RM SOTHEBY’S ACHIEVES $16.4 MILLION IN ONLINE ONLY: DRIVING INTO SUMMER SALE

RM Sotheby’s hosted its first car auction specifically curated for the Online Only platform—Driving into Summer—with great success this past week, presenting 193 motor cars and 24 lots of memorabilia, which opened for bidding on 21 May and closed in a staggered format on 28-29 May. The time-based, online auction totaled an impressive $16,385,738 in sales. More than 550 bidders participated from no less than 35 countries, with 24 percent bidding with RM Sotheby’s for the first time.

Proving that rare, iconic supercars remain in strong demand among enthusiasts, it was a 2003 Ferrari Enzo that led the online auction sales, selling for $2,640,000 to become the most valuable car sold in a dedicated online only collector car auction to date. An exceptional, as-new example of Maranello’s defining millennial hypercar, chassis no. 133033 was offered at auction from just two California-based owners, having resided within its first owner’s collection until 2018. Regularly serviced and used sparingly, 133033 goes to its next caretaker in outstanding condition, showing just 1,250 original miles and optioned with the very rare two-tone racing seats with red 3D cloth inserts.

Following close behind the Enzo, an exhilarating 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO sold for $2,310,000 during the Friday sale session, taking the second top sale slot. Enjoyed by a mere three caretakers throughout its life, the 288 GTO was originally delivered to well-known Ferrari collector Hartmut Ibing optioned with factory air conditioning and power windows.

“We are extremely pleased with the results of our first Online Only collector car auction curated specifically for the digital platform,” comments Gord Duff, Global Head of Auctions, RM Sotheby’s. “We saw continued momentum from our Online Only Palm Beach car auction, with considerable pre-sale interest from consignors and bidders, as well as activity throughout the auction with more than 550,000 total page views. We also saw an abundance of bidding throughout the week and during the closing days with an increased average of 19.6 bids per lot, up to a total of 56 bids on a single lot. Stand-out prices resulted across the sale, demonstrating sustained demand from collectors for buying and selling a wide spectrum of quality cars online—including blue-chip collectibles. The sale of both the Ferrari Enzo and 288 GTO mark a significant milestone for what the RM Sotheby’s Online Only platform can achieve, as well as the confidence with which our clients can bid.”  

Other notable Ferrari highlights include a beautifully restored, matching-numbers, one-of-50 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe with rare coachwork by Ellena, which brought in $671,000; an essentially new 2020 Ferrari 488 Pista Spider, stunningly specified, highly optioned and showing less than 90 miles at $605,000; a 2019 Ferrari 812 Superfast, fitted with the most powerful naturally aspirated production V-12 engine with 785 bhp, which generated $335,500; and a U.S.-specification 2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina, the 375th example of just 448 built and finished in the desirable shade of Nero at $308,000.  

Beyond the Ferrari highlights, supercars were also well-represented in the Online Only sale by an iconic trio of Ford GTs—a 2017 GT, a 2006 GT Heritage and a 2005 GT. Born and bred on the racetrack, the nicely optioned 2017 Ford GT was offered at auction equipped with carbon fiber wheels and finished in stunning Triple Yellow with Lightning Blue stripes. Powered by 647 hp, 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine, the GT achieved a final $836,000. Holding the unique distinction of being the final Heritage GT built for 2006, the three-option Heritage was offered from just two owners since new, showing just 5,400 miles and sold for $385,000. A desirable, four-option example, the 2005 GT presented wonderfully in Mark IV Red with white racing stripes and brought in $290,000.

Additional stand-out sales in the Driving into Summer auction include a virtually as-new, one-of-900 2020 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ at $467,500; a rare non-hood scoop 1965 Shelby 427 S/C Cobra ‘4000 Series’ with under-car exhaust at $396,000; a desirable early flat-floor 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8-Litre Roadster at $214,500; a 1963 Chevrolet Corvair 95 Rampside Pickup, boasting a stunning, concours-quality restoration, nearly doubling its high pre-sale estimate at $88,000; a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet, having resided under its original family ownership for 45 years until 2016, at $297,000; and a highly desirable 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II, originally delivered to Japan, which surpassed its pre-sale estimate at $231,000.