A stunning array of vintage and classic cars was up for grabs at RM Sotheby’s Cliveden House sale on July 8, 2025, although none were able to break into seven-digit territory (in pound sterling).
The second sale held by the famed auction house at the historic site in Berkshire, England, the majority of the lots this year sold for under the £100,000 mark. The majority of lots did sell during the auction, but most of the highest-valued cars were still left ‘asking’.
One of those unable to find a buyer was the highest-valued lot, a right-hand drive 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti. Offered from 34 years of family ownership and awarded Ferrari Classiche certification in July 2011, it’s still left seeking £950,000. Not the only unsuccessful Ferrari, a 1996 F355 GTS was also left seeking £190,000.
However, not all failed to sell, as a 1969 365 GTC by Pininfarina was one of the top-earners at a £567,500 hammer price, while a 1973 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti sold for £398,750 and a 1988 328 GTS found a buyer at £48,300.
A 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster bested the 365 with a £657,500 winning bid that took top honours for the day, while another classic roadster, a 1963 Maserati 3500 GTi Spyder by Vignale found £432,500.
Other big-dollar lots that failed to sell, though, included a 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza ‘Recreation’ seeking £565,000, a 1912 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Cabriolet by Barker valued around £470,000, and a 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner left looking for £430,000.
One of only three Aston Martins from ‘a private collection’ managed to find a buyer, too, with a 1930 1½-Litre International 2/4-Seater fetching £92,000 while a 1953 DB2 Drophead and 1958 DB2/4 Mk III by Tickford were no-sales.
Two other collections mostly containing vintage cars saw far more wins on the sales front. A selection of cars kept by the late Jim Boland, a noted British vintage car collector, saw good success.
A 1929 Bentley 6½-Litre Tourer in the style of Vanden Plas which was a centrepiece of his collection found £275,000 which was the set’s top earner. Mind you, many others from it – including 1910s Sunbeams and 1930s Lagondas – only found around the £50,000 mark.
The ‘Preservation Collection’ also saw some good sales, including a 1929 Bugatti Type 44 Cabriolet by Lavocat et Marsaud which earned £314,375 and a 1914 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost ‘Colonial’ Limousine by Hooper that sold for £195,500.
The bargain of the day was found in the ‘British Icons Collection’, with a Swedish-delivered, left-hand drive 1969 Austin Mini 1000 Mk II selling at £11,500 complete with its numbers-matching A-Series engine.
RM Sotheby’s next sale is an online ‘sealed drop’ featuring six stunning sports cars and an Ayrton Senna F1 helmet, with bidding closing July 17, 2025.
Italian coachbuilt rarities in the form of a 2009 Zagato GTZ Nibbio and 2012 Bertone Nuccio, along with reworked Porsches from Gunther Werks and Singer Vehicle Design are among the seven listings.
This online sale precedes RM Sotheby’s flagship Monterey Car Week auction set to take place on August 15-16, 2025 which will be headlined by a trio of Ferraris each valued upwards of US$5.5 million.
