2017 RM Sotheby’s Ferrari Sale Announcement

RM Sotheby’s and Ferrari announced a special single-marque sale at the factory in Maranello, Italy, on 9 September 2017.

Ferrari Factory at Maranello
Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A special Ferraris-only sale will be held by RM Sotheby’s and Ferrari at the Maranello factory in Italy to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the famous car brand. Although no cars have yet been announced, RM Sotheby’s claims the sale in September 2017 will be a world-class event and “the most significant single-marque sale in auction history.” RM Sotheby’s had good results with Ferraris in the past: it sold the first car for over $10 million ever at Maranello in 2008 and around 40% of the million-dollar-plus cars ever sold by RM Sotheby’s were Ferraris.

RM Sotheby’s Ferrari Maranello Sale 2017

RM Sotheby’s and Ferrari will hold a special single-marque sale at the Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy, on 9 September 2017.

1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The sale takes place during Ferrari’s 70th anniversary year. Although no cars have been announced yet, the auction will bring together an exclusive, curated selection of the greatest sports, GT and racing Ferraris ever built, celebrating pivotal moments in the marque’s history and unearthing some of the most valuable and sought-after examples on the planet.

All entries for the sale will carry certification from the lauded Ferrari Classiche Department, with whom RM Sotheby’s enjoys a close relationship.

RM Sotheby’s and Ferrari Auctions

1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder © Courtesy of RM Auctions

RM Auctions and Ferrari have come together on numerous occasions in the past, including the 2007-2009 record-setting ‘Leggenda e Passione’ auctions held at the Ferrari factory in Maranello, events that cemented RM’s relationship and expertise with the marque.

The first car to have sold for more than $10 million at public auction was a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider sold by RM Auctions in Maranello in 2008 for $10.9 million – a dollar price helped by a relatively strong euro at the time of the sale. The euro result was €7,040,000.

1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa © Courtesy of RM Auctions

A year later, RM again increased the price-barrier by selling a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa for $12.4 million (€9,020,000).

The strength of the RM Sotheby’s-Ferrar partnership was proven once again in December 2016, with the charity auction of a unique LaFerrari at the Finali Mondiali at Daytona. The special 500th LaFerrari produced achieved $7,000,000, with proceeds benefitting earthquake victims in Central Italy and, in the process, setting a record for a new car sold at auction.

A late announcement was the sale of the original 2013 Ferrari LaFerrari prototype. It may not be used on the road and estimated to sell for €1,100,000-€1,300,000.

Top RM Sotheby’s Ferrari Results

1956 Ferrari 290 MM
Darin Schnabel © Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s had good results with Ferraris at previous auctions. Of the 660 cars that RM Sotheby’s sold for over a million dollar, 40% were Ferraris.

Three of the seven cars ever sold for over $20 million at public auctions were Ferraris offered at RM / RM Sotheby’s auctions:

  • the ex-Works, ex-Juan Manuel Fangio 1956 Ferrari 290 MM, which commanded $28,050,000 at RM’s 2015 New York sale;
  • the single-owner 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spider, which achieved $27,500,000 at RM’s 2013 Monterey sale, maintaining the record for the most valuable road-going Ferrari sold at auction; and,
  • the one-of-three 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale sold for $26,400,000 at Monterey in 2014.

The two most expensive cars ever are also Ferraris: the 1962/3 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta sold for a world record $38,115,000 by Bonhams at Quail Lodge 2014 and the 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport sold for $35,711,359 by Artcurial in Paris 2016. (The 335 was also at €32,075,200 the most-expensive car ever in euro terms.)

1950 Ferrari 166 MM 212 Export Uovo front quarter
1950 Ferrari 166 MM/212 Export “Uovo” by Fontana – Remi Dargegen ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Thus far in 2017, Ferraris have been uncharacteristically absent from the top results – only two of the top-ten auction results in 2017 up to May have been for Ferraris.

The egg-shaped 1950 Ferrari 166 MM/212 Export ‘Uovo’ announced for the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2017 is easily the most interesting Ferrari announced thus far in 2017 for sale at public auction.