An £8,161,250 Ferrari Daytona SP3 led RM Sotheby’s London 2026 auction on 31 October, taking total sales at The Peninsula London hotel venue to £36,550,950. The auction house described the result as the highest gross ever achieved by a car auction in Britain. Of the 64 lots offered, 56 sold, an 87.5 per cent sell-through rate; turnover was up from £23,703,910 in 2025, although the Daytona SP3 accounted for more than a fifth of this year’s total.
The yellow 2022 SP3 was retained by Ferrari as a development and press car until 2025, when it entered private ownership. Despite the £8.16 million final price, its £7.25 million hammer bid fell £250,000 short of the £7.5 million lower estimate. Next came a 2023 Aston Martin Valkyrie at £2,761,250, a world auction record for the model, followed by an early-production Ferrari F40 modified to resemble an LM at £2,592,500. An alloy-bodied 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB brought £2,041,250, while a 2017 Ferrari F12tdf made £1,928,750.
There was another model record further down the results. A 1991 Honda NSX provided by Honda for Ayrton Senna’s personal use in Portugal fetched £871,250. A Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta sold for £1,861,250, while a one-owner Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8 reached £1,242,500. Both exceeded their upper estimates at hammer. The Aperta’s matching Tailor Made coupé, with the preceding chassis number, sold separately for £792,500.
Not everything found a buyer at the RM Sotheby’s London 2026 sale. A Porsche Carrera GT, estimated at £2,000,000 to £2,500,000, and a right-hand-drive Lamborghini Diablo SE30 previously owned by the Brunei royal family, guided at £1,200,000 to £1,600,000, remained unsold. So too did a Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina and a 360 Challenge Stradale. Among the older cars, the penultimate Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster built sold for £1,045,625, with its hammer price below the £1,100,000 lower estimate.
Let’s take a closer look at RM Sotheby’s London 2026 – a busy sale in the capital.
This Ferrari Daytona SP3, chassis 277499, was completed in June 2022 as a left-hand-drive development car, identified by a Vettura di Sviluppo plaque on its carbonfibre monocoque. Retained by Ferrari for press duties, it was tested by Andrew Frankel at Le Mans for Motor Sport, by Car and Driver at Zandvoort and by Road & Track at Spa-Francorchamps. It also appeared in the final broadcast episode of Top Gear in December 2022.
Ferrari specified the car in Giallo Triplo Strato with Rosso Ferrari upholstery, carbonfibre roof panel and lower bodywork, airbrushed Scuderia shields and red brake calipers. The factory retained it until March 2025, when it was purchased through HR Owen Ferrari Hatfield by its first private owner and registered in the UK. The odometer displayed 2948 miles when catalogued. The Daytona SP3 sold for £8,161,250 including fees, against a pre-sale estimate of £7,500,000 to £9,500,000. Its £7,250,000 hammer price was £250,000 below the lower estimate.
This 2023 Aston Martin Valkyrie, chassis SCF4KRB45PGS70098, was delivered new in left-hand-drive form to its sole owner in Japan in 2023. One of 150 Valkyrie coupés produced, it had recorded just 300km by the time of cataloguing. Although described as a 2023 model, the car was titled as a 2024. The original buyer specified almost £235,000 of options through Aston Martin’s Ultimate Personalisation programme. Its Zenith White bodywork was combined with Midnight Blue detailing and blue-tinted exposed carbonfibre, while the engine intake’s colour scheme was inspired by Mount Fuji. Magnesium Performance wheels alone cost £40,000. The interior was trimmed in Blue and Dark Knight Alcantara, with machined titanium steering-wheel switches.
It sold for £2,761,250 including fees at RM Sotheby’s London 2026, against a £1,800,000 to £2,400,000 estimate, establishing a new world auction record for the model. The previous record was £2,320,053, achieved at RM Sotheby’s Dubai auction in 2024. Another Valkyrie had sold for £2,226,875 at the 2025 London auction.
This 1988 Ferrari F40, chassis 78623, was completed on December 13, 1988, finished in Rosso Corsa with red Stoffa Vigogna upholstery and delivered through Sa Mo Car in Rome. It subsequently moved to Japan, where it was registered in April 1994. During its time in the country, it was modified to resemble an F40 LM, although the precise date of the conversion is unrecorded.
A July 2026 inspection by GTO Engineering identified replacement front and rear clamshells that were not manufactured by Michelotto, along with non-original doors and floor sections. The original Lexan sliding windows, Kevlar bulkhead and roof appear to have been retained, as have the standard road-car suspension components. Other modifications include air jacks, revised brakes, an LM-style digital dashboard, MoTeC engine management, OMP seats and an F50 gearknob and rear-view mirror. The matching-numbers engine and five-speed transaxle remain fitted. The digital odometer displayed 30,398km, although the original instrument was missing and the mileage could not be verified. The F40 sold for £2,592,500 against an estimate of £1,800,000 to £2,400,000, with the £2,300,000 hammer price falling within its guide.
This 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB alloy, chassis 08059, was completed in December 1965 with aluminium coachwork, finished in Giallo Fly over Bleu Vaumol leather. Its first owner was Stabilimenti Chimico Farmaceutico G Alberani, a pharmaceutical company in Bologna, which sold it to Simona Messori of Reggio Emilia in May 1967. By 1973, the Ferrari had reached the United States, where owner Lee Wilson exhibited it at Ferrari Club of America events, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1982 and the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum in 1984.
Belgian collector Philippe Lancksweert acquired the car in 2003, commissioning Bacchelli & Villa to restore its bodywork and Tappezzeria Luppi to retrim the interior. Roelofs Engineering subsequently prepared it for historic competition, installing six Weber carburettors, a roll cage and an external fuel filler. Ferrari Classiche certified the matching-numbers chassis, engine and coachwork in April 2004. The subsequent owner retained the car for 22 years, participating in the Le Mans Classic, Tour Auto and Modena Cento Ore. The 275 GTB sold for £2,041,250 including fees at RM Sotheby’s London 2026, against an estimate of £1,750,000 to £2,000,000.
This 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta, chassis 207272, was commissioned alongside a matching 458 Speciale coupé through Ferrari’s Tailor Made programme, with the two cars carrying consecutive chassis numbers. Both were delivered new to the UK, finished in Alluminio Grezzo Opaco, a satin silver treatment applied to exposed aluminium and sealed with clear lacquer, complemented by Blu NART racing stripes. The Aperta’s specification included exposed carbonfibre exterior detailing, titanium sports exhaust pipes, black brake calipers and a suspension-lift system. Inside, carbonfibre racing seats were trimmed in 3D fabric with white stitching, while Alcantara covered the dashboard, central tunnel and other surfaces.
The car had passed through two owners and covered 1751 miles when catalogued. Accompanying documentation included its original Tailor Made correspondence, Ferrari-issued scale model, Certificate of Authenticity and service invoices from Stratstone Ferrari Colchester. The Aperta fetched £1,861,250 against an estimate of £1,200,000 to £1,500,000, exceeding the upper estimate by £150,000 at hammer. Its matching coupé, chassis 207271, had covered 1980 miles and sold separately for £792,500 against a £500,000 to £700,000 estimate. Together, the two cars achieved £2,653,750 at RM Sotheby’s London 2026.
Completed on September 1, 1993, this Porsche 964 Carrera RS 3.8 (chassis WP0ZZZ96ZPS497077) was delivered new to Spain, where it remained with its original owner until the London auction. Period delivery correspondence identifies the recipient as a Porsche VIP, while the car’s original configuration is documented in Jürgen Barth, Norbert Franz and Robert Weber’s book Porsche 964 Carrera RS 3.8. Finished in paint-to-sample Zermatt Silver Metallic over black leather, it is believed to be the only RS 3.8 specified in this colour. Factory equipment included front bucket seats, 18-inch painted RS Cup alloy wheels, a 92-litre fuel tank, 40 percent locking differential and an Atiwe leather steering wheel.
The Porsche retains its matching-numbers engine and gearbox, while the odometer displayed 10,210km at cataloguing. Given its limited use, RM Sotheby’s recommended mechanical inspection and recommissioning before returning it to the road. The RS 3.8 sold for £1,242,500 including fees against an estimate of £800,000 to £1,000,000.
This 1991 NSX, chassis T000233, was provided by Honda for Ayrton Senna’s personal use in Portugal, where it was registered on March 22, 1991 as SX-25-59. Finished in Formula Red with a black roof and black leather interior, it was kept in Lisbon and delivered to Senna whenever he visited the country. Senna drove the NSX to the 1991 Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril, where he qualified third and finished second. The car also appeared in the 1992 documentary Ayrton Senna: Racing Is In My Blood, and was photographed with Senna washing it with a hosepipe.
Following Senna’s death, the car was registered to Laboa Etablissement in February 1995 and subsequently passed through Honda dealership Nipomotor. It was acquired by the owner of Faro-based MSCAR in 2009, then Robert McFagan in 2013, who imported it into Britain. In 2019, Giancarlo Minardi drove the NSX at Imola during commemorations marking 25 years since Senna’s death. The car returned to Japan in 2024. Accompanied by Portuguese registration documents and Honda correspondence confirming its Senna connection, the NSX sold for £871,250 against a £500,000 to £800,000 estimate at RM Sotheby’s London 2026, establishing a world auction record for the model.
This 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, chassis 003257, was completed on February 7, 1963, making it the penultimate 300 SL Roadster built. Finished in white over red leather, it was initially sent to a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Salzburg, Austria, but remained unsold for ten months. It returned to Stuttgart in November 1963 for conversion to American specification, eventually reaching its first customer on February 14, 1964. In January 1968, a replacement engine block and pistons were fitted. The car subsequently passed through several American owners, including Mercedes-Benz dealer Phil Smart Sr of Seattle. His son reacquired it around 2000, commissioned a bare-metal respray by Rudi & Company in 2001 and returned it to his father.
Imported into Britain in 2020, the Roadster underwent more than £20,000 of mechanical work by specialist Martin Cushway in 2024. It retains its original chassis, body, gearbox, rear axle and kingpins, while the replacement engine block carries a tag bearing the original engine number. The Mercedes-Benz sold for £1,045,625 against a £1,100,000 to £1,300,000 estimate, with its £925,000 hammer price falling £175,000 below the lower guide.
This 2004 Porsche Carrera GT, chassis WP0ZZZ98Z4L000097, production number 0047, was completed on February 17, 2004, finished in GT Silver Metallic over Dark Grey leather. Factory options included XT bucket seats, air-conditioning and a Porsche Online Pro CD radio. Delivered new through Porsche Centre Munich on April 8, it was exported to Japan later that year. Its service book contains 13 stamps, including eight visits to Porsche Centre Aoyama Setagaya, before maintenance passed to Muraoka Motor Company in Warabi City. The car was subsequently imported into Britain and registered in October 2021. Two months later, it received an engine-out service at Porsche’s Reading facility, costing £13,723.
Acquired by its latest owner in June 2022, the Carrera GT underwent further maintenance at Reading in April 2025, including the APA3 recall procedure, replacement tyres and minor servicing. It passed its June 2026 MoT without advisories and displayed 25,694 miles when catalogued. Estimated at £2,000,000 to £2,500,000, the Porsche failed to sell at RM Sotheby’s London 2026 and was subsequently advertised by the auction house for £2,250,000.
This 1994 Lamborghini Diablo SE30, chassis RLA12122, was ordered new by the royal family of Brunei and completed on June 26, 1995. One of nine UK-supplied right-hand-drive SE30s, it was finished in Bianco Impacto over Bleu Alcantara. Only four examples received this colour combination, of which this was the sole right-hand-drive car. Delivered through Lamborghini GB in July 1995, it was subsequently shipped to Brunei, where it remained until the early 2000s. It was then acquired by New Zealand motor industry businessman Sir Colin Giltrap and registered in the country in September 2002. The consigning owner purchased it through Lamborghini Auckland in March 2006, when the odometer showed approximately 2890km.
During subsequent ownership, the original steering wheel was replaced with a Momo item to preserve it, while regular servicing continued through Lamborghini Auckland. Recent work included a wheel-bearing replacement in April 2024 and an oil and brake-fluid service in March 2026. The odometer displayed 12,396km when catalogued. Estimated at £1,200,000 to £1,600,000, the Diablo failed to sell and was subsequently advertised by RM Sotheby’s for £1,300,000.
This 1954 Bentley R-type Continental Fastback, chassis BC30C, was delivered new in Oxford Blue with beige upholstery through Bristol Motors to Thomas Harvey Simmonds of London and first registered on March 9, 1954. It passed through several British owners, including F H Wrigley, who retained it from 1959 until 1980. In 1985, the Bentley was exported to the United States following its acquisition by New York toy industry businessman Harvey Greenfield.
The consigning owner purchased the car in 2004 and returned it to Britain, commissioning a two-year restoration by Graeme Hunt Ltd in Battersea. The work included a darker shade of Oxford Blue, Spinney Beck leather sports seats, Sunburst walnut trim, electric windows, air-conditioning, suspension modifications and rear wheel spats with Mavrolian wavelets. Its original engine had previously been replaced, reportedly with a 4.9-litre unit. The Bentley subsequently participated in several European touring events and remained with the same owner for 22 years. Estimated at £350,000 to £420,000, it sold for £320,000 including fees at RM Sotheby’s London 2026, having been hammered at £280,000.
Chassis 227624, known as ‘The Green Jewel’, was created through Ferrari’s 70th Anniversary Tailor Made programme to commemorate David Piper and Richard Attwood’s victory in the 1965 Kyalami 9 Hours aboard a Ferrari 365 P2. It was the only F12berlinetta completed in this specification. Finished in Verde Metalizzato with Bianco Avus racing roundels, matte-gold wheels and airbrushed Scuderia shields, the right-hand-drive Ferrari featured an unusual interior combination of red Siamo leather for the driver’s seat and black leather for the passenger, both with vertically pleated centres.
Delivered new in the UK through Dick Lovett in Swindon, the car had covered just 442 miles when catalogued. Its service history included annual visits to Graypaul between 2018 and 2024, followed by maintenance at Keys Motorsport Silverstone in 2025 and 2026. Accompanying documentation included handwritten notes and signed photographs from David Piper, along with the registration F12 JWL. The Ferrari sold for £511,250 against an estimate of £300,000 to £350,000. Its £450,000 hammer price exceeded the upper estimate by £100,000, the largest such margin outside the auction’s ten highest-priced sales.
Further details
For more information on the RM Sotheby’s London 2026 sale, head here.
