Rare vehicles auctioned for millions in Italy

RM Auctions had its first auction at the Villa d’Este concourse in Cernobbio, Italy this last weekend. The auction featured a catalog assured to make a vintage car buff salivate. A plethora of rare, classic and historically important automobiles were offered for sale. Many of the cars went for multi-millions of dollars.

Anticipation is high

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

Interest in the rare Ford roadster

The highlight of the sale was the rare 1965 Ford GT40 Works prototype roadster which collectors were excited about on May 21. In the 1965 Targa Florio, the vehicle was a works entrant. It was co-piloted by Sir John Whitmore and Bob Bondurant. Even though it was a top seller, it didn’t make as much as the event it anticipated.

Some vehicles cost millions to buy

There were a few top sellers. They sold for millions. The Ferrari 375 MM from 1995 was there. It sold for $4.8 million. The 1938 art-deco Talbot-Lago T150-C SS was there. It cost $4 million for a buyer. Almost $4 million was paid for the four-cylinder Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa. The 1959 Ferrari 250 California sold too. It was at $3.6 million. There was a 1947 Bugatti Type 57sc Atlante that sold for about the same price as the 1965 Ford GT40 roadster prototype. Both went for a little under $3 million.

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.

Cost over a million for some

About $2.1 million was paid for the 1967 Lamborghini Marzal and $1 million for the 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero.

The millions mark was not for every auto

There were two Zagato-bodied Alfa Romeos which were from the 1960s and sold for $370,000 and $900,000. All totaled, the auction brought in about $32 million.

Articles cited

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