The auction of confiscated supercars generated CHF 36.7 million ($37.028 million) Sunday at a Bonhams auction at the Bonmont Golf and Country Club in Switzerland. Bonhams also said that a world auction record price was paid for a Lamborghini at the auction.
Of that sales total, more than CHF 23.4 million ($23.6 million) is earmarked for charities.
The sale was conducted on behalf of the State of Geneva, and the cars were thus offered at no reserve. In addition to the supercars, several other vehicles, plus jewelry, watches and art were on the docket. The items reportedly were confiscated from the son of the dictator ruling over Equatorial Guinea after he was found guilty of money laundering and other charges in two countries.
The top sale of the auction was CHF 8.2 million ($8.27 million) paid for a Lamborghini Veneno, the only roadster of the nine “ultimate” Lamborghinis produced. Bidding on that car started CHF 3 million, involved half a dozen bidders and ran for seven minutes.
The next highest sale was CHF 4.6 million ($4.64 million) paid for a 2014 Koenigsegg One:1. The car, one of only six produced, had been the subject of controversy between the auction house and the Swedish car manufacturer. Bonhams had set a pre-sale estimated value of $2.25 million for the car. Koenigsegg contended that figure was well below market value.
In addition to several such supercars, the sale included nearly 70 classic and collector vehicles.
“We’re delighted with today’s results,” said James Knight, Bonhams group motoring chairman. “Not only have we raised a considerable sum for charity, we have also established a world record for selling a Lamborghini at auction.”
Bonhams next motorcar auction is scheduled for October 11 at the Zoute vintage vehicle celebration in Belgium.
THAT has got to be the ugliest car ever made by Lamborghini. The engineer was drunk and got carried away with the “shapes” tool on the CAD program. He was a relative of Lamborghini so everybody had to play the “Kings Clothes” routine. Here’s one instance where you buy the car solely to give to the charity, and then make sure not to take delivery of the vehicle.