Topplers: the cars that set auction records in 2015

Photo by Patrick Ernzen, courtesy RM Auctions.

Maintaining a list of automotive auction records isn't exactly easy or straightforward. Every auction house wants to claim a record every time it has an astounding sale, but sometimes those records can come down to splitting hairs: Does the highest price paid for a one-of-37 competition version of a certain model with a manual transmission and drum brakes really warrant a record, or should we only concern ourselves with the high-level makes and models?

What's more, collector car auctions take place across the globe these days, which means multiple currencies. If one auction sets a record in U.S. dollars, but another one sets its own record in British pounds and currency values fluctuate between the two auctions, which record counts?

Do we count premiums and commissions in the record price? Do we adjust for inflation? Do one-offs, race vehicles, and customs serve as adequate benchmarks when they demolish previous record prices?

Nevertheless, we've given it a shot, and after a few years of tinkering with the formula, we believe we've got it down pat enough to compile a list of all the collector car auction records we could confirm in 2015, in alphabetical order:

Photo courtesy Barrett-Jackson.

Makes
American Underslung – 1908 roadster, Bonhams Amelia Island (March), $1,738,000
American Underslung – 1910 toy tonneau, RM Sotheby's Monterey (August), $1,815,000
Aston Martin – 1962 DB4GT Zagato, RM Sotheby's Driven by Disruption (December), $14,300,000
Bizzarrini (non-race) – 1968 5300 GT Strada, Artcurial Paris (February), $1,343,786
Iso Grifo (non-race) – 1965 A3/C Stradale, RM Sotheby's Paris (February), $1,172,643
Jaguar – 1953 C-Type lightweight, RM Sotheby's Monterey (August), $13,200,000
Land Rover – 2015 Defender, Bonhams charity auction (December), $606,400
Lea Francis – 1949 2-1/2-Litre Sports, Bonhams Monterey (August), $110,000
McLaren – 1998 F1 LM spec, RM Sotheby's Monterey (August), $13,750,000
Stutz – 1932 DV32 Super Bearcat, Bonhams Amelia Island (March), $1,012,000
Veritas – 1949 Scorpion cabriolet, Bonhams Monterey (August), $907,500

Photo courtesy Bonhams.

Models
Aston Martin DB5 – 1965 DB5 cabriolet, Bonhams Paris (February), $2,400,000
BMW M1 – 1981, Bonhams Amelia Island (March), $605,000
Buick GNX – 1987, Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach (April), $165,000
DeTomaso Pantera – 1971/Ring Brothers, Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale (January), $330,000
Dodge Charger Daytona – 1969 Hemi four-speed, Mecum Kissimmee (January), $900,000
Ferrari 250 LM – 1964 chassis 6105, RM Sotheby's Monterey (August), $17,600,000
Ferrari 512BB – 1980 chassis 34249, Bonhams Amelia Island (March), $359,700
Ferrari Enzo – 2005, RM Sotheby's Monterey (August), $6,050,000
Fiat 8V – 1953 Supersonic by Ghia, Bonhams Monterey (August), $1,815,000
Ford RS200 – 1986 Evolution chassis 106, Gooding & Co. Monterey (August), $539,000
Iso Grifo 7-Litre – 1969 chassis 7L920241, Artcurial Paris (February), $431,025
Jaguar XK120 – 1952 Supersonic by Ghia, RM Sotheby's Monterey (August), $2,090,000
Lancia Aurelia – 1955 B24S Spider America, Bonhams Monterey (August), $1,952,500
Mercury Cougar – 1968 XR-7 GT-E 428CJ Ram Air, Owls Head (August), $228,800
Porsche 356 – 1965 C/Janis Joplin's, RM Sotheby's Driven by Disruption (December), $1,760,000
Porsche 956 – 1982 Le Mans winner, Gooding & Co. Monterey (August), $10,120,000
Porsche RS60 – 1960 chassis 718-044, Gooding & Co. Monterey (August), $5,400,000
Volkswagen Beetle – 1963 Herbie, Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach (April), $126,500
Volkswagen Thing – 1974 Acapulco resort car, Gooding & Co. Amelia Island (March), $52,800

Notes: All prices include commission, when reported. All overseas sales converted to U.S. dollars at the time of the sale.

Photo courtesy Mecum Auctions.

In addition, the 1998 McLaren F1 LM spec and the 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato successively set the auction record for British cars and the first Ferrari 250 LM mentioned above set the auction record for any car sold at an Arizona auction.

All that said, we acknowledge that auction records are a field full of dispute – that's why we started keeping track, after all, to try to minimize and straighten out those disputes. If you believe any of these figures or records are in error, or if you believe there's an auction record missing from the list, please let us know in the comments with evidence to back up your claim.

from Hemmings Daily – News for the collector car enthusiast http://ift.tt/1OiEjFx