RM at Monterey 19/20th August 2005 - Review - Classic Driver - MAGAZINE

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24/08/2005
RM at Monterey 19/20th August 2005 - Review

At just a touch under $32 million it was a bit below the figures forecasted by RM, but with 91% of the cars sold a good result by any standard, and the shortfall could well be put down to just three cars (Aston Zagato bid to $2,450,000, Ferrari 375MM to $2,225,000, and Ferrari 206SP to $2,000.000) not selling. Many ‘big’ ones did, such as the 1964 Ford GT40 Prototype for $2,502,500.

The Aston and important Ferraris aside, RM had another good sale without really breaking the barriers. All the other significant cars sold; at pretty much on market price. Take the 1959 Ferrari 250 GT "Tour de France" going for $1,457,500, or the 1932 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3 Monoposto for $2,100,000, both being good examples of this phenomenon. Likewise the 1970 Ferrari 512 S for $1,947,000.

Both RM and Christie’s sold their ‘Teardrop’ Talbots at Monterey this year, and for pretty well the same money! RM’s black 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C Lago Coupé moving on for $3,685,000, just pipping Christie’s red 1937 version that achieved $3,535,000 a couple of days before. As they say, an auction should set the market value and this proves the rule superbly.

1959 Ferrari 250 GT "Tour de France" - sold for $1,457,500
In the scheme of things the 1971 Porsche 917 Spyder Can-Am car was a bit of a ‘find’ at $863,500 - although it will take some money to run it in competition, while the 1949 Jaguar XK 120 Alloy Roadster we featured in our preview duly sold at a jaw-dropping $440,000. The sort of figure that would have bought a C-Type a few years ago - is this the most expensive XK 120 ever?

Of course US Muscle went for extraordinary amounts. Cars like the 1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda for $412,500, or $198,000 for the 1969 Chevrolet Corvette - "Motion Phase III". Shelby American Cobras and Mustangs have achieved almost ‘Royal’ status now and RM duly weighed in with some truly regal prices. Like the 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra Roadster ($462,000), and 1968 Shelby GT500 KR Fastback ($134,200). The drag-racing 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra "Dragonsnake" we featured in our preview sold for $451,000.

And the one I wished I’d bid on? Lot 128, the 1968 Pontiac Firebird that finished third overall in the 1969 Daytona 24 Hours selling for an inexplicably cheap $66,000. Oh well, there’s always 2006.

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