Auction Preview: RM Sotheby’s London 2015
The RM Sotheby’s fall London sale is one of the high points of the European auction calendar, and it has grown steadily become a $30M event. This year should be up to recent standard, with top-tier cars like a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT TdF Competizione and a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso on offer. While these cars are sure to impress, here are five others that captured our attention:
1995 Bugatti EB110SS
Presale estimate: $950,000 – $1,200,000
Hagerty Price Guide: $435,000 – $735,000
The Bugatti EB110 was one of the most outrageous supercars of the 1990s, boasting no fewer than four turbochargers on a 3.5-liter V-12 mid-mounted engine. This particular example is an ultra-rare Super Sport version of the EB110, which benefits from a face-melting 605 horsepower. Yellow over red might be too bold for introverted buyers, but chances are those sorts aren’t inclined to buy this car no matter the color. These hardly ever change hands and almost never come to auction, so this one is poised to be a record-setter.
1966 Bizzarrini 5300GT Strada
Presale estimate: $770,000 – $1,080,000
Hagerty Price Guide: $600,000 – $780,000
The Bizzarrini 5300GT Strada is essentially an uncompromising race car built for street use, and it has long been undervalued relative to similar cars of the era, in large part thanks to the Chevrolet-sourced V-8 under the hood instead of a proper Italian V-12. That said, RM Sotheby’s estimate suggests the latter half of that statement may not be true for long. Their example is stunning in black over black with gold wheels. On the down side, it no longer carries its original engine. With fewer than 200 built, these models don’t trade often, so the non-original motor may not be as big a factor as with other cars.
1964 Maserati Mistral 3.7 Spyder
Presale estimate: $735,000 – $895,000
Hagerty Price Guide: $547,000 – $676,000
Most Maseratis models have long labored in the shadow of Lamborghini and Ferrari, but the Mistral Spyder has kept pace with its Italian brethren over the past three years—at least as far as price increases go. Even with a 155 percent increase in its #1 value, the low estimate on this example is huge—partly because of its provenance (originally owned by English actress Diana Dors and the 1964 Earls Court Motor Show car), partly because it is a seldom-seen right-hand-drive (one of only 20 built), and partly because of this model’s recent trajectory.
2006 Porsche Carrera GT
Presale estimate: $735,000 – $850,000
Hagerty Price Guide: N/A
The Porsche Carrera GT was perhaps the hottest model coming out of Pebble Beach this past August. A total of 3 sold for an average price of $911,166, whereas only two sold at auction all of last year (for an average price of $431,750). Color is a huge driver in the price of these cars since so many were painted silver, and this one wears Sand White. Bidding should be fierce.
1969 Ferrari 365 GTC
Presale estimate: $855,000 – $1,080,000
Hagerty Price Guide: $842,000 – $1,100,000
While the Carrera GT was one of the hottest cars last month, the Ferrari 365 GTC was one of the softer. Only three were offered, but all struggled to reach their low estimates (two sold and one was passed). Rising Enzo-era Ferrari prices had been an unstoppable force of nature, so this sale will provide an interesting case study to see if values are plateauing or sliding.
