January Auction Thread (2025 Edition)

The Mercedes will be offered for sale in Mercedes museum just before Retromobile.
The 250 LM will be in Paris.

 

Artcurial Rétromobile 2025 first unveiling. s/n unknown to me.
https://www.artcurial.com/specialites/artcurial-motorcars

 

I see RM have listed one of the best Bentley 8 Litres for their Scottsdale sale. Seems cheap at $2.75-3.25mm

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and Ferrari 250GT Tour de France #0933GT at $3.5-4.5mm

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08407 - Beautiful car, fully restored.
Artcurial will also offer for sale 08151.

 

I am in love with 0933GT. Staggeringly beautiful car. Convincing my wife it’s a reasonable acquisition will be the issue…

 

RM dropped the IMS collection overnight. Merc W196 confirmed for Stuttgart on 1st Feb, 250LM for Paris on 4th/5th Feb, the rest for Miami 27th/ 28th. So much for any collector to be excited about, from the full brass era Itala and Mercedes to the W196, GT40 and 250LM. Estimates don't seem unreasonable either! Full details here - https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/

 

Thanks Tim.
https://rmsothebys.com/ims-museum-collection/

 

The 250 LM is somewhat cheap (relatively speaking). Other 250LMs have been sold for almost 20 million $/€ and they don't certainly have a racing pedigree similar to 5893's.

 

Don't forget that it also has led a bit of a hard life, so to speak. And it is not red book Classiche certified (for those who care).
Also, the market has changed dramatically in the last two years or so. But in terms of history 5893 is naturally sensational. The last V12-engined Ferrari winning at Le Mans.

Marcel Massini

 

Yes but the last three public sales saw #5901 fail to sell with no bids anywhere near its 22 mm EURO estimate and then sell it at 15.8mm EURO, RM fail to sell #6053 at a $18mm USD reserve. I would assume any basic 250LM is somewhere in the mid teens in todays market AND that RM really wants to sell #5893 so has picked a low end reserve to guarantee a trade. It should hit 25mm EUR, maybe even 30mm.

 

I sat next to the (only real) bidder for 5901 and his bid was € 20 M and absolutely genuine and real money but that wasn't accepted by the (then French) owner/consigner.........stupid he is. He should have taken the money and run.
As he had received a massive advance (which he was unable to pay back) he was shortly afterwards forced to sell it in a single car auction which, no suprise, was not very good indeed. That car has zero race history.
The other LM mentioned is red book certified but unfortunately has a non-matching engine. Makes a massive difference as well.

Marcel Massini

 

All very good points

 

5893 is an emotional buy.

If the circumstances are right, with a winner and underbidder bidding with heart over head, will go for big money, because it is a singular car due to its history and the unique opportunity. But circumstances have to be right.

Will be interesting to watch.

 

Especially since he probably bought for 10% of that bid.

 

1951 Ferrari catalogued as 212/225 Export Vignale by Sotheby's for Paris' auction. Beautiful unit.

Jorge HG

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0190 ED.

Marcel Massini

 

Beautiful car.....

 

Man's eternal problem..

 

So Mecum apparently did not sell the ex-McQueen Porsche 917 today at a very healthy high bid. If his deal with Seinfeld was similar to his deal on the blue chip Ferraris we’ve discussed earlier it might be time for him to reevaluate his strategy…

 

Lots of Enzo era no-sales

 

I don’t understand sending any Ferrari to Mecum. Why burn your car to let them have a shot, no matter what the negotiated fees are?

 

Many owners (consigners) have insane expectations and then simply fall into a trap when an auctioneer promises the moon.
And at the same time another auction company is perhaps more open, more down to earth and direct and clearly states (to the consignor) where reality is or not. What might be achievable or not.

Marcel Massini

 

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Are Lusso that "cheap" now? Or was this wrong place or bad car?

 

I am surprised he is even selling it. He certainly doesn't need an extra $30m which he can make in a year without working a single minute. So why let go of something so special?