The auction organised by RM Auctions in association with Sotheby's at Ferrari's Fiorano Circuit in Maranello on Saturday proved to be extraordinarily successful. Not only were almost all of the cars put up for auction sold but they also achieved record prices: the 330 TRI/LM Testa Rossa Spyder, the last front-engined car to win at Le Mans, went for 7 million Euro (including taxes and auction fees); the 1953 340/375 Berlinetta Competizione in the Carrera Panamericana livery was sold for 4,200,000 Euro; the 340 MM Touring for 2,350,000 Euro; and two splendid 250 SWB Scagliettis reached prices of 1.9 million and 2.1 million Euro respectively.

There was also very heated bidding for the yellow 1971 Daytona Spider which went for in excess of 1 million Euro, while the famous 1970 512 S, one of the great protagonists of the World Sports-Prototype Championship, was sold for 2.7 million Euro and the "little" Dino Sport, with a capacity of just under two litres, went to a Japanese collector for 2.4 million Euro.

The memorabilia section attracted enormous attention from collectors too with the F1 steering wheel achieving in excess of 60,000 Euro and the bidding for a 1:2 scale model of the F1 car made for wind tunnel testing reaching over the 47,000 Euro mark.

Other unusual lots that caught the eye and imagination of bidders included a poster for the Cuban GP (15,000 Euro), an old Ferrari watch (12,000 Euro) and the tandem made by Colnago for the Ferrari Store (in excess of 10,000 Euro). Last but far from least was the Mille Miglia Cup that Luca di Montezemolo wanted to buy for the Galleria Ferrari and which RM Auctions co-founder wanted to give the Company as a gift, was sold for 30,000 euro while the 599 GTB Fiorano that starred in the 2006 Panamerican 20,000 tour - still complete with decals and still with a slighter higher set-up to cope with the tough Andean roads - went under the hammer for 300,000 Euro.
 

Filippo Lotti, Managing Director, Sotheby’s Italy, commented: “We are delighted with the results of today’s sale at Maranello, which are testimony to Sotheby’s unique association with RM Auctions and its relationship with Ferrari, which was established two years ago at Maranello. Each company’s global expertise and knowledge has contributed to the tremendous prices and overall results achieved, and we very much look forward to working with RM Auctions and Ferrari in the future.”

“The success of this event was made possible through the collaboration of a great team from RM, Ferrari and Sotheby’s,” remarked company founder Rob Myers. Mike Fairbairn, cofounder of RM Auctions, “This sale was important on many levels. Aside from some new world records, we accomplished our mission of introducing Europe to the RM way of business with excitement, professionalism and commitment.” “In particular, Max Girardo’s experience in the European market helped to adopt RM’s North American style auction this new arena.”

Attendees of the auction preview were treated to an exclusive demonstration by Ferrari’s top F1 test driver Luca Badoer who delighted the audience and international journalists with a few laps around the famous Pista di Fiorano race track in Maranello driving the 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM. Other historic laps were made by other auction cars including the 1953 Ferrari 340 MM and the 1987 F40 Prototype.