RM Sotheby’s closed 2025 with more than $1 billion in total sales, marking the strongest year in the auction house’s history and reinforcing its leading position in the global collector car market.
The milestone was achieved across 44 auctions held in live, online, sealed, and private sale formats. In total, 1,024 vehicles were offered to collectors worldwide. Participation reflected the increasingly international nature of the market, with bidders from 82 countries and buyers representing 54 countries. Nearly half of all bidders and buyers were new to RM Sotheby’s, highlighting continued expansion of interest among first-time participants.
The company’s 15 live auctions recorded a 92 percent sell-through rate, pointing to sustained demand for high-quality consignments. Of the vehicles sold during the year, 135 achieved prices exceeding $1 million, and 75 individual auction records were set across a wide range of marques and models. The top 10 cars alone generated approximately $225 million in combined sales, with each reaching eight-figure territory.
Leading the year’s results was a 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Streamliner, which sold for just over $53 million during a single-car sale in Stuttgart. The historically significant racer became the second most expensive automobile ever sold at auction. Other standout results included a Le Mans-winning 1964 Ferrari 250 LM that realized more than $36 million in Paris, and a one-off Ferrari Daytona SP3 that brought $26 million.
Additional top-tier sales featured a 1994 McLaren F1, a Gordon Murray Special Vehicles S1 LM, Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F2001 Formula One car, and multiple competition-bred Ferraris and Ford GT40 variants. A one-of-one Pagani Zonda and a future McLaren F1 race car also ranked among the year’s highest performers.
The results illustrate the continued strength of the ultra-high-end collector car segment, particularly for vehicles with documented racing history, limited production, or singular provenance. With strong international engagement and consistent sell-through rates, RM Sotheby’s 2025 performance signals enduring confidence in the top tiers of the collector car market, even as broader economic conditions remain closely watched by investors and enthusiasts alike.
Shawn Henry