FRESH-TO-MARKET MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL ROADSTER AND GULLWING TOP RM AUCTIONS $19.1 MILLION FORT LAUDERDALE SALE

FRESH-TO-MARKET MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL ROADSTER AND GULLWING TOP
RM AUCTIONS $19.1 MILLION FORT LAUDERDALE SALE

• RM Auctions 16^th annual Fort Lauderdale event at Broward County Convention Center totals $19.1 million with 76 percent of all lots sold
• Sale led by 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster from owner of four decades at $1,540,000 and 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing offered from five decades in single-ownership at $1,193,500
• Significant increase in quality and international bidding interest over 2017 event
• Complete results from Fort Lauderdale available at www.rmsothebys.com
  
  

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (9 April 2018) – RM Auctions returned to Florida this past weekend (6-7 April), for the company’s 16^thannual Fort Lauderdale sale, where the auction house achieved *$19.1 million in total sales with a strong 76 percent of all lots finding new homes. The total tops the sale’s 2017 performance, notably with a smaller, higher quality offering of 335 motor cars compared to last year’s 408. Demonstrating the increased global marketing reach of the RM brand, bidders at Fort Lauderdale represented 44 states across the U.S., as well as 30 countries (11 countries in 2017). Fort Lauderdale represented the first sale held under the RM Auctions banner following the integration of former subsidiary Auctions America in fall of 2017.

Top sales at RM Auctions’ Fort Lauderdale sale were led by a pair of stunning 300 SLs each offered from significant long-term Michigan homes. The most valuable lot of the two-day auction was the 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, which drew eyes throughout the sale preview as well as significant interest both in the room and remotely, eventually selling to a bidder on the phone for a final $1,540,000 following a lengthy competition (est. $1.2m/1.5m). A late-production, European-specification Roadster featuring an alloy engine block and disc brakes, the never fully restored and lovingly maintained 300 SL was offered from four decades of single-enthusiast ownership with a mere 36,600 original miles. The Roadster result was closely followed by the 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, which also incited a bidding battle between parties in the room and on the phone, eventually bringing a final $1,193,500 (est. $1.0m/1.3m). A highly original example, the Gullwing was offered directly from its owner since 1968 and following four decades of exhibition in various Indiana museums. Significantly, 100 percent of hammer proceeds from the Gullwing’s sale will be donated by the consignor to the renovation efforts of his local YMCA in Jackson, Michigan. The 300 SLs represent the first pair of million-dollar-plus lots sold at the Fort Lauderdale event.

“We’re thrilled with the results of our Fort Lauderdale sale this past week,” said Gord Duff, Global Head of Auctions, RM Sotheby’s Group, following the event. “The increased quality of the automobiles on offer was noticed by clients and market analysts alike, which led to a higher sale total year-over-year, with 75 fewer cars. We saw strong prices across all categories, with the deserving Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs bringing numerous bidders and top dollar in today’s market. We’re also excited to see that the RM brand has drawn an incredible increase in global interest to the event, with nearly five times the number of international bidders over 2017.”

The Fort Lauderdale event saw strong prices across all segments of the collector car market, with additional highlights including pre and post-War classics such as the multi award-winning 1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Sport Phaeton in the style of Dietrich at $374,000, a 1949 Bentley B Special Speed 8, an exceptional homage to the W.O. Bentleys, at $365,750, and an AACA and CCCA prize-winning 1946 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet at a very strong $107,250. Late model and modern collectibles were also in high demand, with a 10.8-mile, single owner 2006 Ford GT sold for a final $352,000 (est. $300k/350k, offered without reserve), a very rare 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC 6.0 AMG ‘Wide-Body’ sold at $110,000 (est. $100k/150k), and a U.S.-specification 1990 Lamborghini LM002 LM/American sold at $368,500 (est. $335k/375k).

RM Auctions Fort Lauderdale - Top Ten Sales

Lot 3131	1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (CHASSIS NO. 198.042.10.003069)	$1,540,000
Lot 3158	1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (CHASSIS NO. 198.040.7500071)	$1,193,500
Lot 1133	1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Sport Phaeton (VEHICLE NO. 9067)	$374,000
Lot 3155	1990 Lamborghini LM002 LM/American (CHASSIS NO. ZA9LU45AXLLA12243)	$368,500
Lot 3159	1949 Bentley B Special Speed 8 (CHASSIS NO. B337DZ)	$365,750
Lot 1127	2006 Ford GT (CHASSIS NO. 1FAFP90S36Y401960)	$352,000
Lot 3144	2006 Ford GT (CHASSIS NO. 1FAFP90S26Y400881)	$330,000
Lot 3156	2016 Porsche 911 R (SERIAL NO. 430/991)	$300,000
Lot 3163	1953 Cadillac Eldorado (CHASSIS NO. 536237197)	$242,000
Lot 3136	1953 Chevrolet Corvette (CHASSIS NO. E53F001147)	$217,250

Complete results from RM Auctions’ Fort Lauderdale sale are available at www.rmsothebys.com/results. Next up on the RM Auctions calendar is the first of the company’s two annual sales at the historic Auburn Auction Park – the Auburn Spring collector car weekend, 11-13 May in Indiana. Auburn Spring is set to present approximately 450 quality collector cars, along with an onsite swap meet, car corral, and the Triple Crown Meet, hosted by the Antique Automobile Club of America and the Nash Car Club of America.