On Wednesday, RM Sotheby’s returned to the Big Apple for their ICONS auction. Thirty spectacular cars rode the elevator to the 10th floor of Sotheby’s Upper East Side headquarters. Gord Duff of RM invited Keith Martin and me for an early morning private tour. It was wonderful to walk the Sotheby’s halls without anyone else around. We spent about an hour carefully inspecting the eclectic mix of curated cars. The diverse menu included modern supercars like a La Ferrari and pre-war cars like a Brewster-bodied Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. The blockbuster of the auction was the 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione—it sold for $16,350,000. The other auction outcomes were somewhat less spectacular. Most cars sold at or below their low estimate. Of the thirty cars that went over the block, almost 25% did not sell.
My photographs below each have captions with TG comments on the auction results.
Watch Keith Martin broadcast from the NYC lobby of Sotheby’s. He explains why 1967 was a landmark year in the world of automobiles:
Watch Keith Martin describe why this rare Alfa (on display in the lobby at Sotheby’s) is unique:
The lobby of Sotheby’s made quite a statement!
A private tour is a great way to quietly and slowly study the inventory. The cars were beautifully presented.
Auto Art!
1952 Jaguar C-Type sold for $4,800,000!
The Pagani is a stunning tour de force! These do not come up often in the secondary market. This example sold for $1,850,000.
The new Bugatti Chiron.
A pair of SL’s. The gullwing sold for $1,255,000 and the convertible for $1,275,000. The 300 SL market appears to be cooling.
This Brewster bodied Rolls Silver Ghost sold way below the estimate at $275,000
This 1960 VW 23-window bus went for $185,000!
Steve Job’s Z8 brought $295,000
The Carrera GT was a no sale at $700,000. Prices of these cars seem to be stalling. The 911 (foreground) did not sell.
The LM002 (left) was perfectly restored and sold for $420,000
The La Ferrari fetched $2,700,000
Keith Martin and Gord Duff
The Ferrari 250 went to the moon at $16,350,000!
The DB5 convertible went for $2,450,000.
DB5 exquisite royalty
Lambo LM002 pure Italian muscle
VW Bus …mhhh scratching my head on this
RR Silver Ghost Magnificent!!…possibly a real steal long term
Gull Wing and the F 240…no excitement but investment asset class at this point for a diversified portfolio
the Daytona …for me.. GOAT
Alfa…is always Alfa…like your first girlfriend…you never forget that feeling
Great revue of the Icon Auction.The 1967 Alfa is truly a piece of art.