2018 RM Sotheby’s Porsche Atlanta Sale (Auction Results)

A 1985 Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar sold for a model record $5,945,000 as the top result at the RM Sotheby’s Porsche Atlanta car auction.

The top result at the RM Sotheby’s Porsche Atlanta 2018 sale was for a 1985 Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar that sold for $5,945,000 – nearly double the presale estimate and three times the previous 959 model record. The final air-cooled turbo 911 built – the 2018 Porschea 911 Turbo Classic Series “Project Gold” (Series no. 001/001) – sold for a strong $3,415,000.

RM Sotheby’s Porsche Center in Atlanta Sale 2018

RM Sotheby’s  arranged a Porsche single-marque sale at the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta, USA, on 27 October 2018. The sale featured 63 Porsche cars and a selection of Porsche-related memorabilia, spare engines and (rich) children’s cars to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the German sports car brand.

The RM Sotheby’s Porsche sale earned $25.8 million with a relatively high sell-through rate of 92%.

Porsche memorabilia also sold well, including a group of Porsche 911 Sales Literature, which well-surpassed its estimate at a final $20,400 (est. $5k/7k).

Top Results at the RM Sotheby’s Porsche Atlanta 2018 Sale

The top-ten results at the RM Sotheby’s Porsche Atlanta 2018 sale were as follows:

	Year	Car	Price ($)	Estimate ($)
1	1985	Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar	5,945,000	3,000,000 – 3,400,000
2	2018	Porsche 911 Turbo Classic Series “Project Gold”	3,415,000	Upon Request
3	2015	Porsche 918 Spyder	1,407,500	1,400,000 – 1,600,000
4	1973	Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Protype	1,325,000	1,250,000 – 1,500,000
5	1973	Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight	1,022,500	875,000 – 1,100,000
6	1985	Porsche 959 Prototype	1,000,000	1,300,000 – 1,600,000
7	1980	Porsche 935 K4	885,000	850,000 – 1,100,000
8	1973	Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring	698,000
9	1996	Porsche 911 GT2	643,000	800,000 – 1,200,000
10	2011	Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0	566,000	800,000 – 1,000,000

Million-Dollar Cars at the RM Sotheby’s Porsche Atlanta 2018 Sale

Six cars sold for over a million dollar at the RM Sotheby’s Porsche Atlanta 2018 sale:

1985 Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar

The top result at the RM Sotheby’s Porsche Atlanta 2018 sale was for a 1985 Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar that sold for $5,945,000 – double the presale estimate and a clear record price for a 959.

This 959 was one of just three built to contest the 1985 Paris-Dakar Rally as a Works entry and the very first example ever offered at auction. One of seven developmental cars, four of which are retained by Porsche, chassis no. 010015 was piloted by three-time Paris-Dakar winner René Metge, representing Porsche in the most grueling rally of all time.

All three 959s retired from the 1985 race but Porsche 959s would finished first and second the following year. After a sustained competition between several bidders in the room and on the phone, the 959 sold for a final $5,945,000, nearly doubling its high estimate (est. $3.0m/3.4m).

Gooding sold a 1988 Porsche 959 Komfort for $1,732,500 at Pebble Beach in 2015 while a rarer 1988 Porsche 959 Sport sold for $2,093,280 at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2017 sale to set the previous 959 model record.

See 1985 Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar for more on this car.

2018 Porsche 911 Turbo Classic Series “Project Gold”

For the Porsche Classic restoration workshop at the factory in Stuttgart, the highlight of the sale was no doubt the 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo Classic Series “Project Gold” (Series no. 001/001) that sold for $3,415,000.

Project Gold is the final air-cooled 911 Turbo, built 20 years after the end of 993 production. This incredible undertaking began at the Porsche factory one and a half years ago with an existing genuine Type 993 body shell. The experts at Porsche Classic were able to rely on a selection of over 6,500 parts, assembling this “new” 993 Turbo S at the Porsche Classic restoration workshop near Stuttgart. An exciting car with a worthy cause, proceeds from the sale of Project Gold will benefit the Ferry Porsche foundation.

2015 Porsche 918 Spyder

A 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder sold within expectations for $1,407,500. This is a low-mileage car with only 225 miles on the clock. Although it is claimed to be probably the highest-specification non-Weissach optioned car produced, the Weissach option itself clearly might have been a more profitable choice.

1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Prototype

The 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Prototype was at $1,325,000 the most-expensive used 911 sold at the RM Sotheby’s Porsche Atlanta sale. This prototype was only the second Carrera RS ever built.

1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight

An exceptionally authentic 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight sold for
$1,022,500. It is one of 200 lightweight sport versions built and was raced extensively in period by Swiss racing driver and owner Eugen Strähl.

1985 Porsche 959 Prototype

A 1985 Porsche 959 Prototype sold for $1,000,000 – a bit below pre-sale estimate. This car was the seventh of twelve prototypes built and believed to be one of only three or four survivors.

Prototype no. F7 of 12 ‘F’ series prototypes was finished in Ruby Red with ‘Triple Silver’ interior and trimmed to Komfort specification but without the adjustable ride height and power steering featured in the later cars.

Top Cars Not Sold at the RM Sotheby’s Porsche Atlanta 2018 Sale

The following cars with pre-sale estimates exceeding a million dollar failed to sell at the RM Sotheby’s Porsche Atlanta 2018 sale:

Year	Car	Estimate ($)
1983	Porsche 956 Group C	5,250,000 – 6,750,000
1973	Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8	2,400,000 – 2,800,000
1975	Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0	2,000,000 – 2,200,000

RM Sotheby’s will top off its 2018 calendar with the company’s first ever Los Angeles sale, set for 8 December at the renowned Petersen Automotive Museum. The auction will feature approximately 50 eclectic blue-chip automobiles in the incredible space provided by the Petersen backdrop, led by the 1956 Ferrari 290 MM, campaigned by Scuderia Ferrari for the 1956 and ’57 seasons and piloted by an amazing lineup of drivers including Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill, and Sir Stirling Moss.

More on RM Sotheby’s Atlanta Porsche 70th Anniversary Sale