This past weekend RM Auctions carried out its inaugural sale at the Villa d'Este concourse in Cernobbio, Italy. The event featured a catalog to make amazing automobile lovers drool. On sale were a veritable fleet of rare and historically significant automobiles. Several of the vehicles went for multi-millions of dollars.

A highly envisioned event

Several were excited for the auction to come around. Collectors were especially excited. Automobile correspondent Paul Lienert, said before the event, "The first-ever Villa d'Este sale will feature the crème de la crème of classic European hardware."

Rare Ford roadster prized

Before the auction occurred, many collectors considered the highlight of the sale, held on May 21, to be a rare 1965 Ford GT40 Works prototype roadster. The vehicle was known as a works entrant in the Targa Florio. This was in 1965. The auto had two pilots. This integrated Bob Bondurant and Sir John Whitmore. Although it was among the top sellers, by the time the dust settled it had not topped the sales at the much-anticipated event.

Some cars cost millions to buy

Millions of dollars were paid for the top sellers. The Ferrari 375 MM from 1995 was there. It sold for $4.8 million. Selling at $4 million was the 1938 art-deco Talbot-Lago T150-C SS. There was a four-cylinder Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa for sale too. It cost about $4 million to purchase. A 1959 Ferrari 250 California sold for $3.6 million. Just less than $3 million was paid for the 1965 Ford GT40 roadster prototype as well as the 1947 Bugatti Type 57sc Atlante.

Another Ferrari, the 1953 250 MM, was originally built for Mexican collector Efrain Ruiz Echeverria who drove it in the 1953 Carrera Panamericana and garnered $3 million.

Also going for more than $1 million

About $2.1 million was paid for the 1967 Lamborghini Marzal and $1 million for the 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero.

Some go for under a million

About $900,000 and $370,000 were paid for two cars. These were two Zagato-bodied Alfa Romeos from the 1960s. About $32 million was brought in with the total auction.

Articles cited

Autoblog

autoblog.com/2011/05/24/rare-classics-sell-for-millions-at-villa-deste-auction/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed: weblogsinc/autoblog (Autoblog)

Top Gear

topgear.com/uk/photos/rm-auctions-villa-d-este-2011-05-17

Edmunds Inside Line

insideline.com/ford/gt/ford-gt40-prototype-headlines-villa-d-este-auction.html