Tag Archives: RM Sotheby's

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Inside the “Tailored for Speed” Collection: 42 Supercars Headed to Auction

Supercar collections are nothing new, but every so often one comes along that feels less like an enthusiast’s garage and more like a museum with a private key. This November, RM Sotheby’s will put the spotlight on exactly that: the “Tailored for Speed Collection,” a 42-car assemblage of the world’s most desirable exotics, quietly tucked away in Switzerland until now.

Recently, Chris Harris was granted access to this vault of horsepower, and if his reaction is any indication, we’re looking at one of the most impressive single-owner lineups ever to cross an auction block.

Ferrari Obsession, Perfected

While the collection features Bugattis, Paganis, and a handful of other top-shelf machinery, it doesn’t take long to figure out where the owner’s heart lies. Of the 42 cars, 33 wear Ferrari’s prancing horse badge—and not just any Ferraris. We’re talking about the kind of machines that rarely leave Maranello’s factory gates without instantly becoming collectible.

The star of the show? A 1998 Ferrari 333 SP, one of just 40 built. A legitimate endurance racer that claimed victories in the 1999 Sports Racing World Cup, it’s expected to hammer for $5.5 to $6.5 million.

But the 333 SP isn’t alone in representing Ferrari’s track pedigree. The auction lineup also includes an FXX-K Evo, an FXX Evo, and a 599 XX, each a factory-built track weapon that rewrote performance benchmarks in their eras. Estimates peg them between $3.5 million and $5.5 million apiece.

Then there are the road-going legends: a 2017 LaFerrari Aperta (projected at $5.5 million), the Daytona SP3, a classic F40, and a fresh 812 Competizione A. Throw in rarities like the SA Aperta, F12tdf, and even a 488 GTE Evo race car, and it’s clear this is no ordinary Ferrari fan’s garage—it’s practically an archive of Maranello’s greatest hits.

Not Just Maranello

Still, the Tailored for Speed Collection doesn’t stop at the Cavallino Rampante. From Modena, we pivot to Modena’s eccentric neighbor: Pagani. One highlight is a Huayra Roadster BC in Francia Blue with exposed carbon accents, estimated between $4.0 and $4.4 million. Alongside it sits the ferocious Huayra R (one of only 30 made) and the recently delivered Utopia, making this arguably one of the strongest Pagani trios outside of Horacio’s own factory.

Bugatti is no less represented. Leading the charge is a 2023 Chiron Super Sport finished in blue carbon fiber, a car that looks like it was hewn from a block of sapphire. With just 516 kilometers on the odometer, it could bring $4.4 million.

And because no modern supercar collection feels complete without some curveballs, the auction will also feature a Lamborghini Sian FKP 37, a Huracán Tecnica 60th Anniversary Edition, a Bentley Continental GT3-R, and even a Mercedes-AMG GT2 Pro.

A Collector’s Legacy, by Hammer Fall

RM Sotheby’s hasn’t revealed the collector’s identity, but judging by the curation, the mystery owner has a knack for timing. Many of these cars are not only rare but represent transitional moments in supercar history: analog-to-digital Ferraris, the rise of hybrid hypercars, the bespoke craftsmanship of Pagani, and the limited-edition excess of Lamborghini.

When the gavel falls in November, the Tailored for Speed Collection is expected to bring in several hundred million dollars in total. More than that, though, it will mark the end of an era for a collector whose passion leaned heavily toward Maranello, but never forgot to leave space for sapphire-colored Bugattis and hand-sculpted Paganis.

Whether you’re a buyer with a few million to spare or just a dreamer flipping through the catalog, one thing is certain: this is the kind of auction that reminds us why car culture is as much about emotion as it is about engineering.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

Auctions

RM Sotheby’s to Sell One of the World’s Most Complete BMW M Collections

BMW’s M division has always been about more than just horsepower and lap times. For the right kind of enthusiast, it’s a culture, a lineage, and a family tree of some of the most compelling driver’s cars ever built. Later this month in Munich, RM Sotheby’s is giving collectors a rare chance to buy into that heritage—quite literally.

Dubbed the “Best of M Collection,” the auction house will present a curated lineup of classic and modern M cars, spanning everything from homologation specials to low-mileage icons. The sale reads like a love letter to BMW’s Motorsport division, and judging by the lineup, the original collector was particularly smitten with the M3.

At the dawn of the collection sits the legendary 2002 Turbo, the car that laid the groundwork for BMW’s turbocharged future. Not far behind it is the BMW M1 from 1980—the first car to officially wear the M badge. The M1’s mid-engine layout and Giugiaro-designed wedge body made it one of the most exotic Bavarians ever produced.

From there, the spotlight shifts heavily toward the M3. The 1990 M3 Sport Evolution and 1992 E30 M3 Cabrio headline the early ’90s, while the collector clearly couldn’t resist the second-gen cars either: a 1995 E36 M3 Cabrio in Dakar Yellow and an E36 M3 GT in British Racing Green, the latter showing just over 70,000 kilometers—high mileage in this lineup, but still modest for a 30-year-old performance car.

The turn of the millennium brought more gems, including a 2000 Z3 M Roadster in Dakar Yellow, originally delivered to Japan and barely broken in with just over 3,000 kilometers. With an upper estimate nearing €80,000, RM Sotheby’s seems confident that rarity and condition will do much of the talking. Collectors will also have the chance to bid on a 2002 Z3 M Coupe (“Clownshoe”), an E46 M3 Cabrio, and a 2003 M3 CSL, arguably one of the greatest driver’s cars BMW ever built. Rounding out that year is an Alpina Roadster V8, a Z8-based rarity expected to fetch around €380,000.

The modern era of M isn’t neglected either. The E92 M3 GTS (2010) stands out as one of fewer than 150 ever built, and this one has barely stretched its legs with just 176 kilometers. Even more jaw-dropping is the 2011 M3 CRT, with only 168 kilometers on the odometer. Pair those with a 2012 1M Coupe and a 2016 M2, and you’ve got a generational bridge that most enthusiasts only dream about.

Later highlights include the 2016 M4 GTS, a 2017 M3 30 Jahre Edition, and two present-day halo cars: the 2023 M4 CSL and the M4 Edition 50 Jahre BMW M, celebrating half a century of Motorsport magic.

Taken as a whole, the “Best of M Collection” isn’t just an auction—it’s a time capsule. With everything from homologation heroes to modern-day limited editions, the lineup underscores the enduring appeal of BMW’s M cars. And with estimates soaring into the millions, it’s safe to say bidders in Munich will need deep pockets—and maybe a pit crew of accountants—to bring any of these icons home.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

Auctions

Ferrari F50: Ralph Lauren’s Yellow Unicorn Shatters Records

This past weekend, someone with a very large wallet and an even larger sense of taste spent $9.24 million on a Ferrari F50. Yes, that’s right — nearly four million more than what these cars typically command. You could call it madness, but we call it inevitability.

Because this isn’t just any F50. This is the fashion-forward unicorn once owned by Ralph Lauren — a man who, when he wasn’t redefining American prep, was amassing one of the most jaw-droppingly valuable Ferrari collections on Earth.

And what a spec it is. Out of the 349 F50s ever built, just 55 were tailored for the American market. And of those, only two were painted in Giallo Modena yellow — this being one of them. So yes, rarity cranked up to 11.

Lauren eventually let go of the car back in 2003, and since then it’s spent most of its life in hiding. In fact, the last time it showed its face in public was in 2009, before disappearing into the quiet suburbs of Virginia. Cue this auction, and the world finally remembered just how intoxicating the F50 really is.

In preparation for its big debut, Ferrari Central Florida gave it a fresh dose of TLC in late 2024: new fuel tank, brakes, and rubber. And it’s got the Ferrari Classiche certification, because obviously. Despite being almost 30 years old, the odometer reads just 8,690 kilometers. In Ferrari-speak, that’s barely run in.

It wasn’t always like this, of course. For years the F50 lived in the shadow of its lairy older brother, the F40, and its futuristic younger sibling, the Enzo. Critics once moaned about its looks, its lack of a turbocharged punch, or the fact that it felt too much like a race car on the road. Today, those same critics are probably kicking themselves, because values are now skyrocketing faster than the rev counter on its 4.7-litre naturally aspirated V12 — an engine with genuine Formula 1 DNA.

For context, the previous record for an F50 was a mere $5.5 million, set earlier this year by an example with just 2,174 kilometers on the clock. This new sale obliterates that, and suddenly the F50 isn’t the “forgotten middle child” of Ferrari hypercars anymore. It’s the one everyone wants.

So, what have we learned? Simple: if you’ve got an F50 sitting quietly in your garage, congratulations — you’re sitting on a gold mine. If you don’t… well, best start designing polo shirts.

Source: RM Sotheby’s