Rare cars sold for hundreds of thousands

This last weekend RM Auctions carried out its inaugural sale at the Villa d’Este concourse in Cernobbio, Italy. The event presented a catalog which promised to make classic auto aficionados water at the mouth. There were a cadre of rare and historically important vehicles on sale. Many of the vehicles earned millions of dollars apiece.

The excitement in the air

Several were excited for the auction to come around. Collectors were especially excited. Automobile correspondent Paul Lienert, said before the event, “The first-ever Villa d’Este sale will feature the crème de la crème of classic European hardware.”

Best part of the event

The highlight of the sale was the rare 1965 Ford GT40 Works prototype roadster which collectors were anxious about on May 21. In the 1965 Targa Florio, the automobile was a works entrant. Sir John Whitmore and Bob Bondurant co-piloted the car. Although it was among the top sellers, by the time the dust settled it had not topped the sales at the much-anticipated event.

Top sellers go for multi-millions

There were a few top sellers. They sold for millions. Among them were the 1955 Ferrari 375 MM, which sold for $4.8 million. Selling at $4 million was the 1938 art-deco Talbot-Lago T150-C SS. A four-cylinder Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa went for almost $4 million. About $3.6 million was paid for the 1959 Ferrari 250 California. Just less than $3 million was paid for the 1965 Ford GT40 roadster prototype as well as the 1947 Bugatti Type 57sc Atlante.

The 1953 250 MM Ferrari was built specifically for Mexican collector Efrain Ruiz Echeverria and sold for $3 million. He drove it in the 1953 Carrera Panamericana.

Over a million was paid for these

The 1967 Lamborghini Marzal went for $2.1 million. Another was the $1 million 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero.

A few not able to hit the million mark

There were two Zagato-bodied Alfa Romeos that were from the 1960s and sold for $370,000 and $900,000. About $32 million was brought in with the total auction.

Citations

Autoblog

autoblog.com/2011/05/24/rare-classics-sell-for-millions-at-villa-deste-auction/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Fautoblog+%28Autoblog%29

Top Gear

topgear.com/uk/photos/rm-auctions-villa-d-este-2011-05-17

Edmunds Inside Line

insideline.com/ford/gt/ford-gt40-prototype-headlines-villa-d-este-auction.html