Rounding out the top five sellers for the night, was the absolutely stunning 1931 Bugatti Type 50 Roadster. This supercharged, eight-cylinder engine touring car, is one of two remaining examples with original Jean Bugatti-designed factory coachwork in beautifully restored condition. It came with factory records including the original bill of sale. This incredible pre-war sold for €1,411,250 ($1.6 million).
At the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, on the shores of Lake Como, Italy, RM Sotheby’s auction grossed a total of €19,798,085 ($22.2 million). Five automobiles sold for over €1,000,000 ($1.2 million). Bidders at the exclusive event represented no less than 30 countries, with more than 25 percent being first-time RM Sotheby’s clientele.
Two incredible 1950s sports racing machines generated the most attention before the auction. Consequently, on auction-night, they turned out to be the main attraction. The top seller was the original, matching-numbers 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider, chassis no. 0448 MD, the 12th of just 13 Pinin Farina Spiders built. The car boasts extensive period racing history and is an exceptionally eligible car for historic racing and concours events. Fully restored and Ferrari Classiche certified, the car sold for €3,717,500 ($4.15 million).
1950s sports racing is no more exemplified than in a 1957 Porsche 550A Spyder. The one sold at Villa Erba is one of 40 made and it benefits from a well-known and highly documented history. Chassis no. 550A-0121 was, in 1957, first delivered to Danish racing patron Preben Andersen, the principal of the Scuderia Palan, and enjoyed competition history there as well as in Kenya where it went on to its second owner. The car has undergone a complete, body-off restoration by leading Porsche specialists and has only covered 100 km on the road since returning from the workshop. This wonderful piece of Porsche history was sold for €3,380,000 ($3.8 million).
Aston Martins from the 1960s are always desirable and none more so than a rare 1965 Aston Martin Short-Chassis Volante. The car at the auction is one of the final examples of a mere 37 built. Offered after a period of long-term ownership and a beautiful restoration in Switzerland by renowned experts, the car carries matching numbers and features a rare and desirable hardtop. Rightfully, it was the night’s third highest seller, achieving an impressive €1,805,000 ($2 million).
The sale was also featuring an incredible collection of rare Zagato-bodied cars in celebration of the coachbuilder’s 100th anniversary. Leading the group was a stunning 1955 Fiat 8V Coupé by Zagato, a car highly coveted by collectors. The car sold, chassis no. 000076, is one of 26 coupes built and brought a worthy €1,771,250 ($1.9 million)
In addition to the Fiat 8V, the other Zagato bodied cars also sold extremely well; a fitting tribute to the legendary designer’s 100th anniversary year. The 2019 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake, the 12th of only 99 built, sold for €511,250 ($570,000); the glorious and well-restored 1966 Lancia Flaminia Super Sport 3C 2.8 brought €252,500 ($283,600); the 1987 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, one of only 14 examples with manual transmission, went for €331,250 ($370,000); the 1990 Ferrari 348 TB Zagato Elaborazione, the prototype example and 1991 Geneva show car, sold for €218,500 ($245,000) and the diminutive and highly sought-after 1959 Fiat-Abarth 750 GT “Double Bubble” went for €103,500 ($116,000).
Car Specialist and the Villa Erba Auction Manager Augustin Sabatié-Garat summed the auction up as follows: “To achieve nearly €20 million in gross sales is a great result, and it’s a testament to the high-quality cars that were on offer at Villa Erba. We have once again demonstrated that the best 1950s sports racing cars with strong provenance remain the most highly prized collector cars in this hobby-driven market, while cars such as the Aston Martin Volante and Fiat 8V Coupe demonstrate how the appeal of timeless design and low production numbers are key factors in driving demand among enthusiasts and collectors.”
