Fort Lauderdale

Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center
29 - 30 March 2019

BEST EVER RESULTS IN FORT LAUDERDALE: $23.2 MILLION

RM Auctions held its annual Fort Lauderdale sale, 29-30 March at the Broward County Convention Center, achieving the best result in the event’s 17-year history. Total sales across the two-day auction reached in excess of $23.2 million, with more than 80 percent of the 476 lots on offer finding new homes. RM Auctions also saw strong bidder attendance at the sale, with 24 countries represented by participants, and one third of bidders representing first-time RM Auctions clientele.

 

The Fort Lauderdale auction was led by a 600-mile 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari, finished in eye-catching Giallo Modena over a black and yellow interior. The hypercar reached a final price of $3,080,000 during the Saturday afternoon sale session before a packed auction room, becoming the most valuable car yet sold at the Fort Lauderdale event. Stealing the Friday spotlight was a highly desirable, matching-numbers 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing offered from significant celebrity ownership, which achieved a final $1,155,000 to become the second highest sale of the weekend.

 

Additional highlights across the Fort Lauderdale auction included continued rising interest in modern and emerging collectibles. A 1998 Lamborghini Diablo SV Monterey Edition, the final example of just 20 built, sold for $258,500 following an extended bidding competition, exceeding its pre-sale estimate of $200,000-$225,000 (offered without reserve). A 2010 Ferrari California, presented in Grigio Alloy with Bordeaux Daytona-style seats, also offered without reserve, sold for a final $115,500, with a portion of proceeds to benefit The Boys & Girls Club of Broward County, an organization near and dear to the RM Auctions team.

 

A selection of cars offered from the much-buzzed-about Youngtimer Collection also continued to draw tremendous interest in Fort Lauderdale, with many of the 19 lots exceeding pre-sale expectations. Highlights include a very well-preserved, 3,000-mile 1991 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo, which reached a final $66,000 (est. $30/40k, offered without reserve) to set a new record for the model at auction. A six-speed 2009 Aston Martin DBS also smashed pre-sale estimates at $121,000 (est. $80/100k), while a 1994 Bentley Touring Limousine reached $71,500 (est. $30/40k, offered without reserve). The remaining 85 motor cars from the Youngtimer Collection will be offered at RM Sotheby’s upcoming inaugural German sale, set for 11-12 April at the Techno Classica Essen show.

 

Additional private collections offered without reserve also achieved strong results in Fort Lauderdale, with a 1953 Hudson Hornet Sedan offered from a Private Swiss Collection and formerly owned by Steve McQueen bringing $165,000 and a 1948 Buick Roadmaster Convertible offered from the Richard L. Burdick Collection bringing $99,000 (est. $65/85k).

 

RM Auctions Fort Lauderdale sale also played host to RADwood at RM Auctions, the first-ever South Florida event for the car show that presents the best of the 80s and 90s automotive lifestyle. The event saw a curated group of cars at the Broward County Convention Center, including such rad rarities as a 3500-mile 1998 Toyota Supra, a Nissan 240SX, and a Mercedes-Benz SEC AMG Wide-Body.