Wednesday 25th May 2011

Buyers go nuts at Villa d'Este

23 million Euros dropped in two hours at auction spectacular

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Yep, in just 120 minutes of rare and exotic buying mayhem, RM auctions posted 23,000,000 Euros (or just over 20,000,000 of Her Majesty's pounds) at the famed Auction and Concours d'Elegance at Cernobbio in Italy.

Chief amongst the sales honours was a 1955 Ferrari 375MM Berlinetta (3.36m Euros), a 1938 Talbot Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe (3.1m Euros), and a 1959 Ferrari GT LWB California (2.52m Euros). Each of those is, of course, an ultra-desirable car and the exclusive preserve of the extremely well-heeled, but they weren't necessarily the stars of the show. We reckon that honour might go to the line-up of wild and stunning Bertone concept cars like the Lamborghini Marzal, Bravo, and Athon. Did any of us not draw something that resembled at least one of those cars when we were kids? Ok, so ours probably had guns on them as well... The least-expensive of that trio was the Athon at 347,200 Euros.

From a competition point of view, the car to have was undoubtedly the 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ Coupe with extensive racing provenance, which made a relatively pedestrian 627,200 Euros (all prices quoted are hammer prices plus buyers fee by the way). Mind you, that's still a world record price for a TZ.

We'd love to know what it's like to rub shoulders with that crowd and witness the cars going on the block, but one word of warning if you're thinking of heading along next year. We know of a bloke who had a car in last year's concours d'elegance and who stayed in the Villa d'Este Hotel for three nights whilst his car was on show. The bill was 7,000 Euros... including the bar tab of course. Ouch.

If those kind of expenses are just beyond your means, you might prefer to go to the follow-up at the Salon Prive Luxury Car Show at Syon Park in West London on the 23rd June where the theme is 'Quintessentially English' and the auction will feature only British cars. I say!

[Flat2theMat]

Those Stratos prototypes still look awesome!

[HowMuchLonger]

PH said:

We know of a bloke who had a car in last year's concours d'elegance and who stayed in the Villa d'Este Hotel for three nights whilst his car was on show. The bill was 7,000 Euros... including the bar tab of course.

His car probably appreciated by more than that due to its presence.

[trunks82]

what recession?

[VPower]

But was Ole Ginger top there?

[mybrainhurts]

With his white rattle can...?

[Straighteight]

trunks82 said:

what recession?

At what point are the so-called super-rich going to work out that splashing the cash is, er, not very tactful?

[richtea78]

Straighteight said:

At what point are the so-called super-rich going to work out that splashing the cash is, er, not very tactful?

At the point where rich people have to care what the poor think, ie when hell freezes over.

[wackojacko]

250

[Comfortably Dumb]

T150
I'd have one of these over any of the super expensive Ferraris or Bugattis.

[BMWill]

Had a look at the Syon event, with a view to go... Tickets start at 200 quid! Alright for some I guess...

[Jellymonster]

could someone tell me what the orange one in the background of the last photo is called please?

[IDrinkPetrol]

Jellymonster said:

could someone tell me what the orange one in the background of the last photo is called please?

if the "orange one" is the metallic burnt orange wedge that you can see behind the Marzal then it's the 1970 Bertone Zero - the car that slowly became the Stratos

[IDrinkPetrol]

Jellymonster said:

could someone tell me what the orange one in the background of the last photo is called please?

If however you meant the "orange one" right at the back of the pic I'm gonna have to say Ferrari 275 Gtb/4 (which looks red in other pictures)

[AbarthChris]

Straighteight said:

At what point are the so-called super-rich going to work out that splashing the cash is, er, not very tactful?

[Fetchez la vache]

AbarthChris said:

Straighteight said:

At what point are the so-called super-rich going to work out that splashing the cash is, er, not very tactful?

Quite. They should put it in a big pot under their bed.

[DanCLK230]

BMWill said:

Had a look at the Syon event, with a view to go... Tickets start at 200 quid! Alright for some I guess...

It's a fair wedge of cash, but, if you actually look at it, its not that bad. You get a full day up close with all the cars, there's an RM Auction, Concours, Supercar Lawn, all the champagne you can drink, all the lobster you can eat, scones and tea don't you know...all included in the price, you wouldn't get that in many restaurants.

I'm definitely up for it. There's word of getting to drive some of the cars too.

[Jellymonster]

IDrinkPetrol said:

1970 Bertone Zero

Thats the one... thanks

[Shewie]

Lamborghini Marzal... Cool, I had a Dinky toy version of that when I was a nipper!!!

[the Fantom]

That TZ

[jdw1234]

Jellymonster said:

IDrinkPetrol said:

1970 Bertone Zero

Thats the one... thanks

Michael Jackson turns into that in Moonwalker.