June 3-11 RM Sotheby’s held the first European online auction that recorded the total sales of €19,2 million. The bids involved approximately 1000 users from 48 countries (41% debuted in auctions – editor’s note). New owners were found for 194 lots out of 213 that were presented at the bids.
Atop the charts was a 2020 Porsche 935 «Martini» which was sold for €1,32 million. The production of this model was to commemorate Porsche’s 70th Anniversary and it was first displayed at «Rennsport VI» on «WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway» last fall. In spite of its quite large mass of 1390 kg (appr. 3064.4 lbs), it takes the car just 2.5 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h and its maximum speed equals 340 km/h. It should be noted that the vehicle can be used only on circuits and not on public roads.
Second in totals came 1939 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet with the sum of € 770000. The car which had been in a famous collection «Quattroruote» in Italy was wholly maintained and repaired several years ago and it’s during that procedure when mechanics renewed its carburetor, fuel pump, gasoline tank and car exhaust system.
«Bronze medal» was awarded to a 1958 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster from another famous collection «Petitjean». A «Silberpfeil» went up to the auction block for €759000. It has to be noted that besides Mercedes 300 SL in the public’s spotlight were some Lamborghinis from the same collection. A 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400, for instance, was worth €715000, whereas a 1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400 emptied its new owner’s wallet for €415000.
Top-5 was concluded by another Porsche – 1964 904 GTS which was sold for €693000. Considering that it is the first ever mid-engined vehicle of the German manufacturer that had been owned by only one person for 27 years, the lot was absolutely worth the high price paid for it.
As a manager and car specialist of RM Sotheby’s Augustin Sabathie-Garat said, the auction once again highlighted that the retro-automobile market is still alive and the interest of collectors to bids is as high as it was before the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic.