For its first European auction of 2013, Ontario headquartered RM Auctions, returns to the shores of Lake Como in Northern Italy; presenting a hand-picked catalogue of thirty-eight collectors cars, accompanied by two, Cadillac-powered, Riva motor-launches. The biennial Saturday evening auction, complements Europe’s most prestigious concours for collectors cars and motorcycles – the Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este, presented by the BMW Group; where entries from across the globe, are selected and invited to the manicured lawns of the Villa D’Este hotel in Cernobbio, before being presented to the public the following day, in the nearby grounds of Villa D’Erba.

With the imminent completion of the Mille Miglia retrospective, the forthcoming Coppa Intereuropa Storica at Monza, and the upcoming Modena Centro Ore Classic - Italy is currently a very popular destination for the global collectors car community!   

  
Of the thirty-eight cars available, two marques dominate – sixteen Ferrari’s, and six Bugatti’s.

Star “lot” of the sale, and adorning the auction catalogue’s cover, is the 1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta Consigned from a well-known UK collection, #0320AM is one of just three cars built to compete at that year’s Le Mans 24 hrs, has a comprehensively documented history, and is undoubtedly going to attract the attention of Ferrari collectors worldwide.

The European marketplace for exceptional examples, of sixties and seventies V12 engined tipo’s remains very strong, with collectors increasingly appreciating the previously underrated 250 GTE and PF Cabriolet, and undervalued Daytona…in Cernobbio, an example of each will “cross the block”, with the ex-Charles Pozzi 1973 365GTB/4 #16415, looking like a potentially excellent purchase. For devotees of more recent, Modenese artistry; alongside a 288GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo; the newest is a 2010 599 FXX, one of just twenty-nine built, one owner from new, always maintained by the Corse Clienti department in Maranello, and having completed  only one track session. Consigned from the collection of Skip Barber (eminent race-school instructor, ex F1 driver and owner of Lime Rock Park in rural Connecticut USA), my personal favourite of the sale, is the 1962 400 Superamerica SWB Coupe – one of just thirty-six examples built for Ferrari SPA’s most prominent clients; this is the twelfth car delivered, and looks superb in blu sera, with a complementing blu connolly interior. Delivered new via US Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti Motors, and a platinum award winner in 2012 at the renowned Cavallino Classic, it has the increasingly important Classiche certification, and an estimate of £1.6-£1.9 million.

Each year, the Concorso has a class for concept cars and prototype designs, which are displayed within the Villa D’Este estate….debuting at the 2008 event, the LHD Maserati Touring Bellagio Fastback, was one of just four completed on an extended Quattroporte platform, and is the auction’s opening lot. With low mileage, twin-tilting rear seats and a fridge(!), it has a guide of £65-£100k….dramatically less than its build cost, and an imposing alternative for those who value exclusivity.      

For devotees of other Italian marques, the sale also includes the:  

- sole surviving, 1905 Fiat 60HP
- 1947 Mille Miglia fourth-place finishing Cisitalia 202 SMM
- an elegant two-door, much campaigned, 1954 Cisitalia 33DF
- a 1967 Lamborghini Muira P400
- 1955 Lancia Aurelia Spider B24S Spider, previously owned by noted US Lancisti Gary Lee Byrd
- 1953 Moretti 750 Gran Sport Berlinetta, the first of approximately ten imported into the USA, by noted fifties Ferrari racer, Ernie

McAfee   

Click here to view the digital catalogue
Click here to view the auction “live”

On our return, we’ll bring you all the news from this year’s Concorso D’Eleganza and accompanying RM Auction, including an appreciation of the other marques also presented, at this high-profile event.