The RM Sotheby’s 6th annual sale during the world-famous Rétromobile show week, that took place at the historic Place Vauban in Paris, lasted five hours and it closed making a total of €32.4m selling the finest sports, racing, and touring cars from both pre- and post-war periods, as well as related memorabilia.
The auction attracted buyers from 45 countries around the world, and there has been a 25% increase in bids compared to 2018. In fact, in the packed room, took place several tight battles for the first memorabilia lot – Ayrton Senna’s McLaren Rheos Helmet was awarded for €162,000 – as well as for the most anticipated auctioned cars.
Among the top ten lots there were 5 iconic Ferrari, 4 of which were: 2011 Ferrari 599 SA Opened (€933,125) – it is the discovery version of the 599 produced in limited edition of 80 copies, and the name SA is a tribute to designers Sergio and Andrea This -; 2017 Ferrari F12tdf (€1,197,500) Ferrari F12tdf of 2017 – a unique owner and less than 2,600 km covered by new, this limited edition derived from the F12 Berlinetta that honored the 250 GT that triumphed at the Tour de France -; 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB / 6C Alloy Berlinetta (€2,860,000) – certified Ferrari Classiche, the first of only eight ‘long-nose’ aluminum, six carburetors, recently restored in its original colors -; 1996 Ferrari F50 (€1,700,000) – another certified Ferrari Classics, it was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1996 and described as ‘the road F1’.
However, the queen of the auction has been, without any doubt, the 1987 Ferrari F40 LM awarded for €4,842,500. It was the third F40 constructed and was used extensively by the factory as a pre-production prototype. It took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995 and 1996, and won the 1995 Anderstorp 4 Hours.