2016 RM Sotheby’s Monterey Auction Results

1955 Jaguar D-Type, chassis XKD501
Patrick Ernzen © 2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The most-expensive American car, British car and pre-war car are amongst the records set at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016 classic car auction. A Le Mans-winning 1955 Jaguar D-Type was at $21,780,000 the top result of all auctions at Monterey / Pebble Beach / Quail Lodge 2016 and the most-expensive British made car ever. The first Shelby, a 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra, chassis CSX2000, achieved $13,750,000 as the most-expensive American made car ever sold at auction. A 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider sold for $19.8 million as the most-expensive pre-Second World War car ever. RM Sotheby’s sold 21 cars for more than a million dollar each during Monterey 2016.

RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016 Classic Cars Sale

1955 Jaguar D-Type, chassis XKD501
Patrick Ernzen © 2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The annual RM Sotheby’s Monterey classic car auction was held on August 19 and 20, 2016, in California, USA. Three cars were sold for more than $10 million including the seventh and eighth most-expensive cars ever. In all, 21 cars were sold for over a million dollar compared to 35 (at the bigger auction) in 2015.

RM Sotheby’s grossed $117.9 million from the just over 100 cars on offer. In 2015, RM Sotheby’s set a record when $172.7 million was made from 150 cars offered at three days of sales in Monterey.

Million-Dollar Plus Cars at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016

The following 21 cars sold for more than a million dollar at the 2016 RM Sotheby’s Monterey classic cars auction:

Year Car Price ($)
1 1955 Jaguar D-Type 21,780,000
2 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider by Touring 19,800,000
3 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra CSX 2000 13,750,000
4 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione Tour de France 5,720,000
5 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider by Scaglietti 5,225,000
6 1966 Ford GT40 P/1057 2,900,000
7 1964 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series I by Pininfarina 2,750,000
8 1973 Ferrar 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider 2,365,000
9 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinettta Lusso 2,090,000
10 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H J Mulliner 1,870,000
11 1934 Mercedes Benz 500 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen 1,870,000
12 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB by Scaglietti 1,732,500
13 1932 Bentey 8-Litre Tourer by Vanden Plas 1,705,000
14 1930 Cadillac V-16 Roadster by Fleetwood 1,457,500
15 2005 Maserati MC12 1,430,000
16 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra CSX 3178 1,375,000
17 1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster by Derham 1,320,000
18 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster 1,320,000
19 1990 Ferrari F40 1,265,000
20 1938 Maybach SW38 Roadster by Spohn 1,072,500
21 1954 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing 1,045,000

Price includes auction premium.

$10 Million Plus Cars at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016

1955 Jaguar D-Type

1955 Jaguar D-Type, chassis XKD501
1955 Jaguar D-Type, chassis XKD501 – Patrick Ernzen © 2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A 1955 Jaguar D-Type sold for $21,780,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016 sale to set a new record for a British car sold at public auction. It was also the highest price paid for any car during the Monterey 2016 auction week. This was the first time over $20 million was paid for a British car and the price was the seventh highest ever recorded.

The record-setting Jaguar D-Type won the 1956 Le Mans 24 Hours race outright as an Ecurie Ecosse entry driven by Ninian Sanderson and Ron Flockhart. It is the only Le Mans winning Jaguar C or D-Type to have survived unaltered from its original race-winning form.

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Lungo Spider

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider by Touring
1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider by Touring – Darin Schnabel ©2016 Courtesy RM Sotheby’s

A new auction record was set for a pre-Second World War car when $19,800,000 was paid for a 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Lungo Spider with coachwork by Touring at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016 sale. This is also by far the highest price ever paid for an Alfa Romeo. It is also the eighth highest price ever paid for a car at auction.

Although the early history of the car is unknown, and the chassis was separated from the body for several years, the bidders clearly believed that the body and chassis belong together. As only 7 Touring Spiders were built on the long chassis, out of only 32 2.9 cars ever built, the history was easier to believe than would have been the case in less unique cars.

1962 Shelby 260 Cobra

1962 Shelby 260 Cobra “CSX2000”
Darin Schnabel © Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra, chassis CSX2000, stirred intense interest at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016 auction as this is the original, first Shelby Cobra ever built. The result did not disappoint – at $13,750,000 the Shelby 260 Cobra became the most-expensive American car ever sold at public auction. It is one of only three American cars ever to have broken the $10 million barrier.

Other Million Dollar Plus Cars at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016

1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider side
1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider – Photo: Darin Schnabel © 2016 Courtesy RM Sotheby’s

A few further million dollar plus cars at RM Sotheby’s 2016 Monterey auction include:

  • A 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione Tour de France sold for $5,720,000. This is one of only nine wearing the original style bodywork. It competed at the Mille Miglia in 1956 and the Tour de France series in 1959.
  • A 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider sold for $5,225,000 to set a new model record. The car was raced in period by Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby and Jim Hall.
  • A 1908 Rolls Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Tourer by Wilkinson sold for $990,000. Gooding and Bonhams had million dollar results for similar pre-First World War cars.
1962 Ferrari 268 SP by Fantuzzi
1962 Ferrari 268 SP by Fantuzzi – Tim Scott © 2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Two important Ferraris failing to sale were:

  • A 1962 Ferrari 268 SP by Fantuzzi that remained unsold despite a highest bid of $12.5 million.
  • A 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider that had a highest bid of $9.4 million rejected.