RM Sotheby's Auctions and Sales: Notable Trends and Records

RM Sotheby's is a household name in the world of classic cars, and for good reason. They've been setting records and breaking trends for decades. One notable trend is the increasing popularity of vintage Ferrari sales, with some models selling for over $10 million.

RM Sotheby's has a reputation for hosting high-end auctions that attract serious collectors and enthusiasts alike. Their sales often reach seven-figure numbers, with some rare cars selling for as much as $20 million.

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RM Sotheby's has made some incredible sales in recent years. They set the record for the highest-grossing collector car auction ever in 2022 with a total of $239,258,340.

In 2022, RM Sotheby's sold the world's most expensive new Porsche, a 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera known as "Sally", for 3.6 million USD. This car was created by Porsche in collaboration with Pixar, based on the character from the movie Cars.

The market is heating up, with combined totals from all auction houses reaching $414.2 million by Saturday in 2025. That's a lot of money, and it shows just how strong the collector car market is.

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RM Sotheby's also achieved a 100% sell-through rate at their Tailored For Speed Collection sale, with 42 cars selling for a total of CHF70m. This is a testament to the power of RM Sotheby's in the collector car market.

The Ferrari Daytona SP3 is a highly sought-after car, with one selling for 26,000,000 USD at Monterey Car Week in 2025. All proceeds from the sale went to The Ferrari Foundation.

In 2025, the average sale price per car was over $515,000, showing just how valuable these collector cars are.

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RM Sotheby's hosts some of the world's most exclusive car auctions, with sales that can reach into the millions. The company's events are a spectacle to behold, with a whole team working behind the scenes to ensure a smooth and exciting experience for bidders.

The auction hall is a massive space, with RM Sotheby's staff vigilantly scanning the audience for potential bidders. They facilitate the bidding process with a high level of intensity and attention to detail.

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Bidders can participate in the auction in three ways: in person, over the phone, or online. The RM Sotheby's team handles all three channels with ease, making it possible for people from all over the world to join in on the action.

RM Sotheby's has a dedicated video control room that broadcasts the auction live on the internet and displays it on a massive video wall in the hall. The PR team watches from the back, taking notes for media releases.

The cars on display at RM Sotheby's auctions are carefully prepared for the big event. They are wiped down with soft cloths before being driven onto the stage, where they are carefully positioned for the auction.

Here are some of the top sales from recent RM Sotheby's auctions:

The auction process at RM Sotheby's is a complex and intricate dance of many moving parts. Staffers in suits vigilantly scan the audience for potential bidders, facilitating their participation with a Secret-Service-agent intensity and posture.

Bidding isn't the only activity that needs to be run smoothly. A video control room runs both a livestream to the internet and a huge video wall playing sizzle reels of each car as it gets up on stage.

Vehicles go straight from the parking paddock to the stage, making two stops along the way. They're wiped down with soft cloths by a swarm of people right before going indoors, then carefully escorted up on stage for their auction.

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Setting up an auction space is a big job, but RM Sotheby's has it down to a science. They transform a conference center into an auction house in no time.

Hundreds of chairs need to be set up for bidders, a stage and lighting need to be rigged, and a video control room needs to be established. The team starts by sketching out presentation halls based on broad numbers and past experience, then tweaks and optimizes as they figure out exactly what cars are going to be headliners for the auction.

Thatcher Keast, Consignment Department Manager and Auction Coordinator, is one of the main people designing the physical layout of an RM Sotheby's auction. He works on multiple auctions at a time and was on version 14 of his AutoCAD file for the Monterey auction before a final design was approved.

The team needs to have a plan for moving 200 cars around the auction space, which can be a challenge. They have to coordinate the movement of cars on public city streets, public malls, and even a state park, with specific times for each car to be moved depending on the day it's selling.

The traffic jam of cars moving onto the sale stage was wild to behold. But the most visually striking element of customization inside the auction was the video walls, which added an extra layer of excitement to the event.

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Selling high-value cars for profit requires a strategic approach. RM Sotheby's Global Head of Auctions, Gord Duff, starts planning for the Monterey auction in March or April of the previous year.

Finding ultra-valuable old cars is a crucial part of the process. Duff and his team attend car shows and rallies to discover new inventory.

Repeat customers are a huge part of the equation for RM Sotheby's. They have a strong network of collectors and owners who consign their cars to the auction house.

Sellers can also reach out to RM Sotheby's Car Specialists to pitch their products for consignment. This allows the auction house to access a wide range of high-value cars.

The top sales of the 2025 Monterey auction included a 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 Coupe that sold for $26,000,000, a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Competizione Alloy Spider that sold for $25,305,000, and a 1993 Ferrari F40 LM GTC Coupe that sold for $11,005,000.

Here are the top 10 sales of the 2025 Monterey auction:

To participate in the auction, you need to register as a bidder or guest, which involves confirming you have the funds to spend. This registration process is a crucial step in the buyer's experience.

The registration process doesn't commit you to buying anything, but it does give you access to exclusive areas where you can view the cars up close. You can even test drive vehicles with the company's car specialists if you register.

If you want to bid remotely, you can coordinate with the staff to arrange calls and timing in advance. This way, you don't have to sit at home refreshing your browser to try and snipe an auction win.

As a buyer, you're responsible for paying for transportation expenses once the hammer falls. This can be a significant cost, especially if the car is coming from overseas – it's not uncommon for cars to arrive by boat months before the auction begins.

Registering to bid comes with a price tag – it's $400 for the privilege of raising a paddle at the auction. And if you do decide to buy, be prepared to pay a significant buyer's premium, which can range from 12% to 22% of the sale price.

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The auction process is a complex and intricate dance of many moving parts, and it's fascinating to see how everything comes together. RM Sotheby's presentation at the Monterey auction was a masterclass in logistics, with hundreds of chairs set up for bidders, stages and lighting rigged, and a video control room established.

Thatcher Keast, Consignment Department Manager and Auction Coordinator, is one of the key people behind the physical layout of an RM Sotheby's auction. He works on multiple auctions at a time, tweaking and optimizing the design as the company figures out exactly which cars will be the headliners.

The movement of cars is a critical aspect of the auction, with around 200 cars in the auction and specific times for each car to be moved. It's an extremely coordinated effort, with cars being moved from the parking paddock to the stage, and then onto the sale stage.

The Research Desk at RM Sotheby's is a treasure trove of information, where archivists dig deep to uncover the backstory of each car. They scour for service history, accessories, and records, and store them in a special library or garage.

The effort put into research is proportional to the car's expected sale price, with more care taken for high-value vehicles like the 1930s Bugattis. Even modest-looking cars can have rare and valuable accessories, like the Porsche 928 S that came with signed Beatles memorabilia.

If you're ever at an RM Sotheby's auction, be sure to check out the Research Desk to get the inside scoop on the cars you're interested in.

Here are some highlights from the 2025 RM Sotheby's auction:

The coolest corner of any RM Sotheby's auction setup is the Research Desk, where you can get the lowdown on a car's backstory.

RM Sotheby's archivists put in a lot of effort to gather service history and accessories for each car, especially those with seven-figure valuations.

The more info buyers can access, the more enticing the car is to bid on, as it adds to the car's value.

The Research Desk is like a miniature library, where smaller and more valuable pieces are stored, like old photos, period literature, and signed memorabilia.

Gems like a signed Beatles memorabilia accompanying a Porsche 928 S, or a steering wheel from Michael Schumacher's F1 car, are just a few examples of the treasures you can find there.

If you're ever at an auction like this, make sure you find the Research Desk and ask what kind of info or objects the sellers might have about a car you like.

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RM Sotheby's had a record-breaking auction at Monterey in 2025, with a total hammered amount of $163,438,860.

The auction saw a sell-through rate of 84%, with 152 cars sold out of 201. This is a testament to the popularity of classic and modern cars among collectors.

The top sale of the auction was the 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 Tailor Made, which sold for a staggering $26 million. This car was a one-off, and the proceeds were destined for charity.

Ferraris remain the most desirable investment cars, with several high-profile sales at the auction. The 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Competizione Alloy Spider sold for $25,305,000 at Gooding Christie's.

Here are some of the top sales from the auction:

The popularity of Ferraris can be seen in the top sales, with several high-profile models selling for millions of dollars.

The Shelby Cobra CSX2051 is a car with a remarkable history. It was displayed at SAAC-18 at Watkins Glen in July 1993.

This car holds a special place in the author's heart because it was displayed at the same event where the author was also present. The car then went on to be raced by Lauren Fix at the Lime Rock Fall Vintage Festival in 1993.

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Lauren Fix's connection to the car is even more personal - she raced it while pregnant with Paul Fix III. What a remarkable feat!

The car's authenticity and period correctness were recognized with an SVRA Historic Medallion in 1993. This is a testament to the car's historical significance.

The author was reunited with CSX2051 at Pebble Beach, a moment that was deeply personal. The car's return was a reminder that the stories behind the cars are just as important as the cars themselves.

The Shelby Cobra CSX2051 is a car that connects past and present in a unique way. Its return to Monterey was a highlight of the author's experience.

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