Japanese legends lead second Youngtimers sale

Start your dream garage with these modern classics

It usually takes time to assemble a proper car collection, but if you bid wisely – and if your pockets are deep enough – you could bag yourself a ready-made modern-classics garage next month.

That’s because another 10 cars from the 140-strong ‘Youngtimer collection’ will be sold by RM Sotheby’s auction house – the second such batch after the first 25 were offered in Paris a few weeks ago.

The large private collection is made up of some 140 low-mileage classics from the ’80s, ’90s and ’00s, and features a mouthwatering array of rare super saloons, European sports coupés, Japanese imports and luxury GTs.

Click through the images above to take a look at what’s on offer next month.

Exotica from the east

The Paris sale on 6 February was mainly about the European youngtimers: a Ferrari Superamerica from 2006 was the top seller, changing hands for £517k, followed by a Mercedes-Benz 560SEC AMG 6.0 Wide Body which sold for £260k and a BMW Alpina B12 5.7 that claimed £181k.

Things are a little different at the Amelia Island sale, which takes place on 8-9 March.

Sure, there’s still a clutch of modern Euro classics up for grabs, but there’s also a quartet of Japanese performance legends for sale, including perhaps the most famous of all…

2005 Acura NSX

Estimate: £78-93k ($100-120k)

The ’90s was a good time for Japanese sports cars, but none are more famous than Honda’s NSX.

Marketed as an Acura in the States, it broke cover in 1989 as an aerodynamic, all-aluminium drivers’ car, refined by the legendary Ayrton Senna and famed for its blend of good looks, brilliant balance and sheer drivability.

It’s an undisputed modern classic, so it makes sense that there’s one in the Youngtimer Collection. The absence of pop-up lights mark this all-red NSX out as a later model – and, with fewer than 9200 miles on the clock, it’s been very well kept.

1994 Toyota Supra Twin Turbo Targa

Estimate: £78-93k ($100-120k)

If the NSX is a legend, the Supra surely has its place in the Japanese sports car hall of fame: in twin-turbo guise the winged fourth-gen model became a proper performance machine, deriving 320bhp from its 3-litre engine and hitting 60mph from a standstill in less than five seconds. Top speed? Limited to 155mph.

The model up for grabs at Amelia Island is this early example of the Supra in its most desirable guise: twin-turbo and targa-top. It’s done just 11,200 miles and remains in highly original, untuned form. Yes please.

1993 Mazda RX-7

Estimate: £31-35k ($40-45k)

Continuing this run-down of ’90s Japanese pin-ups, the next machine is a third-generation RX-7 – and, like the other lots, it’s both low-mileage and properly original, having been stabled with just two owners from new. Not bad for a 26-year-old.

With its sequential twin-turbo setup squeezing 252bhp out of the Wankel engine – not to mention its incredible handling, world-beating balance and understated style – the RX-7 remains a properly desirable motor, and this is a rare chance to buy a cracker.

1996 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo

Estimate: £23-31k ($30-40k)

The last of the eastern youngtimers up for grabs at Amelia Island is this Nissan 300ZX from 1996 – and it’s a familiar story: a twin-turbo Japanese sports car good for 300bhp, owned by just two custodians from new and almost entirely original. Oh, and like two of the three others, it’s also finished in red.

Over 23 years it’s covered a scant 2800 miles – making it probably the lowest mileage 300ZX you can find today. Buy it with the other three and you’ve got the start of a very fine collection.

1988 Porsche 928 S4

Estimate: £43-50k ($55-65k)

It’s not just Japanese lots up for grabs, mind: the first of the German youngtimers at Amelia Island is this lovely Porsche 928.

First sold in ’78, the 928 was pitched as a luxury sports tourer to replace the 911 – only its water-cooled, front-mounted V8 proved too much for many marque purists. Today? Those fears have long since vanished, with the 928 now representing an appealing blend of power, comfort and distinctive style.

This later S4 example from 1988 packs the desirable and reliable 5-litre motor, together with several options – including a sunroof. And, with a mere 10,005 miles on the clock, it’s a very tempting package.

1995 Porsche 928 GTS

Estimate: £62-77k ($80-100k)

Next up is another 928, only this one’s a whole lot rarer: the GTS model was the ultimate variant offered by Porsche, shipping with a 5.4-litre V8 good for 345bhp, as well as revised styling and better front brakes.

Just 406 were ever sold new in the USA – and only 47 of those carried an automatic transmission. This machine ticks both boxes and, sticking to the Youngtimer trend, rounds it off with a low mileage of just 12,000 – hence the $100k upper estimate.

1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL

Estimate: £46-62k ($60-80k)

Same country, different make, but just as nice: the SL was a ’70s coupé that reached its greatest form in the late ’80s, and it was never more powerful than in 5.6-litre 560 guise, equipped with a 227bhp V8.

Still a looker today, this example of the well-proportioned Benz shipped new to the USA in 1986 and stayed there for most of its life, being exported to Switzerland only recently to join the rest of the Youngtimer Collection.

And, like the rest, it’s in impeccable condition, with fewer than 9300 miles on the clock.

1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC AMG 6.0 Wide Body

Estimate: £93-108k ($120-140k)

A pure slice of late-’80s brawn, this black-on-black beast looks like a Mafia wagon and goes like a rocket, its 6-litre V8 motor tuned by AMG before it became an official part of Mercedes-Benz.

With its whopping wheelarches and wide tyres, it’s nothing if not meaty, while 385bhp gave it performance to back up the body panels.

Fewer than 50 of the big-money machines were built, including this example – one of several AMG wagons in the Youngtimer Collection. An uncertain history means its estimate is a little lower than you might expect, but there’s no denying its gangster appeal.

1994 BMW 850 CSi

Estimate: £116-155 ($150-200k)

The most valuable of the German youngtimers at Amelia Island is this 25-year-old BMW – and it’s a beauty.

Based on the E31 8-series – including its distinctive nose – the 850CSi was improved in all of the important ways over the standard model: the shell was made more aerodynamic, the suspension stiffened and the motor enlarged to 5.6 litres and squeezed for 375bhp. And it was only available with a six-speed manual gearbox.

It was a proper performance package and just 1500 or so were ever built, making this 1994 example an uncommon thing – not least because of its limited running, with less than 11,000 miles recorded.

2004 Ferrari 575M Maranello

Estimate: £193-232k ($250-300k)

The only Ferrari heading to Amelia Island from the Youngtimer Collection also happens to be the most expensive machine of the bunch: a 575M Maranello.

A V12 two-seater to start the new millennium, the 575M succeeded the 550 Maranello in 2002, but was essentially an upgraded version of its predecessor complete with a more powerful motor, bigger brakes and an optional F1-style gearbox, plus several styling changes.

This 2004 number is a fine example of the Italian marque’s two-seater GT, and comes equipped with the desirable Fiorano Handling Package and a six-speed manual transmission – making it one of just 246 to do so. And, guess what? It’s done fewer than 7800 miles.

These 10 cars will all be sold at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island sale on 8-9 March. Click here for more details.