White Collection auction sale stuns

A jaw-dropping collection of more than 50 Porsche cars – all painted white – has gone under the hammer, making £23 million

At a two-day event in early December, an amazing collection of more than 50 Porsche, including a number of immaculate 911s all painted white, were auctioned by RM Sotheby’s for almost $30 million (£23 million). Aptly named The White Collection, the 500-lot catalogue included Porsche vehicles and memorabilia amassed by the same owner over the period of a decade.

The 911s spanned a period of 70 years, with almost every key model and variation included. They ranged in age from a 1965 short-wheelbase Coupe to a 992 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition that had covered just 12 miles from new in 2021. The collection generated huge interest, with an impressive sell-through rate thanks to bids placed from all over the world.

Looking at the results, at the lower end of the scale came a 1976 911S Targa that sold for $106,400 (approximately £84,000), while at the upper end was a 1997 911 GT2. As one of 17 examples reportedly delivered new to Japan, the GT2 showed 9,461 miles on its dashboard and had a guide price of between $2 and $2.2 million, yet the Glacier white machine exceeded expectations, selling for £2.4 million (£1.9 million).

Of notable historical importance came a pair of Grand Prix white 911 Carrera 2.7 RS models. A 1973 Lightweight – one of 200 built – had covered just 32,000 miles and was guided at $1.75-$2 million, while the second, a 1973 Touring, was anticipated to achieve $900,000-$1.2 million. The former made $1.9 million (£1.5 million) with the latter falling mid-estimate. A 1994 964 Turbo S X85 ‘Flat-Nose’, one of just 39 built for the US market and believed to be one of only two painted Grand prix white, came in just shy of its lower guide price to make $1,462,500 (£1,158,00), while bringing things more up to date was a 2016 991 R, selling for $1,105,000 (£875k).

Gord Duff, global head of auctions at RM Sotheby’s, said, “To truly comprehend this collection’s depth, one has to understand the secondary Porsche market. Paint to Sample supercars and classic sports cars in original condition have seen their values skyrocket – a consistent pattern in our sales. These vehicles, which show high originality and remarkably low mileage, are among the most sought-after Porsche sports cars in the current market.”

Visit rmsothebys.com to view the auction results.