Salon Privé and RM Auctions have forged a very solid partnership: there is the obligatory Concours d’Elégance, fortified – this year - by the additional ‘100 Years of Spirit of Ecstasy’ Rolls-Royce portfolio; a strong concentration of rare British classic cars in a bohemian display of faux carelessness on the lawns of Syon House. And, of course, an overlapping audience practising osmosis between Salon Privé’s delectable parade and RM Auctions’ own show.

With almost 60 cars to sell, RM Europe Managing Director Max Girardo had a busy schedule, which he tackled with the usual gusto and irrepressible enthusiasm. Seasoned classic car auction experts at the sale confirmed that the auctioneer’s verve can, if required, be expressed in four or five different languages almost simultaneously: no wonder RM Auctions is so successful internationally. 
           
After the appetiser of a 1958 Triumph T110 and a 1964 TR6 (SS Trophy) going for just £2.5k and £3k respectively, even the bikes did a wheelie, headed by a 1939 Brough Superior V-Twin which fetched £33k before premium. RM Auctions took advantage of the Jensen marque revival, dispatching a 1976 Interceptor convertible to its new owner for £42.5k plus premium.

Over the Victorian wall separating the auction from Syon House grounds, Salon Privé’s smattering of Jaguar E-types may have whetted buyers’ appetite, but only for the worthy: a 2+2 coupé sold for £22.5k, the thirsty 1974 Series III convertible V12 for £37.5k, but a spotless LHD fixed head coupé with the more desirable 4.2 engine went for £55k.

In the past, XK150s would have been the sleeker XK120’s poor relations, but a good XK150 3.8S convertible, unrestored, with original matching numbers and factory colours, rare (as only one of 24 special-orders) changed hands for £180k. Interestingly, the XK120 SE Roadster freshly restored only fetched £52.5k, showing that the Airfix syndrome - where a car requiring full re-commission may be perceived as more desirable than a perfect model – may be  catching.

The big money was for the usual suspects, in the best RM Auction tradition: a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 with impossibly low mileage and the right heritage commanded £235k. A 1961 DB4 Vantage convertible, original LHD and one of only 70, finally went for £385k, to the audience’s delirium.   
Yet one had to wait for a 1929 vintage Bentley Speed Six ‘Le Mans’ style tourer to reach the half-million figure: Vanden Plas-style and actual 1930 Speed Six engine, together with an sparkling racing heritage, helped the Bentley along to £420k (before premium).

It was no surprise that the Jaguar SS 100 Roadster was bid to £170k but did not sell: only last December Bonhams labelled anything under £190k for such a car ‘rude’ to suggest.

What price, though, for the original ‘mule’ produced by Rolls-Royce? RM Auctions estimated anything between £400k and £800k. The 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Experimental Sports Tourer, complete with performance testing records, continuous history and the only experimental vehicle  kept by Rolls-Royce for many years, was built to prove the potential performance of the (then) brand new Phantom. Henry Royce was critical of this very same prototype, but then again, ‘nothing was ever good enough for Royce’. He probably would have approved of the £350k price-tag.

With £5.1m takings (gross) and 77% success rate, Max Girardo and RM Auctions can count its first Salon Prive sale a resounding success.