RM Auctions’ inaugural Sporting Classics of Monaco event held at the Grimaldi Forum on 1st May was a resounding success, achieving €33,235,917 ($ 45,101,139) in total sales and matching the highest dollar single-day collector car auction in history, also produced by RM in 2007 at the Modena Ferrari sale. The 86% sell through rate saw 88 of the 105 cars changing hands, with five automobiles fetching prices in excess of €2,000,000, along with setting two new world records.

The event’s top seller was a rare 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina SWB, achieving a new world record for a Superamerica when it sold for €2,800,000 ($ 3,799,600) and well exceeding its estimate of €2,450,000.

The sale’s cover car, the 1937 BMW 328 MM ‘Buegelfalte’, considered to be one of the world’s most significant pre-war sports racing cars, exchanged hands within less than 24 hours of the sale’s conclusion for a confidential sum and is not included in the final sale results. However, the Buegelfalte had reached a high bid of €4,300,000 ($ 5,835,100) and its addition to the final auction results produce the most successful collector auction in history.

‘RM’s inaugural Monaco sale has set a new standard for collector car auctions not only for the high quality of cars, but also for its impeccable presentation and client experience. Two world record prices, and seven lots achieving in excess of one million euro, aptly illustrate this achievement,’ said Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Europe. ‘Our Monaco sales results underscore RM’s undisputed leadership position in the investment-grade segment of the collector car market.’

Additional star lots breaking the two million euro barrier include:

• 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, s/n 3401 GT, selling for €2,632,000 ($ 3,571,624);

• 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 ‘Birdcage’, s/n 2470, setting a new world record for a Birdcage at €2,464,000 ($ 3,343,648);

• 1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France, s/n 0925 GT,  €2,352,000 ($ 3,191,664); 

• 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder, s/n 1253 GT, fetching €2,072,000 ($ 2,811,704)