POWER – Three of the Best Cars from the RM AUCTIONS

Luxury investing has taken an interesting turn of late, with power junkies, coin collectors, and philatelists outdoing urbane, wine-sipping art enthusiasts. So, with the headlights well and truly on classic cars, we thought we’d tease and taunt you with some of the most sensational models heading for auction in the next few months.

There’s only one company that has the reputation and expertise to handle all of these beauties at once. We’re not talking about one of the many pimped-up Hollywood stars, but RM Auctions, the auction destination where the elite turn to offload some of the world’s finest cars to the most discerning collectors from around the globe. They’ve been doing just this since 1976. Once a car clocks up in auction it’s anyone’s game.

The key is in recognising which are the creamiest from the cream of the crop. Each to their own, of course, but, personally we’ve given our full attention to the three exquisite, covetable designs below. Hands to wallets gentlemen, hands to wallets!

1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was the first iteration of the SL-Class grand tourer convertibles and fastest production car of its day. It was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors and later offered as an open roadster having been built by Daimler-Benz AG. The idea of a toned-down W194 tailored to affluent performance enthusiasts in the booming post-war American market worked a treat with gents back in the day, and continues to do so to this day.

The 300SL is considered one of the most collectible Mercedes-Benz models; best known for its distinctive gull wing doors, first-ever consumer fuel-injection, and world’s fastest top speed.

Date for the diary: 21st November 2013

1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III BJ8 Convertible

Austin-Healey – arguably the most coveted British sports car maker in history, primarily because of their rarity. Established in 1952 between Leonard Lord of the Austin division of the BMC and the Donald Healey Motor Company, Austin-Healey produced cars until 1972 when the 20-year agreement between Healey and Austin came to an end. The 3000 won titles in many European rallies in its heyday, and is still used in competition by enthusiasts today. Take the roof down and roll through the countryside with a certain sophistication unattainable in any other car.

Dates for the diary: 16th – 17th January 2014

1966 Ferrari 275 GTS by Pininfarina

Road & Track commended the Spyder as “the most satisfying sports car in the world” and Motor Trend Classic placed it at number three in their list of the “Greatest Ferraris of all time”. The Pininfarina-designed body adds grace to it, while the purr it creates, well, you know what we’re talking about!

Dates for the diary: 16th – 17th January 2014

For more information visit rmauctions.com

By Emma Corbett