Ferrari hypercar royalty leads a 32-lot selection of classic and modern supercars being sold from the Dare to Dream Collection, by RM Sotheby’s on May 31-June 1, 2024. The sale takes place at the collection’s home, a 17,000sq ft exhibition space in Toronto, Canada, one week prior to the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, and all cars are being offered at no reserve.
Although it’s Ferraris that lead the auction, top-tier classics from the likes of Lamborghini, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Ford, among several others, can be found among the lots – and that’s not all. The Ultimate Sneaker Collection is being offered for sale by Sotheby’s, which contains 99 of the 100 rarest Nike sneakers. However, focusing on the cars, we have trained our eye on the following leading lots – which ones are you most tempted by?
Four of the first five highest-value lots by pre-sale estimate come from Maranello’s elite stable of hypercars: a 2015 LaFerrari ($3.85m-$4.25m); a 1996 F50 ($3.8m-$4.5m); the first Enzo on US sale, a 2003 car ($3.75m-$4.35m); and the model pictured above – a 1985 288 GTO estimated at $3.75m-$4m. This particular car was first sold via Pasolini Automobili to Emilio ‘Chico’ Gnutti, a leading financier. After 26 years of ownership, it was acquired by professional golfer Ian Poulter in 2012. Poulter sold it to the Dare to Dream Collection in 2015, where it was treated to mechanical refreshment in 2019 by Autofficina Carlo Bonini in Reggio Emilia, Italy. It currently has 26,617km on the clock.
If you’re looking to complete the Ferrari five-car hypercar collection in one bulk buy, the Dare to Dream Collection’s 1990 non-cat, non-adjust F40 is estimated at $2.75m- $3.25m, and sports fewer than 1000 miles (1606km).
Other Ferraris up for grabs include a 1967 275 GTB/4 ($2.8m-$3.4m), a 1964 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso, chassis 5381 ($1.5m-$1.8m), a 1973 365 GTB/4 Daytona ($650k-$800k) and a 2021 SF90 ($600k-$700k).
The first classic-era car that isn’t a Ferrari on high pre-sale estimate is this 1972 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV. Chassis 4972 was first sold through dealer Perretta Milano Perri to an Italian owner living in Germany. In 1974 it came to the UK, and was converted to right-hand drive in the early 1980s for Peter Oates. Soon afterward he sold the car to Hew R Dundas, who kept it until the early 1990s. It then moved to Hong Kong, where the new owner commissioned a restoration by the Modena Group. It was next sold to Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay, with whom the car was featured on a 2004 episode of Top Gear. It was then acquired by British collector Michael Cotter, who sold it to another British collector in 2015. After an inspection from Valentino Balboni, it was restored again by Cremonini Carrozzeria and returned to left-hand-drive configuration. It joined the Dare to Dream Collection in 2016, and is estimated at $2.75m-$3.5m.
Other Lamborghini highlights include a 1989 Countach 25th Anniversary ($500k-$700k) and a 2012 Aventador LP700-4 ($300k-$350k).
A trio of hypercars lead the Porsche side of the sale: a 2015 918 Spyder ($1.5m-$1.8m), 2004 Carrera GT ($1.3m-$1.5m) and the above 1987 959 Komfort. Originally acquired by Bay Area art collector, psychotherapist and philanthropist Norman Clement Stone, this car is one of three that were allowed special exemption from import and federalisation rules in 1992. He retained it for 25 years, and loved the car so much that he ordered $45k worth of spare parts from the factory via Andial in 2001.
Stone daily drove the 959 for 15 years, and when sent to Canepa for a suspension refreshment in 2013, it had clocked up 68,000 miles. The upgrade package included Penske custom-valved dampers and titanium coil-over springs. In 2014 the car joined the Dare to Dream Collection, whereupon it was sent back to Canepa for a 14-month, $285k restoration and upgrade programme; it now boasts 640bhp. It’s estimated at $1.1m-$1.5m.
Other Porsche highlights include a 1973 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring ($700k-$800k), a 1959 356A Carrera 1600 GS by Reutter ($500k-$650k), a 1990 Ruf BTR III flatnose cabriolet ($400k-$500k), a 1957 356A 1600 Speedster by Reutter ($350k-$450k) and a 2011 911 Speedster ($300k-$350k).
Modern hypercars in the sale are led by the above 2005 Maserati MC12, which was first acquiredand displayed by the Riverside International Automotive Museum, and driven by Derek Hill with Phil Hill at Laguna Seca Raceway in 2008. A part of the Dare to Dream Collection since 2016, it’s estimated at $3.25m-$3.75m.
Other modern hypercar highlights include a 2015 McLaren P1 ($1.75m-$2.25m), a 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 ($1.5m-$1.75m) and a 2018 McLaren 720S ($350k-$400k).
Two Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs are up for grabs, with the above 1955 Gullwing leading the estimates with a $1.6m-$2m rating. Fitted with Rudge knock-off wheels and fitted luggage, it was originally sold via Mercedes-Benz’s New York distributor. The first known owner was Theodore Soltis of Wilmington, Delaware, and subsequent owners include Henry K Mearig Jr of Manheim, Pennsylvania, Ehlich Renhard of Düsseldorf (who first restored it), Gene Ponder of Marshall, Texas and Thomas Taffet of California. It’s been in the Dare to Dream Collection since 2014, and has been cosmetically restored by Rudi & Co.
The other 300 SL, a 1959 Roadster, is estimated at $1.5m-$1.8m, while a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300Sc Cabriolet restored by Chuck Brahms, one of 49 built, is estimated at $650k-$800k.
Moving to British brands, this 1993 Jaguar XJ220 is documented as the last example of the breed to be built, and was retained by the marque in its private collection. It came to the US via RM Classic Cars, which oversaw its EPA and DOT conversion before selling the car to a collector in New York City. It was then sold to a Tennessee-based collector, before joining the Dare to Dream Collection in 2014. Since then it has been mechanically overhauled by Canepa, with input from model expert Don Law Racing. It’s estimated at $550k-$700k.
Other British highlights include a Silver Birch 1965 Aston Martin DB5 ($750k-$900k) and a 2003 Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagato ($275k-$350k).
This Canadian-delivered 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition, one of 343 built for the 2006 model year, is a three-option example, and is estimated at $550k-$650k. The collection also includes a 1965 Shelby GT350, estimated at $400k-$500k.
More details on the sale can be found here.
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