Modern exotics led the top results for RM Auctions’ Fort Lauderdale auction this past weekend, occupying eight of the 10 highest-seller spots. The $23.2 million total for the Florida sale was the best in the auction’s 17-year history, with an impressive 80 percent of the 476 vehicles crossing the block hammered sold.
The top-selling car of the auction was a 600-mile 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari that reached $3.08 million, becoming the highest result ever recorded for Fort Lauderdale. All sales results include auctions fees.
Second highest was an icon of collector cars, a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing coupe owned by pop star Adam Levine, front man for Maroon 5, that sold for $1.154 million. Then it was back to the 21st Century with a 1017 Ferrari F12tdf that went for $975,000 as the third highest sale.
Other highlights also showed the growing interest in modern collector cars, such as the 1998 Lamborghini Diablo SV Monterey Edition, the final example of just 20 built, that sold for $258,500 after an extended bidding competition. The pre-auction estimate for the no-reserve sale was $200,000 to $225,000.
A 2010 Ferrari California offered without reserve sold for $115,500, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting The Boys & Girls Club of Broward County, Florida.
Another special sale was that of a 1953 Hudson Hornet sedan formerly owned by the late actor Steve McQueen that brought $165,000.
Cars from the ongoing sale of the Youngtimer Collection drew plenty of attention, with a number of the 19 cars exceeding pre-sale estimates, such as the 1991 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo that sold for $66,000, a record for that model; a 2009 Aston Martin DBS that reached $121,000; and a 1994 Bentley Touring Limousine sold for $71,500.
“We could not be happier with the results of our 17th Fort Lauderdale auction,” said Gord Duff, global head of auctions, RM Sotheby’s Group, in a news release. “We achieved our strongest results to date, again with a smaller, higher quality group of cars, and we’re thrilled with the sell-through rate we secured for our valued clients.
“On top of the most valuable car ever sold at the event, we also saw continued lively bidding for special cars from private collections offered without reserve, with exceptional interest from clients participating remotely via the phone and internet as well.”
Top-10 sales, RM Fort Lauderdale 2019:
1. 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari,$3.08 million.
2. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, $1.155 million.
3. 2017 Ferrari F12tdf, $975,000.
4. 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta, $550,000.
5. 2017 Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 SV Coupe, $478,500.
6. 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series, $350,000.
7. 2018 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso 70th Anniversary, $299,750.
8. 2006 Ford GT, $286,000.
9. 1998 Lamborghini Diablo SV Monterey Edition, $258,500.
10. 2006 Ford GT, $255,750.
RM Sotheby’s inaugural German sale tales place April 11-12 at the Techno-Classica Essen fair, where the remaining 85 cars from the Youngtimer Collector will be offered among the 200 collector cars.
For more information, visit the RM Sotheby’s website.
