Record sales at the RM Auction in Monterey
08/28/2011
You may think what you like about the global economy and the financial markets, but it certainly didn't hurt the sellers of rare vehicles at the RM Auction in Monterey last weekend (August 19/20, 2011).
The Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster from 1937 (pictured above) sold for the record sum of USD 9,680,000.
The Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competitizone from 1960 changed hands for USD 5,280,000.
The other Mercedes-Benz 540K and 500-K variants fetched between USD 2,970,000 and USD 4,620,000. Nine vehicles, including the four Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta from 1952 on offer, the Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder, the Ferrari 400 Superamica Coupé and the Ferrari 375 America Coupé were all above the USD 2 million mark. In total, vehicles worth over USD 80 million were sold, with an above-average sell-through rate of 88%. Many of the vehicles sold reached prices in the estimated price range or above.
Steve McQueen's widely discussed and certainly special Porsche 911 S, which was featured for a few minutes in the film "Le Mans", was knocked down for an almost unbelievable USD 1,375,000, truly a lot of money for a Porsche 911 S that hardly differs visually and technically from its numerous brothers.
The BMW 507, once driven by the Swiss James Bond girl Ursula Andress, reached the proud price of USD 1,072,500, probably the highest price worldwide for a BMW 507 to date.
A few weeks ago, we published a detailed announcement of this auction with almost 250 photos of the various vehicles .
Some examples with the hammer prices achieved:
- Lot 148 - 1970 Porsche 911S Steve McQueen 'Le Mans' movie car, USD 1,375,000
- Lot 152 - 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta, USD 1'485'000
- Lot 229 - 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder, USD 2'530'000
- Lot 232 - 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster, USD 4'620'000
- Lot 236 - 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Coupé, USD 3'080'000
- Lot 237 - 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta, USD 3'685'000
- Lot 238 - 1958 BMW 507 Roadster, USD 1'072'500 (former owner Ursula Andress)
- Lot 242 - 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster, USD 9,680,000
- Lot 244 - 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione USD 5'280'000
- Lot 247 - 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Roadster, USD 3'767'500
- Lot 248 - 1953 Ferrari 375 America Coupé, USD 1'980'000
- Lot 249 - 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A, USD 2'970'000
- Lot 251 - 1924 Mercedes-Benz 28/95 Sport Phaeton, USD 1'017'500
- Lot 252 - 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupé, USD 2'090'000
Note: The prices quoted include the 10% bidding surcharge.
Photo credits: Darin Schnabel (Ferrari 250 GT SWB, Porsche 911 S, BMW 507), shooterz.biz (Mercedes Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster)
