $5 million.
An interesting result was the 1998 Ferrari F300 Formula 1 car that achieved $6,220,000. Only three modern Formula 1 racers have ever sold for more, including two further Schumacher Ferraris.
Top Mercedes-Benz Results at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022
RM Sotheby’s seemed to have cornered (or even flooded) the market by offering more Mercedes-Benz 500 and 540 K cabriolets in one sale than would normally be sold worldwide in a year. However, with the exception of one, all were sold and mostly at good prices.
The top Mercedes-Benz result was $9,905,000 for a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster — the second highest price ever paid for a Mercedes-Benz roadgoing car (but of course quite a but cheaper than the most expensive Mercedes-Benz ever). In all, two 500 Ks and six 540 Ks were sold in the auction.
The second-highest Mercedes-Benz result was $5,010,000 for a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing — well below the model-record $6,825,000 paid for a similar alloy at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2022.
Further Noteworthy Results at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022
A few further interesting results at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022 classic car auction included:
- 2022 Porsche 911 ‘Sally Special’ breaks world record for most expensive factory new Porsche ever sold, selling at $3,600,000 to benefit charity. The car is a special one-off by Porsche and Pixar.
- The wood-bodied 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Tulipwood Torpedo sold for $9,245,000 to set a new marque record.
- The 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe sold for $7,265,000 — below estimate and well below the marque and French record $13,425,000 achieved at Gooding Amelia Island 2022.
Monterey Week 2022 Classic Car Auctions
Top classic car auctioneers with sales during Monterey Week 2022 include Gooding (Pebble Beach), Bonhams (Quail Lodge), RM Sotheby’s, Broad Arrow, and Mecum.
Monterey Week 2022 Auction Results:
Monterey Week 2022 Auction Previews:
Monterey Week 2022 Pre-Auction Announcements
- Bonhams: 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante
- Bonhams: 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition (ex-Brigg Cunningham)
- Gooding: Top Bugattis (incl: Type 57SC Atalante & Type 35 Grand Prix)
- Gooding: Top Ferraris — classics and modern supercars
- Gooding: Top British Cars (incl: Bentley Blower and Eight Litre Sports Tourer)
- Gooding: Wonder Collection including 1999 Ferrari 333 SP
- Gooding: 1930s Classics from the Vincent Estate
- Mecum: Ferrari Prototypes and Marmon Classics
- RM Sotheby’s: 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider by Scaglietti
- RM Sotheby’s: Schumacher 1998 Ferrari F300
- RM Sotheby’s: Masterworks of Design Collection (1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C “Tulipwood” Torpedo, 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster)
- RM Sotheby’s: 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing
- RM Sotheby’s: 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C
- RM Sotheby’s: The Oscar Davis Collection of 27 vehicles valued at $100 million
Previous Monterey Week Auction Results