RM Sotheby’s has kicked off its 2025 auction calendar with a strong $31.6 million in total sales with a 95% result in Arizona, where it offered 88 cars at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa on 27 January.
Top seller of the sale was a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta ‘Tour de France’ by Scaglietti, which made $3,772,500. One of only 28 single-louvre, covered-headlight examples, it was delivered in a unique Oro Chiaro over Bordeaux leather combination. The car’s history file boasted a third-in-class finish at the 1960 1000 KM Buenos Aires, as well as a win at the 1958 Aosta-Pila Hillclimb. Unlike most cars of this ilk, this example did retain a great many original components, although the engine block was not original.
Another Ferrari highlight of the sale was somewhat more modern. The Ferrari 458 Speciale is a particularly special car regardless, but this exceptional 2015 example achieved a world record auction price of $786,000 – well above its pre-sale estimate of $400,000-475,000. It was finished in a rare Blu Tour de France with NART livery stripes, with plenty of optional exposed carbonfibre elements from the factory, along with tan interior with special-order blue trim. This unique spec, combined with a low mileage of 5106 miles, drove up the bidding.
Group B homologation specials are usually a firm favourite at auction, and a 1984 Audi Sport quattro that sold for $758,500 continued that trend. This road car, ordered by Audi Club of North America founder Frank Beddor Jr. and raced extensively by Steve Beddor, surpassed its pre-sale estimate of $375,000-475,000.
A rare 1931 Bentley 8-Litre Convertible Victoria by Murphy also set a new auction record for the model, with a final price of $3,195,000. The only 8-Litre Bentley with American coachwork, this car was meticulously restored by Bentley specialists R.C. Moss and retains its original body, chassis, engine, and gearbox.
For the full results, see rmsothebys.com
Top 10 sellers
| 1 | 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta ‘Tour de France’ by Scaglietti | $3,772,500 |
| 2 | 1931 Bentley 8-Litre Convertible Victoria by Murphy | $3,195,000 |
| 3 | 1939 Bugatti Type 57 C Atalante by Gangloff | $2,370,000 |
| 4 | 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | $2,040,000 |
| 5 | 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | $1,325,000 |
| 6 | 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | $1,259,000 |
| 7 | 2019 McLaren Senna | $1,077,500 |
| 8 | 2020 McLaren Senna GTR | $973,000 |
| 9 | 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale | $786,000 |
| 10 | 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series | $775,000 |
