The RM Auctions Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este auction was held 21 May, 2011 on the banks of Lake Como at the Spazio Villa Erba in Cernobbio, Italy. The inaugural auction resulted in more than €23 million in total sales and a 75% sell-through rate.
The RM Auctions at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2011 featured a selection of 32 motor cars, with six achieving individual million-euro-plus results and two lots surpassing €3 million. Top honors went to a 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta that sold for €3.360.000, followed by the 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe at €3.136.000 and the 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider that made €2.800.000.
“It has been a privilege to conduct an auction at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and to achieve such a great result from such a stunning selection of motor cars,” says Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Europe. “Combining automobiles of exceptional quality with the first-class presentation for which RM is known, the sale attracted bidders from over 23 countries, with numerous lots exceeding expectations. We could not have hoped for a better start to our 2011 European auction season,” Girardo adds.
Offered for the first time, the concept cars from the official collection of Bertone S.p.A garnered attention and spirited bidding. Headlined by the wild 1967 Lamborghini Marzal, a predecessor to the Espada, for €1,512,000, total sales for the collection surpassed €3.6 million, with numerous lots exceeding expectations. Additional sales included the 1974 Lamborghini Bravo, which achieved €588,000, almost four times its pre-sale estimate, while the 1980 Lamborghini Athon doubled its estimate to sell for €347,200.
“It was wonderful to offer these famous Italian cars on their home soil. The auction results reflect the enormous pre-sale interest in the collection, with bidders recognizing both the significance of these cars and the unique opportunity that their sale presented,” Girardo adds.
Other notable auction sales included 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ Coupe, which, with period racing history, achieved a world-record breaking price of €627,200; and an original, well-documented 1957 BMW 507 that also entered the history books with its record-setting €728,000 auction price.
RM Auctions offered 32 automobiles for the single-day Villa d’Este auction, with 24 finding a new owner, reflecting a 75% sales rate. Total sales volume was €23,431,500 ($33,436,750 USD), inclusive of 12% buyer’s premiums. The average price per car sold was €976,312 ($1,393,198 USD). Exchange rate used: 1 EURO = 1.427 USD.
RM Auctions Concorso Villa d’Este 2011 – Top Ten Results
1. 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta, €3.360.000 ($4,794,720 USD)
2. 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe, €3.136.000 ($4,475,072 USD)
3. 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider, €2.800.000 ($3,995,600 USD)
4. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder, €2.520.000 ($3,596,040 USD)
5. 1967 Lamborghini Marzal, €1.512.000 ($2,157,624 USD)
6. 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A, €1.400.000 ($1,997,800 USD)
7. 1939 Delahaye 135 MS Grand Sport Roadster, €784.000 ($1,118,768 USD)
8. 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero, €761.600 ($1,086,803 USD)
9. 1957 BMW 507, €728.000 ($1,038,856 USD)
10. 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Competition Spider, €672.000 ($958,944 USD)
RM Auctions at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este (Complete Results – EURO)
RM Auctions at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este (Complete Results – USD)
RM Auctions continues its European events calendar in England on 23 June, 2011 with its inaugural sale at the Salon Prive luxury car show and Concours d’Elegance. Held at the Syon Park estate in West London, the recently-launched summer sale will lift the hammer on a host of British marques, including Aston Martin, Jaguar and Rolls-Royce, among others.
For more information, visit www.rmauctions.com.
In addition to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2011, photographer Tim Scott also documented the RM Auctions Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este auction, offering the following images from the debut sale. To see more from Tim, visit fluidimages.co.uk.
RM Auctions at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2011 – Auction Photo Gallery
RM Auctions at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2011 – Auction Results
1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta - Sold for €3.360.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €3.200.000 - €4.200.000. Chassis 0490 AM features coachwork by Pinin Farina; last 375 MM built and reportedly the last Ferrari to carry the ‘Mille Miglia’ designation; displayed at 1955 Turin Motor Show; recipient of restoration by Wayne Obry’s Motion Products Inc, who returned the car to its Turin Motor Show specifications; displayed at Pebble Beach Concours in 2004 where it was judged ‘Best in Class’, as well as Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in 2005.
1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop Coupe - Sold for €3.136.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €3.100.000 - €3.800.000. Chassis 90112 is bodied by Figoni et Falaschi; one of only 10 factory built short-chassis cars ever produced and one of just three surviving examples fitted from new with a factory sunroof; won ‘Best in Class’ and ‘Most Elegant Closed Car’ at 2009 Pebble Beach Concours and ‘Best of Show' at the Concours d’Elegance of America at Meadow Brook in July 2010.
1953 Ferrari 250 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta - Did not sell at high bid of €2.150.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €2.600.000 - €3.200.000. Chassis number 0352 MM / 0239 EU is one of just 32 built and one of only 17 examples bodied by Pinin Farina; finished top-10 at 1953 Carrera Panamericana; twice displayed at Pebble Beach Concours.
1965 Ford GT Works Prototype Roadster - Did not sell at high bid of €2.100.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €2.400.000 - €2.900.000. Chassis number GT/111 is one of only five prototype open GT Roadsters built by Ford Advanced Vehicle Operations in the UK during early 1965, of which just four survive; competed at Le Mans trials and Targa Florio in period; its whereabouts remained largely unknown for forty years until chassis was rediscovered in 2006; following a restoration GT/111 reappeared at the 2007 Goodwood Revival.
1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC - Did not sell at high bid of €2.100.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €3.250.000 - €4.250.000. Chassis 57551 is one of just over 40 Type 57S chassis built and one of only 17 Atalante Coupes; won Best of Show at 1976 Pebble Beach Concours; documented by marque expert David Sewell;
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A - Sold for €1.400.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €1.250.000 - €1.800.000. Built for 14th Maharajah of Indore in Cabriolet A form; multiple concours awards including Pebble Beach.
1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe - Did not sell at high bid of €830.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €900.000 - €1.100.000. From the estate of John M. O’Quinn; displayed on the Figoni et Falaschi stand at the 1938 Paris Salon; MS racing engine.
1939 Delahaye 135 MS Grand Sport Roadster - Sold for €3.136.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €784.000 – €980.000. From the estate of John M. O’Quinn; first appearance since completion of restoration by marque specialists Atelier Automobiles Anciennes Dominique Tessier; restoration overseen by Claude Figoni.
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta - Did not sell at high bid of €675.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €800.000 - €900.000. S/N 09495 was restored in 2003; complete with wire and alloy wheels plus FIVA Class A3 identity;
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder - Sold for €2.520.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €1.600.000 - €2.000.000. Chassis number 1307 GT is matching numbers and Ferrari Classiche certified; ex-Prince Alvise Hercolani and Wolfgang Seidel.
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Competition Spider - Sold for €672.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €700.000 - €910.000. Bodied by Bertone, one of just three competition spyders built and the only Bertone-bodied Aston with racing history.
1968 Bizzarrini 5300GT Strada - Sold for €400.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €380.000 - €480.000. Fully restored in current ownership; retrofitted air-conditioning; shown at the 2004 Concorso Villa d’Este, complete with FIVA Class A3 passport.
1957 BMW 507 - Sold for €728.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €520.000 - €580.000. Series II example, with its original hardtop; well documented, with long-term single ownership.
1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Coupe - Did not sell at high bid of €475.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €590.000 - €750.000. One of only 208 R-Type Continentals and just five Franay-bodied examples; last R-Type Continental built and the last car personally designed by Marius Franay; restored to original specification, shown at Villa d’Este in 2003.
1915 Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost Limousine - Did not sell at high bid of €440.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €520.000 - €700.000. From the estate of John M. O’Quinn; one of about five Rolls-Royces bodied by H.A. Hamshaw, Ltd.; ex-du Pont family, A. Atwater Kent, Jr.; later part of Richard Solove collection; original configuration – chassis, running gear and coachwork.
1964 Alfa Romeo TZ Coupe - Sold for €627.200 versus pre-sale estimate of €475.000 – €575.000. Fresh to the market after 25 years of single-family ownership and with race pedigree that includes Le Mans, Tour de France and Targa Florio.
1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato Coda Tronca; - Did not sell at high bid of €257.500 versus pre-sale estimate of €260.000 - €300.000. One of only 30 SZ “Coda Tronca” examples built; known ownership beginning in Lugano, Switzerland; shown at Villa d’Este in 2004.
1963 Chevrolet Testudo - Sold for €336.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €500.000 - €800.000. From the Collection of Bertone S.p.A.; unveiled at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show; early career highlight of young designer Giorgetto Giugiaro; fully restored before being shown at 1996 Pebble Beach Concours.
1967 Lamborghini Marzal - Sold for €1.512.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €1.000.000 - €1.800.000. From the Collection of Bertone S.p.A.; unveiled at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show; one-off Lamborghini four seat, gullwing concept was predecessor to the Espada.
1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero - Sold for €761.600 versus pre-sale estimate of €1.000.000 - €1.800.000. From the Collection of Bertone S.p.A; unveiled at the 1970 Turin Motor Show; First prototype of the Stratos production car; fully and professionally restored in 2000.
1974 Lamborghini Bravo - Sold for €588.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €150.000 - €220.000. From the Collection of Bertone S.p.A.; unveiled at Turin Motor Show, October 1974, intended as a two-seat V8 companion the the Uracco.
1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider - Sold for €2.800.000 versus pre-sale estimate of €2.600.000 - €3.300.000. Chassis 0670 MDTR has known ownership and successful racing history, including five Targa Florio entries and winner of the Monte Pellegrino Hillclimb; Ferrari Heritage certification.
[Source: RM Auctions; photo credit: Tim Scott / Fluid Images]
