Since hosting the first blue-riband auction in London back in 2007, RM Sotheby’s has become a staple of the city’s annual events calendar. The event continues to raise the bar for itself year after year, hitting an incredible high in 2022 with the Gran Turismo Collection, which was followed by the Factory Fresh Collection last year and the Cliveden House event in June. The upcoming auction, to be held over the first two days of November, is expected to be the best one yet, in part due to the excitement surrounding its venue – the newly opened Peninsula London in Belgravia, situated only moments away from Buckingham Palace. The combination of a prestigious five-star venue and an incredible collection of classic vehicles is bound to be a winning one. Here are a few of the finest lots that will go up for auction next month.
1936 Delahaye 135 S Works
Delahaye was a French luxury automobile maker that began developing high-end racers in 1894 and briefly shifted away from the racing world after the death of founder Emile Delahaye in 1905. In the 1930s, the company made a return to the track and developed what would become its most famous model, the Type 135, which had several variations like the Type 135 MS. This vehicle is one of only two 135 S Works ever produced, and it was driven by Albert Tivo, the renowned French driver who had a long association with Bugatti (and eventually had a model – Bugatti Tivo – named after him). The car has an illustrious racing history: it competed in the 1939 and 1949 editions of Le Mans, was presented at the first Goodwood Members’ Meeting, took Thailand’s Prince Bira to victory at Donington, and had a starring role in a short film where it was piloted by Jude Law. The 135 S Works is eligible for some of the world’s most prestigious events, and could potentially return to Le Mans.
1963 Aston Martin DB4 Convertible
This is one of the rarest Aston Martin models in the world, with only 70 units produced. Additionally, it holds the distinction of being the only model that has a DB4 GT engine fitted directly from the factory. The engine was replaced in 1967 with a standard model but apart from that, there is little information on the car until after 1970. It was sold to an executive at Hewlett Packard a few years later and shipped to the United States, returning to the UK in 1984 for a brief period before eventually making its way back to the States. The current owner of the DB4 acquired the vehicle in 2014 and put it through an extensive restoration process. A GT-specification engine was reinstalled, and the original Midnight Blue exterior and Red Connolly interiors were restored as well. The car will come with the original factory build sheet, photographs taken over various periods of ownership, and a full restoration book detailing the work that was done.
1934 MG K3 Magnette Two-Seater
This seemingly humble automobile is one of the most sought-after competition models by MG and packs more of a punch than its diminutive appearance might suggest. Boosted by a supercharged six-cylinder engine, it is seen as the David to many racing Goliaths. Originally commissioned as part of a 3-car team to participate in the Mille Miglia, the K3 had several modifications made to the original design, including a low-mounted exhaust, rerouted fuel lines, and a fog light. Of the three cars that were produced, this is the only one that has retained all of the modifications. Not long after its Mille Miglia run, the car was bought by a noted Australian collector, where it acquired its burgundy colour and a new engine. It participated in several Australian races and was eventually returned to the UK in 1999. While it has undergone restoration work on some of its parts, it’s believed that the body has never been removed or suffered any damage, making this an exceptionally rare find.
2009 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series
One of the newest lots at the auction, this is one of 350 examples that were produced and one of only 12 that were delivered to the UK. The Mercedes SL was modelled on the R230, and for the Black Series, the body was widened by flaring the wheel arches out. The result was an imposing look that was further enhanced by an Obsidian Black finish and a leather interior in Black and Anthracite. The SL 65 AMG already had a hefty engine capable of delivering 612 horsepower, but for the Black Series, this was cranked up to an impressive 672 hp, which was offset by the speed being electronically limited to a maximum of 199 kph. First delivered in July 2009, the car saw steady use until 2017, after which it was rarely out on the road. It was last serviced in June 2024 and it is being sold with a complete history and owner’s guides.
1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Touring Limousine by James Young
The Phantom V, produced between 1959 and 1968, was sold as a bare chassis on which custom bodies could be built. James Young, one of the most notable coachbuilders to work with Rolls-Royce, designed this model as a traditional touring limousine with some minor modifications to accommodate a larger cabin. It was finished in a two-tone colour scheme of Black and Garnet, with beige leather interiors. The factory model also included air conditioning, radios for front and rear passenger compartments, hydraulically operated seats, silk curtains, and a glassware set. Believed to be the 502nd out of 516 total models produced, it was delivered in 1967 to a Scottish dealer and kept a low profile with little information available about its early ownership. The car did have a long-term owner for a span of two decades until 1999 before changing hands, and was purchased by the Dean Kronsbein Collection in 2014. The renowned Rolls-Royce and Bentley servicing specialist P&A Wood worked on the car in recent years, and it is now presented in its original finish.
