RM Auctions at Monaco, 11-12 May 2012: Review - Classic Driver - magazine

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15/05/2012
RM Auctions at Monaco, 11-12 May 2012: Review

"The RM way!" - Max Girardo hammers the 1957 Ferrari 625 TRC down for 4.5m euros - 5,040,000 euros with buyer's premium

Well, they pretty well did it again, but this time the RM Auctions team took two days to gross a touch over 33.5m euros, with Ferraris once again to the fore; the 1957 625 TRC achieving a world record 5,040,000 euros.

At the Grimaldi Forum for the second time running, RM’s biennial Monaco Historics event expanded into a two-day affair this year with the addition of the Friday sale of the Saltarelli Collection of Ducati motorbikes. All at ‘No Reserve’, bidders were able to buy gems such as the 1973 450 Desmo Scrambler (9,360 euros) or either of the two 900 Mike Hailwood Replicas, the 1981 example going for 12,870 euros, the 1983, 9,360 euros.

The two ex-factory recent Grand Prix Ducatis (an amazing opportunity to buy these rare works machines) both sold, with the 2010 GP10 CS1 realising 251,550 euros and the later, 2011 GP11 VR2, 245,700 euros.


1951 Piero Taruffi 'Italcorsa/Tarf II' Speed-Record Car: Sold for 89,600 euros	1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce Zagato: Sold for 414,400 euros

And who says auction-fever drives prices ever-upwards? Many of the bikes went for as little as 585 euros. With just 27bhp, the Italian-market-only 1992 350 Super Sport might have made heavy weather of the ride back to the UK, but, at 585 euros… who cares?

Come two o’clock on Saturday, and it was a packed saleroom for another, eagerly anticipated RM Auctions collectors’ motor cars sale. The phones were manned, and Max Girardo and Peter Wallman were on the rostrum, with Maître Claire Notari providing the necessary legal jurisdiction.

After a couple of non-Saltarelli bikes, and a little more warming-up, it was big-bucks time when 358,400 euros was paid for the 1978 Rondeau M378 Le Mans GTP. A highly significant ex-Le Mans car at the magic ‘No Reserve’, it was bought by a well-known historic racer and will be a great car for the Le Mans Classic in years to come.

Magnificent line-up of sports-racing Alfa Romeos and Ferraris

The first ‘big’ Ferrari was Lot 321, the 1971 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider that sold for 1,008,000 euros. The ex-N.A.R.T. racing 308 GT4 did not sell, but it wasn’t long before another Maranello car weighed in with some big figures (the Classiche-certified, immaculate 250 GT Lusso going for 750,400 euros) and later still, 1957 Ferrari 625 TRC.

There had been a lot of talk about this car pre-sale. True, it was fitted with a V12 rather than a four-cylinder, as supplied new. But the matching number, Type 625 four-pot came with the car and, for the money (5,040,000 euros), the cognoscenti felt it was a 250 Testa Rossa in all but name – at a 10 million euros discount…

1978 Rondeau M378 Le Mans GTP: Sold for 358,400 euros

Other big-selling Ferraris included the 1968 330 GTS (851,200 euros), the 1961 250 GT Series II Cabriolet (638,400 euros) and the 1,338,400 euros, 2006 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione. The pretty 1948 166 Inter Spider Corsa was sold post-event for 1,010,000 euros, while, although it looked terrific, the 1953 Ferrari 375 MM Spider failed to find a buyer on the night.

Oh, and the ex-Maranello Concessionaires 1966 Ferrari 206 S Dino Spider wowed all in the room, achieving 2,520,000 euros.

In addition to the racing Ferraris, there were two sports-prototype Alfa Romeos at Monaco. The 1968 T33/2 ‘Daytona’ went upper-estimate at 1,008,000 euros, while the 1969 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/3 went all the way – and more – at 1,232,000 euros.


1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A: Sold for 2,324,000 euros	1965 Aston Martin DB5: Sold for 313,600 euros

And street-legal racing Alfas don’t come much better than the ex-Targa Florio, 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce Zagato. The gorgeous little coupé will be heading across the Atlantic, a sound investment at 414,400 euros.

Elsewhere in the sale, the very 1970s brown 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Touring sold for 196,000 euros, and Pebble Beach head-turners don’t come much better than the 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A, all 2,324,000 euros of it.

Red 1967 Trident Clipper V-8 Coupé (42,000 euros) and white 1971 Lamborghini Jarama 400GT (78,400 euros)

Cars recently featured on Classic Driver included the 1976 Lancia Stratos 'Stradale' (299,600 euros), the 1971 Lamborghini Jarama 400GT (78,400 euros) and of course the ‘Blancpain Gallardo’, which sold for a superb 173,600 euros, all of which will benefit the Monaco Association against Muscular Dystrophy.

And the amazing V12 Ferrari-powered boat? Yes, the 1953 Timossi-Ferrari 'Arno XI' Racing Hydroplane sold for 868,000 euros. We can’t wait to see it on the water again.


As always, beautiful presentation at an RM sale	1948 Ferrari 166 Inter Spider Corsa: Sold for 1,010,000 euros

RM’s next European sale will be in Denmark on 12 August for the Aalholm Collection auction. The company’s Monterey event will once again be a two-day affair, on 17 and 18 August at the Portola Plaza Hotel in Monterey.

Please click HERE to see the full motor cars results, and HERE for the Ducatis.

Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: RM Auctions

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