WORDS: ELLIOTT HUGHES | PHOTOGRAPHY: rm sotheby’s
The 15th annual RM Sotheby’s London Sale will take place at Waterloo Place in Pall Mall, London, on November 6, 2021, as part of the Royal Automobile Club’s London Motor Week. The Saturday auction precedes the climax of London Motor Week on November 7: the 125th London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
The RM Sotheby’s consignments for the prestigious sale comprises 40 curated collector cars spanning 80 years of motoring history, alongside nine automobilia lots.
A 2016 Ferrari LaFerrari hypercar finished in a captivating one-off livery of red wine-coloured Vinaccia (marc) paintwork over Pelle Chiodi Di Garofano (clove) leather is the most anticipated lot offered from the 21st century.
The 949bhp, 9250rpm Prancing Horse is one of just 499 examples to leave the hallowed gates of Maranello, and has covered a mere 918 miles from new. The car is estimated to fetch between £2.2m-£2.5m ($3.0m-$3.4m) at the strike of the gavel.
A vintage 1928 Mercedes-Benz 630K Tourer resides at the other end of the car-collecting spectrum. The pre-war Mercedes is offered in “excellent working order and in beautifully original and patinated condition”, with a fully documented history and period Mercedes manuals and tools — a rare accolade for a 93-year old automobile.
The originality and provenance of the Mercedes is exemplified by bullet holes in its art deco bodywork that were a consequence of the Spanish Civil War in 1936. The bullet-stricken car has remained in the exclusive ownership of one Spanish family from new. RM Sotheby’s expects the Mercedes to attract bids of £650,000-£800,000 ($900,000-$1.1m).
Collectors will also be excited by the consignment of several important classic Porsches. A 1987 959 Komfort is one headline-grabbing model to bear the Stuttgart-based marque’s emblems, as an archetypal supercar of the 1980s alongisde the Ferrari F40.
Finished in Grand Prix White with a dark blue leather interior, the 959 is said to be well known in the London supercar scene, and comes with a “comprehensive service history”. RM Sotheby’s estimates the high-tech Porsche will change hands for between £800,000 and £1.0m ($1.1m-$1.3m).
Those with a penchant for Porsches with motor sport provenance will doubtlessly be eyeing the 1976 934 — a legendary competition version of the iconic 930 Turbo road car. Built in adherence to Group 4 regulations, the 934 is one of just 34 produced, and has lined up on the starting grids of 55 races internationally, including victories at Kassen-Calden, DARM Avus and Hockenheim. Those interested should expect to bid between £875,000-£975,000 ($1.1-$1.3m).
The London Sale’s 1959 Porsche 356A 1600 Super by Reutter is an unprecedented opportunity given its fascinating history; it was supplied new to the legendary Donald Campbell of Land and Water Speed Record fame. Imported to the UK by famous British coachbuilder Harold Radford, and adorned with desirable Reutter coachwork, it’s no surprise that this fully restored Meissen Blue model is estimated at £150,000-£180,000 ($205,000-$245,000).
Will Smith, car specialist at RM Sotheby’s Europe, says: “This year’s London Sale has a completely new look and feel to any previous year, with great partnerships in place and an incredible new location. We’ve been developing our European sales around a model based on fewer lots but of exceptional quality. London is bringing some fantastic cars to market, many of which have never been publicly offered before.”
All available lots can be found here.
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