2005 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction

Automotive lots sold: 147
Sale rate: 91%
Sale total: $31 million

RM Auctions reigned supreme on the Monterey Peninsula for 2005, completing its 20th annual Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction with a sales total of $31 million. Since 2001 RM has been the undisputed leading auction house for the weekend, consigning the world’s finest motor cars, outselling all other August Monterey auctions, and posting the highest sales totals. The two day sale, held August 19 and 20, 2005 at the Portola Plaza Hotel and Monterey Conference Center, had the largest single offering in the history of the famed Monterey weekend and set a new world record for a two day auction of vintage automobiles. An outstanding 91 percent of cars sold, with six cars selling for more than $1 million each.

Headlining the auction was a stunning 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C Lago Speciale Teardrop Coupe that sold for $3.685 million. The one-off car had spent its entire life in Europe, making its first North American appearance on the RM auction block. Other top sellers included the Daytona winning 1964 Ford GT40 at $2.5 million and a 1932 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3 Monoposto at $2.1 million.

Comedian and Tonight Show host Jay Leno took the stage Saturday night to auction the first North American production model 2006 Maybach 57 S. Driving on stage with legendary racer Sir Stirling Moss, the crowd erupted into cheers, surprised by the celebrity presence at the event. Leno was also joined by Ulrich Maybach, great-grandson of founder Wilhelm Maybach, who assisted with the sale. All done in the name of charity, proceeds from the sale of the Maybach prototype went to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of America. Leno both cajoled and lightly critized the crowd who competed for the lot, reminding them to “think of the orphans” when considering a bid on the Maybach. Leno also took the charity aspect to heart, auctioning off two VIP packages to the Tonight Show that reached a final bidding of $12,000 each. An exciting turn of events came about when an auction guest announced his offer to donate $100,000 to the Boys & Girls Club and a second surprise when another generous bidder added to the excitement, donating an additional $100,000 to the cause. The Maybach 57 S sold for $550,000 to a lucky Texas collector who will be able to take delivery of the custombuilt prototype at Leno’s very own private garage. Over $350,000 was donated to the Boys & Girls Club of America, speaking volumes to the generosity of those at Maybach, RM Auctions and of RM clients.

Other chairtable aspects of the auction included the sale of an original oil on canvas by Canadian artist Alain Levesque. In colaboration with Hagerty Insurance, who commissoned and donated the painting, Alfa 2900, raised $6,000 for the newly established Collector’s Foundation.

Additional automotive highlights from the Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction included a 1962 Chaparral 1 Sports Racing Car, only one of five built of the first original series, selling for $577,500 and a 1949 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster, the first XK 120 prototype ever built, responsible for launching the Jaguar sports car dynasty selling for $440,000. Final results from the auction can be found at www.rmauctions.com.