World-Record Ferrari 212 leads line at RM’s Villa Erba sale

Hammered away at a World-Record €6.72m (including premium) by the ever-enthusiastic Max Girardo, a 1952 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta helped RM achieve a strong €26.7m sale total and 87% sell-through rate at its 2015 Villa Erba sale…

California... stalling?

It wasn’t all good news, though. Unlike the charming, Touring-bodied Barchetta, the SWB Cal’ Spider was unable to take advantage of the idyllic setting, with a high bid of €10.25m too low to breach its lower estimate – or, more importantly, its heady reserve. The same fate befell the yellow 250 SWB Competizione (bid up to €9.1m), leaving the 250 GT flag to be flown by the smart ‘Pino Verde’ Lusso (€2.01m) and the Series II Cabriolet (€1.56m).

Falling foal of the youngsters?

Modern collectable Ferraris enjoyed another vote of market confidence, with the ‘fab four’ selling well: the 288 GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo all marched beyond the magic million (as did a 2.7 RS Lightweight, the Fiat 8V Cabrio by Vignale, and a Miura P400 S – just). But when a Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta – a model that has only been in production for a few months – sells for €515,200, isn’t that going a step too far?

From tropical colours to topical contours

Elsewhere, the 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C Villa d’Este Coupé made full use of its topicality by selling for an above-estimate €784,000, and the appropriate ‘pistachio green’ hue of the 1974 Lancia Stratos no doubt contributed towards a strong €431,200. However, the unique Italian bodywork of the BMW-Glas 3000 V8 failed to command enough interest to sell on the shoreline – perhaps the backdrop was better-suited to the ex-Bardot Riva Florida, which sailed beyond estimate to an impressive €146,250.

Photos: Rémi Dargegen for Classic Driver