Join The World's Best Iconic & Vintage Car Community >>

RM Auctions Arizona 2015 – Auction Preview

1964 Ferrari 250 LM (photo: Darin Schnabel) Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Auctions
1964 Ferrari 250 LM (photo: Darin Schnabel)

The RM Auctions Arizona 2015 sale will be held January 15-16 on the grounds of the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix. More than 125 classic and significant automobiles will cross the auction podium at this year’s sale, including 22 automobiles with pre-sale estimates exceeding $1 million.

The 16th annual RM Auctions sale held during Arizona Auction Week includes everything from pre-war classics to sports and racing cars, late-model supercars and emerging collectibles. The 2015 sale is headlined by the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM; 1969 Ferrari 365 GTS; 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4; 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A; 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider; 1971 Lamborghini Miura SVJ; 1965 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS and 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon; among others.

“Our Arizona sale offers some of the most desirable models across the board. From custom coachbuilt touring cars to poster cars of the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s, everything is represented,” said Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Auctions West Coast Division. “While rare Ferraris of the 1960s like the 250 LM and 365 GTS continue to command high prices in response to sustained demand, we’re also expecting to see great things from emerging collectibles with important motorsport heritage such as the Audi Sport Quattro.”

The RM Auctions Arizona 2015 offering is highlighted by a selection of more than 20 Ferraris. Setting the pace is a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, chassis 5899 GT, delivered new to Scuderia Filipinetti. The team’s first two outings in 5899 GT posted winning results with top Ferrari Formula One drivers Ludovico Scarfiotti and Nino Vaccarella piloting the car to 1st overall finishes at the Sierre-Montana Crans Hill Climb and the XV Coppa Inter-Europa in Monza. 5899 GT has been more recently campaigned on the vintage racing circuit, and was granted Ferrari Classiche Certification in 2005 (Est. $9,500,000 – $12,500,000).

The Ferraris at RM’s 2015 Arizona auction also include a 1969 Ferrari 365 GTS, the 17th of 20 produced. Chassis 12473 was delivered new to Thomas Teves, heir to the Alfred Teves brake manufacturer, and is offered in Arizona following a fresh restoration (Est. $3,900,000 – $4,800,000). Also not to be missed is a fully-restored, Classiche-certified 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider, chassis no. 16793, (Est. $3,000,000 – $3,500,000), along with a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, chassis no. 10451, originally owned by film director John Frankenheimer (Est. $3,500,000 – $4,500,000).

Additional Ferrari entries at the 2015 RM Auctions Arizona sale include:

  • 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II, offered by an enthusiast owner of 35 years, only example originally finished in Rosso Cina, rare factory hardtop; showing 41,000 actual miles (Est. $1,600,000 – $1,900,000);
  • 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS, fresh restoration by Ferrari specialists Patrick Ottis and Brian Hoyt; (Est. $2,000,000 – $2,300,000);
  • 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, Matching-numbers engine, cosmetically restored, history in the Southwest region (Est. $400,000 – $500,000);
  • 1984 Ferrari 288 GTO, first 288 GTO officially delivered to Japan; bought new by Yoshiho Matsuda and remained in his collection until 2010 (Est. $1,900,000 – $2,400,000); and,
  • 2005 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione, first customer FXX, single ownership from new, used at three Corse Clienti events, upgraded with Evoluzione package by factory (Est. $1,600,000 – $1,900,000).

Further significant entries at the 2015 RM Auctions Arizona sale include:

  • 1965 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, chassis no. 904-107, the second-to-last example built with extensive competition history (Est. $1,500,000 – $2,000,000, video);
  • 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A, chassis no. 154146, one of only a handful remaining in this body style and presented following a fresh, correct restoration by marque specialists (Est. $3,400,000 – $4,000,000);
  • 1984 Audi Sport Quattro, chassis no. WAUZZZ85ZEA905147, the game-changing all-wheel-drive rally machine of the 1980s, offered with just 8,300 km from new (Est. $350,000 – $475,000, video);
  • 1970 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R ‘Hakosuka’, chassis no. PGC10-000917, a rare and authentic first generation GT-R sedan (Est. $100,000 – $150,000);
  • Pair of Lamborghinis, including a fully restored 1971 Lamborghini Miura SVJ, chassis no. 4892, one of only a handful converted by the factory to Jota specifications (Est. $2,000,000 – $2,600,000) and a 1979 Lamborghini Countach LP 400S Series I (Est. $800,000 – $1,000,000);
  • 1932 Packard Deluxe Eight Individual Custom Sport Phaeton by Dietrich, chassis no. 193514, one of only two known examples on the 904 Deluxe Eight chassis, formerly owned by Otis Chandler and the Lyon family (Est. $900,000 – $1,200,000);
  • 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon, chassis no. BC16LA, combining swiftness, agility and luxurious comfort in one built-to-order package (Est. $1,500,000 – $1,700,000);
  • 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra, chassis no. CSX 3102, most famous for its appearances in promotional pieces for menswear company, Mr. Formal Wear (Est. $1,000,000 – $1,400,000); and,
  • 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, Factory disc brake car, Restored by specialists Rudi & Company (Est. $1,700,000 – $2,000,000).

In 2014, RM Auctions offered 126 automobiles for sale, with 108 finding a new owner, reflecting an 85% sales rate. Total sales volume was $45,563,450, inclusive of buyer’s premiums. The average price per car sold was $421,883. The top result went to the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider at $8,800,000, followed by the 1961 Porsche 718 RS 61 Spyder at $2,750,000 and the 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L ‘Lusso’ at $2,447,500.

RM Auctions Arizona 2015 – Event Details (View Digital Catalog)

Sale dates: January 15 – 16; auction commences at 5:00 p.m. MST each evening
Preview dates: January 14 – 16; from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. MST daily
Location: Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, 2400 East Missouri Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Admission: Admission to the auction is open to registered bidders and consignors only. Bidder registration is $200 and includes an official auction catalogue and admission for two to the preview and auction. Admission to the preview is open to the general public.

Full event details are available at rmauctions.com or by calling toll-free at 1 800 211 4371 (+1 519 352 4575 outside North America).

[Source: RM Auctions]