Auction records tumbled during RM Auctions' frenzied €41million Monaco auction on 10 May, with Ferraris dominating the results.
Top of the pile – and a new world record for the model – was a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C, which crossed the block for a massive €5,712,000. It went into the sale with an upper estimate of €5m, but its fantastic provenance (as well as being just the ninth car off the production line) was enough to excite the packed saleroom.
Coming close to breaking the €5m barrier was a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet by Pinin Farina, which eventually sold for €4,704,000. It has covered just 50,583 miles since new, and was previously owned by Bob Grossman, William McKelvy and Glenn Mounger.
Next in the big money stakes was a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS. The pretty droptop had previously won Best of Show at the 2011 Concorso Italiano and was one of only 99 built. It sold for €2,128,000.
Fourth in line, again from 1967, was a Ferrari Dino 206 S Spider. Estimated at €1.5-2m, it beat its upper estimate to sell for €2,072,000. One of just 18 cars produced, it had travelled from Italy to the United States and was successful in concours events.
Completing the five top results was a 1968 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/2 Daytona, raising a healthy €1,260,000 – going close to it's upper estimate of €1,350,000. The car was raced in period by Nino Vaccarella and offered its new owner an easy ticket to countless historic motor races.
The Italian success didn't translate into English, with a 1958 Lister-Jaguar 'Knobbly' – believed to be the first prototype – falling some way short of its €1,500,000 lower estimate to sell for 'just' €1,176,000.