RM Sotheby’s announced Villa Erba 2017 sale highlights including an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750, Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Prototype, Talbot Lago, BMW 507 and a LaFerrari.
RM Sotheby’s announced further highlights for the 2017 Villa Erba sale during the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza on the shores of Lake Como in Northern Italy in May 2017. In addition to the previously announced 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS ‘Goute d’Eau’ Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi, the first 4th series 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Spider and a 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Prototype will vie for the honor of top result at the auction. Top results are also expected from a 1957 BMW 507 Roadster Series I and a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari.
RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba Sale 2017
RM Sotheby’s traditionally holds it very exclusive Villa Erba classic car auction every odd year as part of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy at the end of May.
In 2017, the classic car auction will be held on May 27. As in previous years, only around 40 cars will be offered.
In 2015, RM Sotheby’s had 37 cars on offer that with a sell-through rate of 90% achieved €26.7 million. The top result set a new model record when a 1952 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta sold for €6,720,000 ($7,400,736).
In 2013, the auction record was set when a 1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta ‘Competizione’ by Pinin Farina sold for a record €9,856,000 (US $ 12,812,800). At the time it was the highest price ever paid for a closed Ferrari Berlinetta, the highest price for a 340/375, and the highest price paid at auction for any car since a 1957 Ferrari 250 TR in 2011 achieved $16,390,000. (This model and auction records still stand.)
1930 Coachbuilt Cars at Villa Erba 2017
For those with a predilection for pre-war coachbuilt motor cars, early highlights announced for the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2017 sale include a trio of the most coveted of all the sporting 1930s Grand Tourers. From a 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS 4th Series to a 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Prototype and the previously announced 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS ‘Goute d’Eau’ Coupé, each are pioneers in the field when it comes to design and performance.
1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS ‘Goute d’Eau’
Showcased at the world-famous Rétromobile show in Paris in February 2017, the 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS ‘Goute d’Eau’ Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi, affectionately known as the ‘Teardrop’, is considered by many as one of the most attractive, aerodynamically inspired automotive designs of all time. The example on offer, chassis no. 90110, is the second-ever car built with front fenders and has been restored to concours standards, making it a perfect fit to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este weekend (Est. €3.200.000-€4.200.000).
1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Spider 4th Series
The 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Spider 4th Series, chassis no. 8513001, is the first 4th series car produced and one of only two sporting coachwork by Carrozzeria Sport S.A. Its first driver was Baron Horst Von Waldthausen, who campaigned it in the 1932 Swiss Car Championship, followed by Julio Villars who drove it in the European Hill Climb Championship. Extremely well-documented, 8513001 has been cherished by a limited chain of owners during its lifetime, including 48 years in single-ownership. It was sold to its current custodian in 2007 following a full restoration, and has since been lovingly stored in a climate-controlled garage. Like the Talbot-Lago, it is a fantastic fit with the elegant Villa Erba setting (Est. €2.200.000-€2.600.000).
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Prototype
Perhaps nothing epitomises the essence of performance and style more than the 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Prototype, chassis no. 57254. A fine example of the Bugatti marque, the featured T57 is one of just three Atalante prototypes, and was delivered new to the Bugatti Works driver Meo Costantini with a specially tuned engine. Elevating its rarity, it is one of few built by Carrosserie Bugatti, and even rarer still, one of comparatively few Atalantes retaining its matching numbers status. It comes to Villa Erba showing just 26,000 kilometres, believed to be the original mileage, and accompanied by its original tool kit (Est. €2.800.000-€3.200.000).
1957 BMW 507 Roadster Series I
In addition to the spectacular Thirties trio, additional early highlights for RM’s highly anticipated Villa Erba sale fittingly include a chic 1957 BMW 507 Roadster Series I, chassis no. 70044, presented in a striking in a shade of sea green with a red leather interior and contrasting factory hardtop; and a factory-fresh 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari. One of just 251 production vehicles made and retaining its original engine, the BMW 507 has had just four owners from new, including single ownership for over 52 years, and boasts just 73,000 original kilometres; its character and patina show the result of decades of adoration and careful use (Est. €1.700.000-€1.900.000).
2014 Ferrari LaFerrari
The LaFerrari, one of just 500 made worldwide, is finished in traditional Rosso Corso over black, and shows delivery mileage only with just 180 kilometres on the clock. It comes to market having been recently serviced and is fitted with the desirable nose lift kit, red brake calipers and anti-stone chipping film to keep it in pristine condition.
RM Sotheby’s is no stranger to selling LaFerraris at auction; in December 2016, it sold a one-of-a-kind new LaFerrari from Ferrari’s own collection for charity for a record $7,000,000. The example set for Villa Erba carries a pre-auction estimate of €2.650.00-€3.200.000 – not particularly ambitious: Mecum sold a LaFerrari for over $5 million at Monterey 2016 while the first LaFerrari ever sold at public auction went for $3,685,000 at Bonhams Quail Lodge 2016. A highest bid of $3.4 million was too low to buy the LaFerrari at Gooding’s Amelia Island 2017.
Further highlight announced include the 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Torpedo-Sport Avant-Garde (Est. €6.500.000 – €8.000.000) and three modern hypercars (a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari, 2015 Porsche 918 Weissach and 2016 McLaren P1 GTR).
