This month, RM Sotheby’s is launching the first of its monthly sealed drop auctions, showcasing a limited selection of one-off cars from around the world with unique design specs. The auction will take place during the last week of the month, with bids opening on Monday 24 March and closing on Friday 28 March. Discerning buyers have an incredible opportunity to add the rarest cars to their collections, vying for their chosen prize with complete discretion.
Below we look at the lots that will be available in this inaugural auction, which include a distinctively designed McLaren P1 that is being sold by its original owner, and a Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL 5.0 AMG that was built to bespoke specifications for the CEO of AMG North America.
2015 McLaren P1
In 2013, McLaren entered the hybrid hypercar arena, following in the footsteps of the Ferrari LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spyder. While it was the last of the trio to be launched, it arguably made the biggest impact. Unlike the Ferrari and Porsche vehicles, which improved on existing designs, the P1 introduced a completely new design language for McLaren that would carry over to its future models. It was a bold reinvention both aesthetically and mechanically, and has come to be almost as revered as its predecessor, the F1. Ultimately, McLaren’s goal was to launch a car that would have a lasting impact on the automotive world and on that front, the P1 surpassed its contemporaries with ease.
Only 375 cars were produced, adding to the model’s exclusivity. Those who were lucky enough to purchase them brand new considered the idea of modifications and making their vehicles bespoke. The most obvious option was to match the specifications of the F1 - still the gold standard amongst McLarens - or to choose one of the custom design options offered by the brand. For some owners, that just wasn’t enough.
Such was the case with the owner of this car, based in Qatar, who went with a completely unique set of specs. Only a few McLaren P1s were finished in matte paint; the owner chose a vibrant matte green. For the exterior accents and the interiors, a vibrant shade of papaya orange that has come to be known as ‘McLaren Orange’ was chosen. Even the logos on the front and back of the vehicle, which would typically be red, were painted orange. The resulting combination carries a visual edge that no other P1 possesses.
This car is being sold from the original owner’s collection, with an odometer reading of 130 km. It is virtually new and is a stunningly unique representation of a model that holds a special place in McLaren’s history.
1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S
This Porsche 911 Turbo S was originally delivered to Brumos, a renowned Porsche dealer in Jacksonville, Florida. It was one of 183 US models produced and one of only 3 to have its finished in the elegant Viola Metallic colour. The interiors are wholly unique, featuring Rubicon Grey leather throughout, accented by Speed Yellow stitching, seatbelts, and trim. It also features a digital sound package, heated racing-style seats, Litronic headlights, embossed headrests, and 18-inch light-alloy wheels.
This edition of the Turbo S was the last of the line to be air-cooled, with several technological and mechanical upgrades that made it the most advanced model of its kind.
The car has only had 5 owners, ending up in the hands of the consignor in April 2014. The car has been used in fair weather conditions and has recorded fewer than 26,000 miles. Porsche Westmont in Illinois has regularly maintained the vehicle, in addition to Barnaba Autosport. In the summer of 2022, Barnaba performed extensive mechanical servicing and installed new components.
This is a prime choice for the serious Porsche enthusiast due to its striking colour combination, bespoke design elements, factory assembly by Porsche Exclusive, and fantastic performance. It is among the last examples of what is considered to be the greatest era for Porsche 911.
1984 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL 5.0 AMG “Blueberry”
In the 1980s, German automaker AMG saw rising demand from American customers, which led Hans Werner Aufrecht, one of the founders of AMG, to seek out a US partner. This ultimately led to the founding of AMG North America in collaboration with Richard Buxbaum of Classic Motors in Illinois, whose custom-built ‘Westmont’ cars became a sensation, combining the best of German engineering and American showmanship.
Over the course of their partnership Buxbaum mentioned one day that it was hard to find a Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL in ‘great colours’. The comment stuck with Aufrecht, who made up his mind to develop a singular creation for his business partner.
Aufrecht sourced a German-made 500 SEL in the very rare Lapis Metallic Blue, only available on limited models due to production difficulties. The chrome trim on the exterior was also carefully colour-matched to the same shade. Its unique hue earned the car the moniker ‘Blueberry’, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. All of the interiors were finished in Orion Grey leather, with lighter and darker accents in some parts. Even the zebrano wood on the dashboard and the wooden console storage box were redone in pickled grey.
Blueberry was meant as a Christmas gift for the Buxbaums with an invoice that was, cleverly, addressed to Richard's wife, Robin. It saw plenty of use over the next 15 years as both a family and business car, before it was sold to billionaire Rick Cohen, an AMG client who was seeking a car in a unique colour. Five years after use, Cohen decided to upgrade to an even newer car and Blueberry returned to the Buxbaums. They sold it again shortly after to Mercedes-Benz specialist John Quay, who had helped maintain the car when it was part of Cohen’s fleet. Quay used the car from the early 90s until about 2007, after which it was put away in a covered barn.
The Buxbaums would come to regret their sale for purely sentimental reasons, as Blueberry was such a unique gift from Hans Werner Aufrecht (and the only such gift he ever bestowed upon Richard Buxbaum for the entirety of their partnership). They tried to get the car back from Quay to no avail until October 2022, when he called Richard to come and collect it, suggesting that only he could give it the restoration it deserved. Working with two of the top restoration experts in the greater Chicago area, Richard painstakingly restored Blueberry to near-original condition over a period of 26 months.
This car not only has a distinct and beautiful aesthetic, it holds a unique place in automotive history as a personal gift given by one of the most revered European automakers to the man who helped make AMG a household name in America.
