Instantly recognizable to anyone lucky enough to attend one of RM Sotheby’s live events worldwide, Rebecca Johnson is typically the first person to greet returning clients when they walk inside the entrance. When the bidding starts on our classic car lots, Rebecca Johnson is invariably front-and-center, watching the assembled audience for any hint of a new bid. Back home at company headquarters in Chatham, Johnson serves as RM Sotheby’s Director of Administration, securing vehicle titles and making certain sales run smoothly, as well as her duties as Co-Head of our Client Service Division. Like every person on this talented team, Johnson is experienced enough to balance several roles simultaneously and sufficiently talented to do it with style.
With her unmatched viewpoint, both front-and-center at RM Sotheby’s events, and supporting company founder Rob Myers as he built his restoration business into a world-renowned auction powerhouse, Johnson has witnessed the rise of today’s classic car world practically from the beginning. Automobiles, merely a practical tool to Johnson when she first joined the team, became a source of fun as she moved from a family car to a Porsche, learning how to drive a stick shift on the company Volvo, and finally graduating with a certificate in off-road motorsport earned at the DirtFish Academy in Washington.
As the company expanded to auctions worldwide, the annual event at Amelia Island became woven into the fabric of Johnson’s life. The gorgeous grounds of the Ritz-Carlton resort lend both the auction and corresponding Concours d’Elegance an unmatched vista. It was there, next to the ocean, that Johnson’s husband proposed; Johnson’s granddaughter is named Amelia in part because of this special memory.
Expressing love for Amelia—affectionately nicknamed “baby girl”—as well as her pair of loyal companions, two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels named Gracie and Lilly, we were happy to chat with Johnson in advance of our first in-person auction of 2021, held in Scottsdale, Arizona.
1. What was your first car? Any memorable early drives?
Despite my childhood fantasies of becoming Malibu Barbie and driving a convertible, I got a head start on my family. I did everything that I could to avoid a minivan and settled for a 2007 Pontiac Torrent. Soon after, GM discontinued the Pontiac Division. I’m not going to lie—the second those boys had wheels of their own, I did get a Mini: A 2013 Mini Cooper, who I endearingly named ‘BABYGIRL.’
2. Do you have a favorite car from our past auctions?
My Pick of the Day at every auction is always a ‘Prancing Pony’ whether it be a Ferrari F50, Enzo, or LaFerrari, but the cute little model that I developed a real soft spot for was the 1966 Volvo P1800. She came into the RM family from a dear client/friend in Westlake Village, CA. Along with a team of my esteemed female colleagues—we all learned to drive stick on her. She was so patient and forgiving. I was so proud the day I had the courage to take her home and show my Dad what I had finally mastered. This confidence expanded when my boss treated us to a ladies’ week at DirtFish Rally School in Snoqualmie, WA. So many exciting memories!
3. Your role at RM must give you a unique perspective—how has the company changed since you joined?
I started working for Rob in January of 2002. We were a small, family-owned company and I quickly strived to become friends with all our clientele—like my mentor, Dana Brezzi. It was easily done by attending all our auctions and events, working in a variety of capacities. Being an integral part of a little business—you always made the staff list to attend. Once, Stephanie Jacklin and I were even able to represent RM Auctions on the Colorado Grand. Nowadays, RM Sotheby’s has grown in every way—ownership, customer database, online platform, private sales, and now our financial division. I do love life in the fast lane, too!
4. You’ve been front-and-center at some of RM’s greatest auctions, any memorable bidding wars?
My roots are in accounting so despite working on the floor with the leading salespeople in our industry, I’m not great at asking for bids. If I see a deal to be had or if I know that someone’s heart is really set on the car, I will do my part to help put that dream in their garage. However, all bets are off when Grampa is bidding on a child’s car for his grandbaby. At our SHIFT/Monterey sale last August, I remember a specific example: A Ferrari 250 California Spider Junior which hammered at $9,500 in Arizona in 2019 soared to $88,000 in Monterey. If I’m ever not front-and-center at an auction, just look for the youngest, little bidder in the crowd or the furriest.
5. Administration has to be a full-time job on its own. Have any good stories of going the extra mile for a client?
As the Director of Administration, my days are filled with title challenges and financial accounts. I live to serve our customers though, so when one of our clients called last January and asked me to help a young boy with his Make-A-Wish dream—introducing him to some of the stars in our industry, bidding with one of them at the auction, and even crossing the block in the feature car—my heart was all-in. Sold!
