2020’s lockdown leaders: top online auctions so far

Top 30 online auction sales of 2020

This is going to be a record-breaking year for online car auction sales. Indeed, it already has been – and August will host even more as Monterey goes virtual. 

Specialists such as Collecting Cars and The Market claim best-ever months seemingly every 30 days, and the big traditional auctioneers have had to join them in the online world.

And they’ve done so with impressive results, as this countdown of the 30 best online-only sales of the year since lockdown proves – take a look!

30. £305,305 – 1938 Mercedes-Benz 320 Cabriolet B, RM Sotheby’s

Bought by Swedish royalty just before the Second World War, and a survivor of the conflict without being reclaimed for official use, this 1938 Mercedes-Benz 320 Cabriolet B can trace its history right back to its creation.

Few Mannheim-built cabriolets have made it this far, and its recent restoration meant the virtual hammer fell at €335,500 during RM Sotheby’s European sale in June.

29. £310,310 – 2018 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso 70th Anniversary, RM Sotheby’s

Ferrari decided to pay tribute to 70 famous cars from its history to celebrate its 70th birthday in 2017, and one of those chosen was the white and blue worn by the 375MM Spider chassis number 0370 AM in 1953.

The 1953 Spa and Nürburgring winner’s colours found their way on to this 2018 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso, which is now the second most expensive 70th Anniversary special edition to go under the hammer, having raised €341,000 in June with RM Sotheby’s.

28. £312,840 – 1965 Shelby Cobra 427, RM Sotheby’s

A Shelby Cobra completed in a 2017 but categorically not a copy. This is instead a 4000 Series, a continuation model sanctioned and signed by Shelby himself.

Chassis CSX 4425 is a rarity in that there’s no bonnet scoop to help cool its 650bhp V8 and its odometer reads just two miles. One lucky person paid $396,000 through RM Sotheby’s in May for the honour of taking that into double figures and beyond. 

27. £325,325 – 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster, RM Sotheby’s

This is 2020’s most valuable Porsche 356 at auction so far, a Pre-A Speedster by Reutter. Originally blue, it was repainted black during its recent restoration but, most importantly, the little air-cooled unit bolted into the back is original.

A Mille Miglia veteran of three runnings, this is a rarity in Speedsters: it’s used and happy to keep clocking up the miles.

26. £336,600 – 1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, Silverstone Auctions

There’s a lot right about this Peugeot 205 T16, not least the colours adorning its flanks. The Peugeot Sport UK-built car is wearing the familiar colours of the works team, though it wasn’t actually a factory car but driven by monied privateer Jon Woodner in the SCCA Rally Championship in America. 

The 1.8-litre, 350bhp+ monster has starred in all manner of events in recent years, and cleared its £260-295,000 pre-sale estimate with ease, achieving £336,600.  

25. £338,000 – 1968 Ford GT40, Silverstone Auctions

Who better to build a new Ford GT40 than former Ford Advanced Vehicle man Terry Drury? As a promising privateer he even shared a car with Jackie Oliver at Monza, too.

Out of the many parts acquired over the years he set about creating a GT40, including a works V8 and Le Mans-spec ZF ’box. And a monocoque he’s owned since his racing days, and panels that saw competitive action in period. 

Far more than your average replica, it sold for £338,000.

24. £340,786 – 1976 Inaltera GTP-Cosworth, RM Sotheby’s

The name Jean Rondeau means a lot to most Le Mans enthusiasts. He was the first and last man to win Le Mans with a car of his own making, when in 1980 he won the grand race. Before his cars were known as Rondeaus they were Inalteras, named after the team’s wallpaper-making backer. 

And this is where the story began, and it was raced by Rondeau and none other than Renault rally legend Jean Ragnotti. Though the €374,000 paid for chassis 001 was some way below the €450-550,000 estimate.

23. £369,325 – 2020 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, RM Sotheby’s

Somebody got themselves a bargain – of sorts. When new, this special Lamborghini Aventador cost upwards of $600,000, and 250 miles and an auction with RM Sotheby’s later it’s returned its owner $467,500.

One of just 900 SVJs made, the V12 kicks out 20bhp more than the mere SV’s 739bhp, with an extra 40% more downforce and all sorts of extras, too. 

22. £390,500 – 1962 Jaguar D-type Recreation, Silverstone Auctions

There are estimate beaters, and there are estimate busters. This Jaguar D-type recreation falls firmly in the latter camp.

A toolroom copy built from original drawings, and incorporating many original parts including 3.4-litre engine and four-speed ’box, plus carbs, rear axle and wheels, it’s barely distinguishable from the real thing. Hence it hit £390,500, against a pre-sale guide price of £225-275,000.

21. £395,914 – 1970 Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona, RM Sotheby’s

Unmistakable from any angle, a Ferrari Daytona would never struggle to find a new home. As this proved, from the Richoz Collection in RM Sotheby’s European sale earlier this month.

Pencilled for €400-500,000, it comfortably landed inside that to finish on €434,500 – but not enough for a place in our top 20.

=19. £410,410 – 1981 Lancia Rally 037 Stradale, RM Sotheby’s

The early history of this Lancia 037 Stradale is a mystery, but what is known is that just 13 were built before this one.

It has covered just 20,000km since, during which time it has been restored to a high standard.

=19. £410,410 – 1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S, RM Sotheby’s

Originality comes at a premium, as this Lamborghini Countach LP400 S proved with RM Sotheby’s in June. Completely in the middle of its estimate range of €400-500,000, its limited mileage makes it one of the most as-bought examples you’ll come across.

And the dark blue is a nice change from the bright yellows and reds, too. If a Countach could be called classy, this’d be it.

18. £445,093 – 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster ‘Heritage Design’, RM Sotheby’s

There’s more to this modern supercar sale than the headline $550,000 raised, because the proceeds went straight to the COVID-19 response effort. It’s also the last 911 from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, and has all manner of elements that comes with the Heritage Design package, and even a watch. 

And the buyer will be reminded of their good deed with every mile.

17. £477,950 – 2020 Ferrari 488 Pista Spider, RM Sotheby’s

Quite the flip, for this Ferrari owner.

Effectively new and unused, all of the 2020 Ferrari 488 Pista Spiders sold out with a base price of £225,000. Making the £477,950 achieved at RM Sotheby’s a handy little buy.

A solid 700bhp+, with a removable roof? Sounds like quite the combination for those winding Italian coast roads.

16. £530,090 – 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Ellena, RM Sotheby’s

A rare survivor of a 50-run 250GT built after Mario Felice Boano joined Fiat and his son took over the carrozzeria, it’s not often an Ellena 250GT comes up for auction. Among the tweaks was two inches being added to its height compared to the Boano design.

This, which sold for $671,000 with RM Sotheby’s, has trickled through three owners and lots of care – as you’d expect. 

15. £551,272 – 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 S Roadster, RM Sotheby’s

Commemorating arguably Stirling Moss’ greatest drive, when he set an unbeatable record pace on the Mille Miglia for Mercedes-Benz in the 300SLR, the SLR McLaren was an almighty machine even before it was tweaked to S spec.

Just 150 were made, and this example had only one owner before it entered the European edition of the RM Sotheby’s ‘Open roads’ auction earlier this month. Its €605,000 is the second-highest price paid for the model.

14. £570,570 – 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Volante, RM Sotheby’s

Just 800km of driving before the hammer came down, Aston Martin Works was putting the final touches to the restoration of this DB6 Volante. Albeit 13 years ago…

Finished in Dubonnet Red over an Oxblood interior, when it was bought new by the son of the inventor of condensed soup, John Dorrance, it was triple black. 

Aston Martin fitted a series of modern enhancements, which will no doubt aid its new owner, who parted with €627,000 for the privilege.

13. £620,620 – 1997 RUF CTR2 Sport, RM Sotheby’s

This is not your usual RUF CTR2, but one built for Pikes Peak. And built well, too, because it claimed second place in the Open class.

Beneath the RUF mods is a 993, and instead of the modest 520bhp 3.6-litre flat-six, this tipped out 702bhp at its peak – forgive the pun.

Since returned to road spec and a more manageable 592bhp, it’s a car that ensures your €682,000 will get you noticed.

12. £630,630 – 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, RM Sotheby’s

The Porsche 904 isn’t really your average club competition car. Sold new to hillclimber Pierre Jaillardon, who sold it sans engine and gearbox after a shunt, its history includes a stop-off at Bruce Canepa.

Eventually making its way into the Petitjean collection, it missed its €700,000 lower estimate by a whisker at €693,000.

11. £650,650 – 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400, RM Sotheby’s

This was apparently one of the first two Lamborghini Miuras delivered to Paris, and believed to have been in the film La Leçon Particulière.

It joined the Petitjean collection in 1979 and rarely moved again, until now after the new owner clicked their bid up to €715,000 during the sale by RM Sotheby’s.

Well predicted, it clipped inside its lower estimate by €15k. 

10. £660,440 – 2017 Ford GT, RM Sotheby’s

Not one for the faint of heart, this Triple Yellow with Lightning Blue Ford GT.

The original buyer didn’t skip the options list here, with carbonfibre wheels with titanium lug nuts, and didn’t lock it away too much: 1700km in three years isn’t a bad effort in the collector world.

Its $836,000 is not too bad a return for that initial investment, either. 

9. £690,690 – 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, RM Sotheby’s

The vast Petitjean collection, sold back in June, was eventually led by this Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster. Only around 30 came with Rudge wheels, and its little use and completely original interior nudged its price up to €759,000, but €40k short of its lower estimate.

Its six previous owners deemed it too good to take too far, apparently, having covered a mere 20,000km in six decades.

8. £700,700 – 1939 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet, RM Sotheby’s

Top of the pre-war lots was bagged in June by the 1939 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Gangloff, hitting €770,000 with RM Sotheby’s.

Works driver Jean-Pierre Wimille drove the car in period, showing it off to prospective buyers and even keeping the Type 57 a while, and the car has spent more than half a century in the Quattroruote Collection in Italy.

There’s no Bugatti like it, the one-off coachwork was drawn by Lucien Schlatter.

7. £701,620 – 1985 Lancia Delta S4 Rally, RM Sotheby’s

Navigating the World Rally Championship-campaigned Lancias can be a minefield, but the man photographed beside it should clear things up.

Markku Alén drove this works Delta S4 to second place on the 1985 RAC Rally, before the famed Jolly Club took over. Hence the €770,000 achieved with RM Sotheby’s, and it claiming the honour of being the most expensive competition car sold online at auction during the past few months.

6. £721,710 – 1996 Porsche 911 GT2, RM Sotheby’s

This Porsche 911 GT2 was an early leader as the world went into lockdown. Its $891,000 was paid online back in March as RM Sotheby’s took its Palm Beach sale onto the internet.

Factory stock, the 911 GT2 is a pure Porsche, with that familiar shape only enhanced by that rear wing. 

And, of course, being a 993 it’s cooled by air and not water, but perhaps being so early into lockdown and because buyers were not so comfortable buying online, it missed its estimate range by $60k. 

5. £751,605 – 1969 Lamborghini Miura S, Osenat

Smack in the middle of its €700,000-1m estimate range, this 1969 Lamborghini Miura S is a rarity among rarities: never apart, it’s so original it’s only ever been fettled and kept on the road.

The seller had owned the car for 38 years, and happily used it including on the odd Lamborghini road rally. Here’s hoping the online winner is ready to add to its near-60,000km.

4. £1,201,200 – 2020 Porsche 935 ‘Martini’, RM Sotheby’s

Chassis 002 of the 77 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsports transformed into an homage of the iconic 935 racer, chassis 935/78.006, proved itself to be an instant classic by doubling its original price ticket. 

Sold by Porsche for €700,000, it hit €1,320,000 with RM Sotheby’s in June.

3. £1,303,008 – 1966 Ferrari 275GTB Alloy, RM Sotheby’s

Star of the recent RM Sotheby’s ‘Open roads’ sale, this long-nose 275GTB Alloy fell just shy of €1.5m – and its €1.7-1.9m estimate.

Delivered new to Switzerland, where it has spent its life, the 3.3-litre V12 beauty is one of only 80 or so ever produced. 

2. £1,824,900 – 1985 Ferrari 288GTO, RM Sotheby’s

 A Ferrari worthy of the legendary three letters, G, T and O, $2,310,000 was enough to nearly take top spot in the online sales.

The 1985 example was bought new by famous collector Hartmut Ibing, and clocked up an admirable 23,555km.

A strong showing that was about the going rate for a 288GTO – on and offline.

1. £2,085,600 – 2003 Ferrari Enzo, RM Sotheby’s

The benchmark for all cars sold online to beat: a 2003 Ferrari Enzo. More than £2m at the click of a button (okay, probably a ‘yes’ on the phone), as it achieved $2,640,000 with RM Sotheby’s in May.

Just 1250 miles on the clock, and perfectly maintained by its two previous owners, it as-near-as matched the pre-lockdown hammer prices.