RM London auction results
RM Auctions held its annual London sale on October 26, 2011, at Battersea Evolution and managed to eclipse $21.3 million in total sales, including buyer’s premium. In all, 100 automobiles and 25 motorcycles were offered, with 79% of the lots selling.
Top sale for the night was a matching-numbers 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB TdF that sold for $3.6 million. Rounding out the top five were a 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast ($1.03 million), a 1972 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/TT/3 ($940k), a superbly restored 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL ($895k), and a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (an impressive $779k).
The most surprising development of the night, however, might have been the sale of three early post-war Triumphs for significant money. All three (a TR3A, a TR4 and a TR5) were part of a Swiss gentleman’s collection, and all were in extraordinary condition. As a result, they all surpassed their presale estimates on their way to $59,506, $54,096, and $52,293, respectively.
The London sale has become one of RM’s premier events, but results for 2011 were far off last year’s numbers (elevated by the famed James Bond Aston). For whatever reason, the energy in the room was somewhat subdued, despite an exceptional lineup of cars.
The London sale ends RM’s 2011 auction season, which garnered $214 million through eight events. RM’s next sale will be their annual Phoenix event, held January 19 and 20 at the Arizona Biltmore.
Brian Rabold is the editor of Hagerty Price Guide.
