RM Sotheby\u2019s held its fifth annual Santa Monica sale on June 24, registering more than $9.3 million in total sales. The single-day auction, at the historic Barker Hangar, featured some 175 vehicles and an array of automobilia, while still catering to the diversity of Southern California tastes. The auction drew bidders from 19 countries, including some from as far away as Asia, Australia and the Middle East.<\/p>\n
The day\u2019s top sale was a fully restored, matching-numbers 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, chassis no. 198-042-10-02551. The 300 SL (above, photo courtesy of RM Sotheby\u2019s) narrowly missed meeting its reserve on the auction block, but was sold immediately following the sale for $1,100,000.<\/p>\n
Ferrari supercars have proven popular since the first SoCal sale in 2013, and this year was no exception, as the day\u2019s second-highest sale price was the $957,000 paid for a U.S.-delivery 1992 F40, chassis no. 93065.<\/p>\n
Another highlight of the sale was a private California collection of American Classics, offered entirely without reserve, that demonstrated the continuing demand for great pre-war cars. The group was led by a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Berline by Murphy, J-259. Delivered new to Pasadena, the well-preserved Model J boasts numerous one-off features, and was sold to its sixth owner for a strong $880,000. Perhaps the true star of the collection, however, was an authentic 1930 Cadillac V16 Fleetwood Roadster, body no. 73, wearing its original two-passenger body. One of the most desirable American Classics in today\u2019s collector community, the V16 smashed its pre-sale estimate to sell for a final $797,500 following a lively exchange of bids between bidders in the room and on the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled with the strong results for our fifth annual Santa Monica sale,\u201d said Alexander Weaver, Car Specialist for RM Sotheby\u2019s following the event. \u201cThe new single-day format proved a success, with the busiest auction room we\u2019ve seen yet. Our top ten results also illustrate the appeal of the Southern California venue for the sale of a number of collector car segments, from American Classics to late-model Porsches, icons of 1960s European motoring and modern collectibles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/u><\/strong>RM Sotheby\u2019s Santa Monica Top 10 sales:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n