Opening on 23 July and closing on 30 July, the Open Roads, North America sale is perhaps not as jam-packed with blue-chip collector cars like some of the previous Online Only auctions from RM Sotheby’s, but the 53-lot catalogue boasts a pleasant selection nonetheless, largely populated with classic Americana from the likes of Packard, Oldsmobile, Cadillac and Buick.
There are, however, several cars batting for the European side that are worthy of note. Take the 2019 Aston Martin Rapide AMR, for example, which is the last Aston to be fitted with a soul-stirring naturally aspirated V12. Just 210 of the hardcore, track-focused, end-of-the-line version of the elegant four-door Grant Tourer were built and the all-grey specification of RM’s car is far less flashy than that with which Aston launched the Rapide AMR.
Of the small Ferrari contingent, the ultra-rare six-speed 612 Scaglietti from 2005 just edges the oh-so-clean 1989 Mondial T Cabriolet in our desirability stakes. It seems almost odd to see the aluminium ball-topped lever protruding from the classic open gate in the interior of the 612 because so many were optioned with the now-dated F1 gearbox. Remaining in Italy, how good does the 1994 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione II ‘Bianco Perlato’ look with its pearl white paintwork and striking blue leather interior? Lancia made many limited-edition versions of the Delta, though few were as aesthetically pleasing as the ‘Bianco Perlato’, of which 365 examples were sold around the world.
If you’re wondering which car is our favourite, it’s a toss-up between the orange 1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal, a design that’s aging especially well, and the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The modern-day ‘Gullwing’ is among the most elegant front-engined Grand Tourers of the noughties and RM’s car is a wonderfully specified car, finished in AMG Alubeam over supple brown leather with lashings of carbon-fibre. It’s also only covered 46,300 miles from new.
You can find our 10 favourites from the RM Sotheby’s Online Only: Open Roads, North America sale listed below or, alternatively, browse the entire catalogue in the Classic Driver Market. Happy bidding!
