The spectacular €2.44m paid for a trio of Bertone concept Lamborghinis boosted RM’s takings for its inaugural Villa d’Este auction on 21 May. The prototypes were snapped up by a Lamborghini collector who shelled out a cool €1.52m for the 1967 Marzal shortly after his estimate-busting final bids of €588k and €347k for the 1974 Bravo and 1980 Athon, which had been expected to sell for €150 – 220k each.
The Sant'Agata one offs were among six Bertone concepts being sold on order of the Italian government and the Marzal was one of a dozen cars to bust the €1m mark at the sale. In all RM pulled in an impressive €23.4m from the 24 lots that got away out of the 36 on offer at the spectacular Villa Erba setting.
RM was less successful with its star Bertone offering, however: the sensational 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero concept which sold to an Asian collector for €762k despite a lofty €1 – 1.8m prediction.
Top result was the €3.36m paid for the ex-Turin Motor Show 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta while the Figoni et Falaschi-bodied1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe in this month’s issue made €3.13m.
The Canadian sale house wasn’t as lucky with the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe which stalled at €1.15m shy of its sale topping €3.25 – 4.25m estimate but at least two other lots sailed well above the €2m mark to find new owners. The ex-Targa Florio 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider made a healthy €2.8m and a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder – arguably a gold standard in collecting circles - comfortably broke its €1.6 – 2m estimate when it crossed the block at €2.52m.
Also busting its estimate was a nicely patinated1957 BMW 507 which changed hands for €728k, despite its €520 – 580k prediction, while a 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ Coupe (€475 – 575k) sold for €627k.
RM wasn’t as lucky with the 1965 Ford GT40 Works prototype roadster and former C&SC feature. It had been predicted to sell for €2.4 – 2.9m but bidding stalled at €2.1m after a duel between a Swiss collector in the room and a phone bidder.
Other competition fare to sell on the night included a 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Competition Spider which sold for €627k while the sale house got its 1968 Bizzarrini 5300GT Strada away for €400k shortly after the sale.
The sale featured some unusual coach-built cars including a Saoutchik-bodied 1930 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Berline - which made €307,500 – and a Graber-bodied 1938 Jaguar SS Coupe sold without buyer’s premium after sale house accepted the €210k final bid shortly after the sale.
RM’s next Villa d’Este sale will be in 2013.
