RM Sotheby’s, the world’s leading auction house for collector cars, is finally hosting its first, much-anticipated auction event in Dubai on the 8th of March 2024. Carrying a strong international footprint thanks to its unsurpassed level of service, RM Sotheby’s presence in Dubai marks the arrival of an impressive ensemble of the most desirable cars and memorabilia in the world.
Top 10 Highlights from the 2024 RM Sotheby’s Dubai Auction 2024
Their first auction at Alserkal Avenue, an art and cultural district in Dubai, has garnered lots of attention from car collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the GCC region. We have curated a selection of the most quintessentially outstanding items from this auction that showcase automotive excellence.
1. 2015 Rolls-Royce 'Silver Spectre' Shooting Brake by Niels van Roij Design and Carat Duchatelet
$275,000 - $325,000 USD
Coachbuilding is an art that is as old as the motorcar itself. Back in the 1920s and 1930s, customers could have Rolls Royce deliver a rolling chassis to their chosen coachbuilder who would design and build a bespoke car body as per their requirements. This 2015 Rolls-Royce ‘Silver Spectre’ is a homage to the traditions and culture of coachbuilding, crafting an all-new ‘shooting brake’ version of a 2015 Rolls Royce Wraith. The body style's origins can be traced back to wagons originally crafted for horse-drawn carriages, with many coachbuilders adapting these designs for automobile use in the early 1900s.
This car was designed by Niels van Roij Design, a Dutch design house, and built by Carat Duchatelet, a Belgium-based specialist in bespoke vehicle conversion. The car reportedly took over 2500 man-hours and 18 months to complete, costing more than 300,000 Euros. Originally intended to build seven cars, the one on display at RM Sotheby's auction in Dubai, is the only one completed, making it a true one-of-a-kind. Combining the chic style of the shooting brake with Rolls-Royce sophistication, the chance to own the 'Silver Spectre' Shooting Brake is for any automotive enthusiast.
2. 2018 Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet
$700,000 - $800,000 USD
Announced at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2017, the Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet is by far the ultimate G-Wagon to ever come out of the Mercedes Factory. One of just 99 pieces made, the G650 was the first 4x4 Mercedes to wear the Maybach badge and is the most luxurious way to enjoy the dunes of Dubai.
What sets this G-Wagon apart from all other variants is its outlandish design, featuring a "Landaulet"-style retractable roof, covering the rear section of the car. The fabric roof can retract at the push of a button offering the ultimate open-air off-roading experience to its rear passengers. Benefitting from an extended wheelbase and widened body, the interior of the G650 is extravagantly designed. Unlike a 'regular' G-Wagon, the rear came fitted with two sumptuous first-class aeroplane-style recliner seats. In true Maybach style, a partition rear screen can be raised to separate the front and rear of the cabin. Powering this was a Mercedes-AMG derived 6.0-litre bi-turbo V12 engine producing 612 brake horsepower.
3. 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss
$3,000,000 - $3,500,000 USD
One of the highlights of Dubai's first RM Sotheby's auction is undoubtedly the one of only 75, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss. Inspired by the 1955 Mille Miglia victory of racing legend Sir Stirling Moss, where he decimated the competition in the Mercedes 300 SLR. This car not only pays homage to that iconic victory but is also the rarest version of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. It was offered exclusively to existing SLR owners and delivered an extreme driving experience that was unlike any other road car.
Like the 300 SLR, it draws inspiration from, all creature comforts of the car were sacrificed in the pursuit of performance. The car was placed on a rigorous diet, with its windscreen and roof removed giving it that iconic speedster style. This along with extensive use of carbon fibre for the bodywork and underside, along with a new aerodynamic package resulted in a weight saving of 200 kg.
Powered by the same 641 horsepower producing 5.4-litre AMG V8 from the SLR McLaren 722, the car achieved a 0-100 km/h time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 354 km/h. When the vehicle was tested by ‘Car’ magazine journalists, they remarked that reaching these extreme speeds would only be possible for those "whose neck can bear it".
4. 2023 Aston Martin Valkyrie Coupé
$2,900,000 - $3,300,000 USD
Born from a collaboration between Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing, the Aston Martin Valkyrie epitomises automotive excellence, offering the most brutal F1-inspired car that can wear number plates. The Valkyrie is the brainchild of legendary aerodynamicist, Formula One engineer and current chief technical director of Red Bull Racing, Adrian Newey. He is responsible for making the most dominant F1 car in history, the Red Bull Racing RB19 which won 21 out of 22 races it competed in.
The development of the Valkyrie pushed boundaries, having to create every element from scratch as there was nothing comparable that had been attempted before. Initially conceived in 2014, the first customer car was completed in 2021 showcasing the painstaking amount of time it took to develop such a piece.
The Valkyrie comes with a bespoke 1000 horsepower 6.5-litre Cosworth V12 engine that can rev up to 11,100 rpm. The power output was further increased to 1,160 horsepower with the help of an electric motor developed by Rimac that boosts power in a similar way to F1's KERS technology. All this power was channelled through a 7-speed sequential gearbox allowing the Valkyrie to achieve speeds exceeding 400 km/h and 0-100 km/r speed of just 2.6 seconds.
The exterior of the car is striking and is a result of optimising aerodynamic efficiency and a heavy focus on weight savings. Meticulously hand-built, only 150 examples of the Valkyrie will ever be made. The car is finished in Scintilla Silver colour with Speed Red accents and is the first Valkyrie ever offered at an auction.
5. 2016 Koenigsegg Agera RSR
$2,800,000 - $3,400,000 USD
Ever since the launch of the Agera platform in 2010, Koenigsegg has been elevated to global fame. It cemented its position as one of the world's leading hypercar manufacturers and is known to build some of the fastest cars in existence. Top Gear magazine crowned the original Agera as 'Hypercar of the Year', beating competition from well-established rival companies that long pre-date the 1994 Swedish company.
Throughout the years the factory has continued to carefully improve the Agera platform, creating multiple variants each faster and more powerful than the one that came before. First came the Agera R, followed by the Agera S, the One:1 and finally the ultimate version, the Agera RS in 2015.
Even though the car boasted a 5.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 1,160 horsepower, Koenigsegg engineers wanted to push the note further and offered the '1-Megawatt' package on the RS models. It essentially increased the car's power output to 1,341 horsepower which equates to 1 Megawatt. This led to a factory-tuned Agera RS snatching the title of the Fastest Car in the world from the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport when it finally reached an average speed of 447 km/h.
The team built only 27 Agera RSs along with three additional Agera RSRs which were exclusively sold to clients in Japan. The Agera RSR featured the same power plant as the Agera RS but benefited from additional aerodynamic fine-tuning and included the rear spoiler from the One:1.
6. 2017 Lamborghini Centenario LP770-4 Coupé
$2,000,000 - $2,500,000 USD
Built as a tribute to the company's founder Ferruccio Lamborghini's centenary year, the Lamborghini Centenario is arguably one of the best-looking modern Lamborghinis to come out of Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy. With just 20 coupés built for the entire world, the Centenario showcased an aggressive new design with an all-carbon fibre bodywork featuring a distinctive rear diffuser and a twin-plane front splitter. The car also featured centre-lock wheels with carbon blades specifically designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency. It was the first Lamborghini to have three exhaust tips.
Though based on the Aventador platform, the car broke ground on new features that would later be incorporated into future Lamborghini models. The Centenario was the first Lamborghini to be fitted with four-wheel steering and featured new technologies in the cockpit including a digital centre screen that offered track telemetry, data-logging, and lap timing facilities. Powering this raging bull is the screaming 6.5-litre V12 engine from the Aventador, further developed to push 759 horsepower. The car truly looks like a piece of art, and this specific one at Dubai's first RM Sotheby's auction features an all-exposed carbon-fibre bodywork finished in satin black with distinctive red accents.
7. 1935 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Recreation by Erik Koux
$700,000 - $900,000 USD
Crafted by Erik Koux in 1992, this Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic 'La Voiture Noire' recreation, commissioned by a Dutch collector, emulates one of the rarest and most beautiful cars ever in existence. This is the 1935 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupé.
Erik Koux is renowned in Bugatti circles and is known to produce exact replicas of Bugatti's most esteemed models. Only four Type 57SC Atlantic Coupes were ever built, with the fourth one dubbed 'La Voiture Noire' built by Ettore Bugatti for himself. The car disappeared during World War and is yet to be found leaving only three in existence, making this stunning recreation to be the closest thing to the real car.
The car used the underpinnings of the original car and manufactured a new Type 57SC chassis. Utilising a Type 57 Galibier chassis, it features a painstakingly handmade, all-aluminium bodywork and a custom-built engine with Type 57SC specifications that remain true to some original parts.
The car is not just a look-alike but features a significant amount of original Bugatti parts in it, with the rest being precisely manufactured duplicates. This car stands as a faithful recreation of one of the most revered cars in history and would be an impressive acquisition for any serious car collector.
8. 2004 Michael Schumacher Schuberth Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Helmet
$30,000 - $40,000 USD | Offered Without Reserve
Certified by Jens Munser Designs, this helmet is an authentic piece from Michael Schumacher's championship-winning year in 2004. The helmet was worn during the European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, where Micheal Schumacher secured pole position, set the fastest lap, and clinched victory. Additionally, it served as a spare during the Hungarian Grand Prix. This item offers an exclusive chance for automotive enthusiasts and F1 fans to own a piece of racing history affiliated with one of the biggest legends in motorsport.
9. 2000 Michael Schumacher Scuderia Ferrari OMP Formula 1 Racing Suit
$20,000 - $30,000 USD | Offered Without Reserve
The lot at RM Sotheby's inaugural Dubai auction, features an authentic racing suit worn by seven times Formula 1 champion, Michael Schumacher. This cherished piece of memorabilia, impeccably preserved, bears witness to Schumacher's legacy. Worn during the 1999 French Grand Prix at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, the racing suit symbolises Micheal Schumacher's prowess in Formula 1 history. Its pristine condition ensures its significance remains intact, offering enthusiasts a rare opportunity to own a piece of motorsport history.
10. 2022 Ferrari 812 Competizione
$1,100,000 - $1,300,000 USD
In an era of downsizing and hybridisation of car powertrains, any new V12 should be cherished, especially when it comes from the prestigious factory of the prancing horse. The Ferrari 812 Competizione is the ultimate front-mid engine Berlinetta , made with the sole purpose of delivering maximum performance and an exhilarating driving experience. It houses the most powerful naturally aspirated V12 engine ever built by Ferrari, upgraded to 819 horsepower with its rev limit raised from 8,900 rpm to 9,500 rpm. Major changes were made to the internals of the engine, featuring lighter parts and carbon coating for the camshafts reducing friction and increasing durability.
This exclusive car was a limited run of only 999 units, all spoken for as soon as it was launched. The car featured here has been tastefully specced featuring multiple exposed carbon fibre parts on the exterior as well as the interiors, including the highly desirable carbon fibre wheels. The Pirelli tyres feature unique yellow detailing complementing the central Giallo Fly yellow stripe bordered with Nero black. The interiors reflect the theme of the exterior featuring Rosso FX red Alcantara upholstery contrasted with yellow accents.
Undoubtedly RM Sotheby’s is a leader in its class, raising the bar with its exclusive offerings of collector cars and automotive memorabilia. They have consistently broken records at their events, and we believe their inaugural Dubai auction is likely to follow the same suit.
