PHOENIX, AZ.- RM Auctions kicked off its 2012 calendar on a positive note in Arizona last week, posting over $25.5 million* in sales with a strong 89 percent sell-through at its annual Arizona Biltmore sale in Phoenix.

Now in its 13th year, the well-established auction presented a magnificent roster of 140 blue-chip motor cars – spanning the spectrum of the collector car market – before a standing-room only crowd. Illustrating RM’s global clientele, bidders represented 21 countries around the world, with a strong showing of European enthusiasts.

“Our Arizona sale proved to be a great kick start to what is shaping up as another terrific auction year. We are very pleased with the results of the sale and were delighted to welcome the world’s premiere collectors back to the Arizona Biltmore,” said Rob Myers, Chairman & Founder, RM Auctions.

“The results speak for themselves, once again proving that great automobiles, rare, correct examples with documented provenance, consistently attract great prices at auction as collectors continue to seek out the best examples for their collections. We look forward to continuing the momentum at our upcoming Milhous Collection and Amelia Island sales.”

Headlining the top-sellers list at RM’s two-day Arizona auction was a superb roster of Ferraris, led by the unique ex-Dottore Wax / Greg Garrison 1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Scaglietti Coupe, s/n 0671 SA, the only example of the 34 410 Superamericas to have been bodied new by Scaglietti. The first new Ferrari road car to be bodied by the esteemed Modenese coachbuilder, 0671 SA claimed top honors of the weekend, selling for a strong $1,815,000 to great applause from the crowd.

Cementing RM’s position as a leader in the presentation of important and historic Ferraris at auction, the sale presented no less than 10 examples from the Modenese prancing horse. A 1991 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta with less than 300 miles and originally delivered new to famed auto executive Lee Iacocca, spurred a lively bidding war in the room, achieving a record price of $781,000, while a desirable 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder, s/n 16705, offered for the first time in 23 years brought $990,000, and a multi-award winning 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta, s/n 4459 GT, realized $979,000.

Additional sale highlights included a beautifully restored 1959 BMW 507 Roadster for $990,000 and a low mileage 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra Roadster for $880,000. An outstanding, concours-quality 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster also garnered strong attention, selling for an exceptional $335,500.

RM’s top six Arizona sales:

1. 1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Scaglietti Coupe - $1,815,000
2. 1959 BMW 507 Roadster - $990,000
3. 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder - $990,000
4. 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta - $979,000
5. 1930 Duesenberg Model J LWB LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton - $880,000
6. 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra - $880,000

Next month, RM in association with Sotheby’s will lift the gavel on one of the world’s finest private museums, the Milhous Collection, during a multi-day sale, February 24– 25 in Boca Raton, Florida. Carefully amassed over the past 50 years by brothers Bob & Paul Milhous, the two-day sale will present an unparalleled selection of automobiles, rare mechanical musical instruments and desirable collectibles.