The RM Sotheby’s and Sotheby’s partnership has continued to prove itself as a winning combination in creating a truly global platform for collector cars in 2017, with further collaboration and cross-collecting efforts between the two companies across the calendar of events. Notably, RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale featured a curated selection of watches and jewels from the Sotheby’s team, as well as an onsite Shop Now collection within the auction tent. RM Sotheby’s final sale of the year, ICONS, opened with a selection of vintages from the Sotheby’s Wine team, and was held as a featured highlight of Sotheby’s inaugural A Life of Luxury week in New York, offering the best of watches, jewels, wine, fashion, and cars. In what was perhaps the ultimate culmination of the partnership and one of the most highly publicized automotive auction lots ever offered, RM Sotheby’s presented Michael Schumacher’s Monaco Grand Prix-winning Ferrari F2001 within Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Sale in November. Selling for a final $7,504,000 to a client new to both RM Sotheby’s and Sotheby’s, the F2001 was a defining moment in the history of contemporary car auction sales. Smashing records in terms of views, reach and ultimately price, the F1 Ferrari successfully redefined the conversation surrounding car auctions executed in the same sphere as art sales.

RM Sotheby’s Group Top 10 Sales of 2017

1.

1956 Aston Martin DBR1

$22,550,000

Monterey

2.

1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione

$17,990,000

New York

3.

2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta

$10,043,000

Ferrari – Leggenda e Passione

4.

1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider

$9,504,550

Ferrari – Leggenda e Passione

5.

1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta

$8,305,000

Monterey

6.

1937 Bugatti Type 57S Cabriolet

$7,700,000

Amelia Island

7.

2001 Ferrari F2001

$7,504,000

Sotheby’s Contemporary – New York

8.

1959 Aston Martin DB4GT Prototype

$6,765,000

Monterey

9.

1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster

$6,600,000

Arizona

10.

1955 Ferrari 121 LM Spider

$5,720,000

Monterey

Looking Ahead to 2018
Following the operational integration of former subsidiary, Auctions America, 2018 will see the RM Sotheby’s Group host sales under two different banners, allowing the company to seamlessly serve all levels of the diverse and growing collector car market through one team.

Events held under the RM Sotheby’s banner will present blue-chip, investment-quality motor cars, primarily catering for established to seasoned collectors, with average automobile values above $300,000. Auctions to be held under the RM Sotheby’s banner include Arizona, Paris, Amelia Island, Monaco, Monterey, and London. Sales now held under the RM Auctions banner will present high-quality collector cars for the entry-level enthusiast through to the seasoned collector, with average automobile values under $300,000. Events to be held under the RM Auctions banner include Fort Lauderdale, Auburn Spring and Auburn Fall, Santa Monica, and Hershey.

RM Sotheby’s Group’s 2018 auction schedule can be found at www.rmsothebys.com.