- RM Auctions posts over $21.2 million at the record-breaking sale of the distinguished Don Davis Collection, April 27 in Fort Worth, Texas
- Top seller: a rare 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS sold for $1,936,000, to establish a new auction record
- Five lots achieve million-dollar-plus results, with numerous auction records shattered
- Toyota 2000GT enters history books with seven-figure sales price
- Exceptional collection attracts bidders from 14 countries around the world
FORT WORTH, Texas (April 29, 2013) – RM Auctions continued its strong track record in Texas this past weekend with the record-breaking sale of the Don Davis Collection in Fort Worth, Texas. Held onsite at Mr. Davis’s estate, the single-day auction of the esteemed “collector’s collection” saw 64 prized automobiles sell for more than $21.2 million before a packed house.
The exceptional quality of the collection was reflected in the strong global interest in the sale, with bidders hailing from 14 countries around the world, including from as far away as Brazil, Australia, and Kuwait. Top sale honors went to a rare, matching-numbers 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS. Representing the epitome of mid-sixties Italian GT styling, and stunning in Blu Scuro, the example on offer attracted tremendous interest from collectors, selling for an extraordinary $1,936,000, which set a new world record for a Ferrari 330 GTS sold at auction.
Taking the number two spot was another dream car, the 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider, which garnered a remarkable $1,650,000. In total, five lots achieved individual million-dollar-plus results, while spirited bidding saw a number of automobiles well-exceed pre-sale estimates, to set no less than eight new world records.
Record-shattering sales were led by the 1967 Toyota 2000GT, which sparked an exciting bidding war, eventually selling for an amazing $1,155,000, which far-exceeds the previous world record for a Toyota 2000GT sold at auction. Also entering the history books and setting new auction records for their class were the highly sought-after 1988 Porsche 959 ‘Komfort’, which sold for an outstanding $770,000; the 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Mulliner Park Ward Drophead Coupe for $577,500; and the 1965 Lamborghini 350 GT Coupe for $550,000.
“We were honored to have been entrusted to offer Don Davis’s incredible collection,” says Ian Kelleher, Car Specialist, RM Auctions. “The fantastic results reflect not only the truly exceptional quality of the cars, but also the continued health of the collector car market and Mr. Davis’s reputation for collecting the best of the best. From the Toyota 2000GT to the Ferrari 330 GTS, this was certainly a record-setting sale that we’re very proud to add to our portfolio of private collection auctions and to our strong track record in the Lone Star State.”
RM Auctions’ Don Davis Collection Million-Dollar-Plus Sales
| Lot 132 | 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS | $ 1,936,000 – Record for a Ferrari 330 GTS sold at auction |
| Lot 148 | 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider | $ 1,650,000 |
| Lot 142 | 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing | $ 1,237,500 |
| Lot 149 | 1967 Toyota 2000GT | $ 1,155,000 – Record for a Toyota 2000GT sold at auction |
| Lot 112 | 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra | $ 1,001,000 |
The Don Davis Collection sale is the latest on a list of highly successful single-vendor auctions presented by RM Auctions, furthering the company’s reputation as the specialist for private and estate collection sales.
“The entire RM Auctions group was outstanding in handling my auction,” said Don Davis following the sale. “From start to finish, every person handled each step of the process in an extremely professional and friendly manner. The enhancements made to my warehouse by the team completely transformed it to showcase the cars in the best possible way. From the outset, I was told all I needed to worry about was showing up on sale day. Because of the confidence I had in RM, that’s exactly what I did! My experience with the entire RM team was absolutely stellar!”
RM continues its busy 2013 auction season with the return of its highly anticipated biennial sale held during the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este weekend, May 25, on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. This will be closely followed by RM’s established U.S. summer sales, including its annual sale in Plymouth, Michigan, held in conjunction with the respected Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s, July 27, as well as RM’s flagship Monterey, California, sale, held during the same weekend as the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, August 16–17.
Full results from the Don Davis Collection sale, along with additional information on upcoming RM events, is available online at rmauctions.com.
*Results are listed in USD and are inclusive of a 10 percent buyer’s premium for all vehicles.
