BLENHEIM, ON.- The RM group of companies celebrated its 35th anniversary in the collector car business in 2014 with its best performance to date: $470 million in auction sales with numerous new records established. A new benchmark for the global collector car auction industry, this impressive tally included the presentation of 3,818 vehicles at 16 separate events on two continents.

The 2014 results provide just a snapshot of the RM group’s accomplishments over its history, a period during which the company has cemented its position as the market leader, and successfully transformed the global automotive auction scene.

“2014 has been yet another terrific year for the RM group; together RM Auctions and Auctions America have enabled us to serve the entire spectrum of the market. In addition to celebrating strong results across the board, this year has provided our team with a great opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come. From our amazing clients, to exceptional cars, memorabilia and incredible restorations, it’s been a thrilling 35 years,” says Rob Myers, Chairman and Founder. “A company is only as good as its people, and I’m proud to be surrounded by a team who is as passionate about the hobby as our clients, and is committed to continuously raising the bar when it comes to quality of product, inventiveness of presentation and unparalleled customer service.”

RM Auctions
RM Auctions continued to redefine the high-end collector car auction landscape in 2014 with its innovative presentation and commitment to bringing the very best to the market. Of the combined tally, RM was responsible for $375 million* in sales with an annual sell-through of 91 percent. The results were generated by the sale of 850 vehicles and select nostalgia at nine separate auctions. Eighty-one automobiles achieved individual million-dollar-plus sales, of which nine garnered prices exceeding $5 million and three surpassed $10 million. RM’s international footprint and global reach meant that entries came from 29 countries, with bidders representing 56 countries.

Headlining RM’s 2014 season was a $143.4 million extravaganza in Monterey, California in August. The event, held during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance week, ranks as the highest-grossing collector car auction of all time, breaking the previous record set by RM in 2013. In addition, the Monterey sale also established a new benchmark for a single-day collector car auction, generating $88 million during just four hours of lively bidding at its Saturday sale session.

RM held its first auction in Paris in 2014, during the world-famous Retromobile week in February, a milestone in the continued growth of its European arm. It also cemented its reputation as the leader in collection sales, with the successful presentation of private collections at stand-alone events as well as featured attractions at its catalogue sales, including the John Moir A-to-Z Collection and the Jeffrey Day Collection at Hershey in October. The Sam Pack Collection, presented in November in association with Auctions America, represented RM’s 30th private collection sale in 35 years of business.

2014 also included RM’s best performances to date in Arizona, Amelia Island, and Hershey, while Monaco grossed an incredible €41 million, representing the company’s strongest European result. Arizona and Amelia Island saw RM establish new records for the most valuable cars sold in the history of each auction week: a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider sold for $8.8 million in Arizona, while a 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Torpedo Roadster, offered from the Pray Collection, realized $6.6 million at Amelia Island.

Beyond the impressive figures, it was RM’s commitment to delivering an unparalleled client experience that wowed the market in 2014, helping further elevate the perception of collector car auctions to premium events executed at the same level as high-end art auctions. From the stunning Place Vauban in Paris, to the breathtaking ocean-front lawns at Amelia Island, and the beautiful, open-air Le Sporting in Monaco, each event was designed to deliver a memorable experience for those in attendance.

“It’s been another vibrant year for the collector car hobby,” says Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Auctions Europe & Chief Auctioneer. “The fundamental picture remains one of a strong, resilient market where quality collector cars remain in high demand and prices remain firm. On a personal level from behind the podium, the energy in Monterey this year was incredible, it was an absolute thrill to conduct our first sale in Paris during all the excitement of Retromobile week, and if anyone ever doubted how strong the market is, the atmosphere in the room during the Monaco sale was one of the most electric I have experienced.”

RM Auctions Top Five Sales of 2014:
1. 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale $26,400,000 Monterey, California
2. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM $11,550,000 Monterey, California
3. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (Ex-Steve McQueen) $10,175,000 Monterey, California
4. 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider $8,800,000 Phoenix, Arizona
5. 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype $6,930,000 Monterey, California

Auctions America
From coast to coast, 2014 was a tremendous year for Auctions America, highlighted by record performances and attendance at all venues. Total auction sales for the year surpassed $95 million with an annual sell-through of 83 percent for all lots. These results represent approximately 30 percent growth on 2013. Unit volume was in excess of 2,091 vehicles, along with assorted memorabilia, sold at seven separate auction events. Bidders represented 25 countries in addition to all 50 states.

The Auctions America season was headlined by its Auburn Fall event in August, a wonderful celebration of all things automotive and the passion that drives the hobby. Held during the famed Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Festival, the event again demonstrated that the collector car community comes home to the Classic Car Capital of America for the Labor Day Weekend, with a record 81,500 enthusiasts descending on the historic Auburn Auction Park. From the electric atmosphere in the dual-ring auction arena, which saw $25.9 million in collector vehicles and memorabilia exchange hands, to acres of cars and treasures in the car corral and swap meet, and a host of other automotive-themed activities, the weekend provided fun for all ages, with many enthusiasts declaring it “the best” Auburn Fall to date.

In addition to record performances at Fort Lauderdale ($21 million) and Auburn Spring ($19.1 million), another 2014 highlight was Auctions America’s return to Southern California in late July, where the company replicated the success of its debut event. With $17.5 million in sales, the auction bested the company’s 2013 results in every category, claiming four of the company’s top five sales of the year. Auctions America will continue to put its stamp on the important SoCal market in 2015 with the company’s summer sale moving to a new venue in Santa Monica in July. Further details will be announced in the New Year.

Auctions America also continued to demonstrate its strength in the presentation of private collections in 2014. Leading a number of single-vendor collections presented at its established events was Montreal’s John Scotti Collection of 400 vehicles, which generated more than $10 million at Auburn Spring. The Littlefield Military Collection, an unprecedented event held in California in July, demonstrated Auctions America’s ability to provide effective, turnkey solutions for private sales, as well as the company’s unique ability to adapt to service different segments of the collector vehicle market.

In addition to a successful calendar of events, 2014 saw Auctions America confirm a multi-year agreement with the Emmy Award-winning NBCSN (NBC Sports Network), to broadcast exclusive coverage of select events to more than 80 million homes across the U.S. The coverage has received positive feedback and enjoyed strong viewership. Plans for 2015 coverage will be unveiled shortly.

Auctions America Top Five sales in 2014:
1. 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Dual Cowl Phaeton by LaGrande $1,265,000 Auburn Fall, Indiana

2. 8-ton Half-Track Sd.Kfz. 7 (KM M11) $1,207,500 The Littlefield Collection, California

3. 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster $1,155,000 California

4. 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa by Pinin Farina $1,017,500 California

5. 1990 Ferrari F40 $990,000 California