Founded by Rob Myers, RM Sotheby’s was born from a passion for classic cars. After years of working on his father’s cars, Myers inaugurated his own single-car garage restoration business, and by 1979 the company was officially incorporated. Over the decades that followed, Myers and his team built a world-renowned restoration facility, known as RM Auto Restoration, as well as the world’s largest auction house for investment-quality automobiles, RM Sotheby’s, a global operation now partnered with Sotheby’s, the world’s oldest auction house. Myers remains at the helm of the organization and looks forward to more exciting growth in the years to come.
Working with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, the 40th Anniversary celebration will give back to the community that has fostered the growth of RM over the last four decades and celebrate Chatham-Kent as the Classic Car Capital of Canada. For 2019, RetroFest™, will also move to 21–22 June, making for the ultimate weekend destination for classic car enthusiasts in Canada.
The community, car enthusiasts, and attendees can expect two days filled with thousands of cars and enhanced RetroFest programming alongside anniversary events put on by RM Sotheby’s, including performances by acclaimed Canadian acts Sam Roberts Band and Big Sugar, as well as a very special concours d’elegance held at RM Sotheby’s head office.
All proceeds from the weekend’s events will go directly back into the Chatham-Kent community, supporting several important local organizations, including the Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation of Chatham-Kent, Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation, and Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation.
“Our 40th Anniversary celebration is going to be an unforgettable weekend in Chatham-Kent,” says Rob Myers, Founder, Chairman & CEO of RM Sotheby’s. “The Friday RM Kickoff parade and RetroFest car cruise will be the biggest yet, and the RM40 Concours D’Elegance on Saturday will gather some of the world’s best cars, never before seen in Canada and unlikely to ever be seen again. We’re bringing thousands of automobiles to Chatham-Kent for the weekend—everywhere you look on 21–22 June, you’ll see a classic car. I look forward to celebrating with friends, collectors, enthusiasts, and the entire community. Let’s have fun at what is going to be the best collector car weekend that Canada’s ever seen!”
“RM has been making our community proud for decades,” adds Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff. “Linking RetroFest with RM’s 40th Anniversary celebration is an amazing collaboration. Add in the fact that local charities will benefit, and it takes it over the top. RM choosing to celebrate with all of Chatham-Kent is a world-class move by a world-class company.”
The RM 40th Anniversary and RetroFest weekend timeline of events will include: