RM SOTHEBY’S ‘A PASSION FOR ELEGANCE’ SALE SMASHES PRE-SALE EXPECTATIONS GROSSING CHF11.1 MILLION

RM Sotheby’s enjoyed a successful night of results at its Passion for Elegance sale, held in Liechtenstein on 19th June. The 26-lot sale, which represented a unique, single-owner collection of Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars, and one of the finest collections of luxury British automobiles to ever be publicly offered for sale. Pre-sale interest in the cars was, naturally, very high, but the results achieved on the day were particularly strong.

The top-selling lot was also the most notable in terms of exceeding its estimate. The 1954 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV Limousine 'Princess Margaret' by H.J. Mulliner is one of only 18 Phantom IVs produced, and a car which was the exclusive domain for world leaders and Royalty. Of particular interest to collectors is the fact that the example offered was built for HRH, Princess Margaret, completed and delivered to her in 1954, boasting a plethora of bespoke, luxury features, befitting her position as a senior member of the British Royal family. It is a car Princess Margaret retained for 13 years and which covered 27,000 miles in her ownership, and in which she was frequently seen and photographed. With few subsequent owners and offered in largely original condition, this Phantom IV Limousine is rare in the extreme and was secured for a remarkable CHF2,255,000 (€2,081,365), a world-record for a Phantom IV offered at auction and a figure that saw the car smash its pre-sale estimate of CHF400,000 – CHF600,000.

Another star of the sale was the 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Special Town Car by Brewster, a one-off design and the first and only of the three special town cars built that still retain their original coachwork. Created for American millionaire, Matthew Dick of Washington D.C., this one-off car, which cost an astonishing $31,000 in 1933, sold very well at mid estimate, bringing CHF1,580,000.00 (€1,458,340).

Two other lots in the sale exceeded CH1,000,000, with the third top-selling lot in the sale being the 1958 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupé. Considered by many to be one the finest of all post-war Bentleys, and another undoubted highlight of the sale, the exceptional example offered is one of only 94 produced and was the worthy recipient of a winning bid of CHF1,220,000.00 (€1,126,000). The final lot to exceed CHF1M was the 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé Adaptation by H.J. Mulliner, which was purchased new for iconic actress Sophia Loren by her husband, Carlo Ponti. With full documentation, this car boasts incredible provenance and featured with Ms. Loren in Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and is one of only 25 original left-hand-drive models produced. It is not a surprise that this car attracted a great deal of interest, but it’s final selling price of CHF1,045,625.00 (€965,111), makes it another car in the sale to double its pre-sale estimate of CHF530,000-CHF660,000.

Tonnie Van der Velden, Car Specialist at RM Sotheby’s says: “Above all else, we always endeavour to achieve the best possible results for our clients, and we have an enviable reputation as the leading specialists for selling single-owner collections. This was a stunning collection of cars that represented one man’s passion for the Rolls-Royce and Bentley marques, and we are delighted all the cars sold so well. It is also a significant indication that the market for these luxurious British cars is extremely robust, and it reinforces RM Sotheby’s credentials in this area of the market.”

Additional Fees to Be Considered

Buyer’s Premium

For Motor Car Lots

  • In the event of a final Hammer Price of CHF 200.000,00 and below on all motor car lots, RM will receive a Buyers’ Premium of 15% (plus VAT on the Buyers’ Premium).
  • In the event of a final Hammer Price above CHF 200.000,00 on all motor car lots, RM will receive a Buyers’ Premium of 15% (plus VAT on the Buyers’ Premium) on the first CHF 200.000,00 and will receive a Buyers’ Premium of 12.5% (plus VAT on the Buyers’ Premium) on the Hammer Price above CHF 200.000,00.

For Non-Motor Car Lots

  • Buyers of all non-motor car lots, including but not limited to memorabilia, motorcycles, boats, trailers, jewelry, and clothing, are required to pay RM a Buyers’ Premium of 20% (plus VAT on the Buyers’ Premium) on the Hammer Price of those particular lots.

Lot Handling Charge

Please note all lots will be removed from the auction venue on Wednesday 23rd June and taken into secure storage located in either Rümlang or Gstaad in Switzerland at a cost of CHF 750 + VAT per car to be paid by the buyer. Daily storage charges will commence from Monday 28th June at a rate of CHF 30 + VAT per car. There is a charge of CHF 150 + VAT per car that will also be applied for the handling of the car when it leaves the storage facility.

Taxes/Import Duties

Bidders are responsible for any applicable duty and/or local taxes on any motor car(s) or any other lot(s) purchased. International bidders are advised to inform themselves of potential import duties that would be due upon arrival of the lot(s) to its final destination. You are advised to speak with your local representatives in advance of the sale to understand what these costs would be. The location in which the lot is sold is clearly indicated on the lot page found on rmsothebys.com.

Please pay careful attention to any Lots that are:

  • VAT Applicable
  • VAT Implication
  • Temporary Import

Lots Under Temporary Import

Those cars subject to temporary importation restrictions cannot be discharged from RMS’ custody without the completion of customs procedures and until full payment has been received. Customs charges will be levied appropriately depending on each individual scenario and will be payable directly to the relevant authorities, which RMS will provide the details of as and when necessary. Please note there is a compulsory administrative fee to process removing the car from bond.

Payment Options

Payment is due in full on or before 17:00 of the next business day following the auction, and payment is to be made to RM Sotheby’s (‘RMS’). All payments must be in the form of bank transfer unless other arrangements have been approved in advance. International Bidders are advised that bank transfers may take multiple days for funds to transfer, and as such, we ask for banking institutions to confirm the transfer directly with our Administration department once initiated.

Lot Removal/Shipping

RMS strongly advises Buyers to make immediate arrangements for the collection and transport of purchased lots. It is the Buyer’s responsibility to make their own arrangements, but RMS is pleased to offer our clients the services of the following preferred company:

C.A.R Logistics
+41 58 356 12 12
carlog@car-logistics.com

Please note that it is the Buyer’s responsibility to insure their purchased lot(s) whilst in storage, as insurance is the Buyer’s responsibility once the lot is sold.

Client Service and Administration Contacts

Client Service: Britta Buchmann
bbuchmann@rmsothebys.com
+44 (0) 20 7851 7070

Administration: Bess Walker
bwalker@rmsothebys.com
+44 (0) 20 7851 7070