Canadian financier Miles Nadal has built up an eye-popping array of classic cars, motorcycles, automobilia and sneakers, but he is now offering the entire collection – which he calls Dare to Dream – for sale, in an on-site and online series of auctions from May 30 to June 1, 2024 in Toronto. They will be sold through RM Sotheby’s, which is based nearby and with which Nadal has both business and transactional connections.
There are around 140 cars and bikes being offered, which include the ‘Big 5’ Ferraris of 288 GTO, F40, F50, Enzo and LaFerrari, along with just about every icon you could think of: Ferrari 275 GTB/4, Lamborghini Miura P400 SV, Bugatti Veyron, McLaren P1, Mini Cooper, Austin-Healey Sprite Mk1, Porsche 911 Turbo Flatnose, Dodge Viper, Jaguar XK150, Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS, Ferrari Testarossa, Honda S600, split-window Corvette Sting Ray, Ferrari Daytona, RUF BTR III, Aston Martin DB5, Porsche 959, VW Beetle, Porsche 356 Speedster, BMW Isetta, Mercedes-Benz Gullwing, Land Rover Defender, Jaguar E-type, Ford Mustang… plus a bunch of important NASCARs and several rare motorcycles, including a Vincent Black Shadow, Norton Commando and Ducati 996R.
The automobilia includes a set of Amalgam models of the Ralph Lauren Collection, while the collectable sneakers incorporate more than 800 Nikes, Adidas, Air Jordans and more, with the highlights being an early pair of handmade racing shoes by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, the ultra-rare and iconic 1972 Nike Moon Shoes, and a pair of original 1985 Player Sample Air Jordans cut to Michael Jordan’s specifications.
In total, there’s an estimated $60m of lots, with every single one offered at no reserve. With the Dare to Dream Collection immaculately presented in Nadal’s personal museum, where the auction will take place, the sale is going to be a remarkable sight.
Miles, at 65, has decided to “simplify his life”, and is gifting the entire proceeds from the sneaker sale to the Dare to Dream Foundation, which focuses on helping disadvantaged children in particular.
“I’ve lived a life of privilege, in the sense that I started from nothing,” he says. “I come from those humble roots, and I’ve been very fortunate in my life. I think it’s a privilege to help those with less. I don’t think it’s an obligation – I truly think it’s a privilege. It’s something that I’ve encouraged my family to do, and that I have derived great pleasure from, and now that I have more time on my hands, I’m really excited to give actively.”
He will be keeping around 25 cars, although few of those are part of the collection and are more utilitarian. They include one of his favourites, a Rolls-Royce Corniche, and the first collector car he bought, in 2001, as his success grew – a 1998 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Volante. As for the sneakers, he’s keeping around 100 pairs – the rest will all be sold for charity.
Visit the RM Sotheby’s Dare to Dream Collection sale here.
