You already read about our preview of The White Collection auction here on Stuttcars. Fifty-five Porsches, mostly in white, with a few tractors thrown in for color, were carefully amassed by one man over several years. Stored in a white building with white floors and walls, it was enough to make you paranoid of any dirty on the bottom of their shoes. With over 1000 registered bidders, all eyes were on RM Sotheby’s exclusive event (Dec 1 & 2, 2023) to see how both the cars and memorabilia would sell, given the current state of the world economy. It’s no surprise auction prices have softened in 2023 due to an unpredictable financial landscape, and some Porsche enthusiasts predicted the owner’s decision to liquidate the collection was a year too late. But was it?
Proof in the pudding
Numbers don’t lie, so it’s time to review what the results indicate, if anything, about one man’s vision of what is valuable among the Porsche “cognoscente.” Given the current focus on the color palette of Porsches (including paint to sample custom orders), bringing a collection of white Porsches to market could have resulted in a lot of “red” splashed everywhere, if you know what I mean.
Cars are the stars
Predictably, the rarest Porsches in the collection are what caused the commotion among bidders, not to mention the final hammer prices. A few standouts to mention were a 2015 Porsche 918 Weissach edition Spyder that sold for just under $4M, nearly $1M over its high estimate. A 1997 Porsche 911 GT2 in “Glacier White” with black leather interior reached $2,397,500 while a 2016 Porsche 911 R, with just 19.7 miles hammered at $1,105,000.
Breaking previous auction records included the following lots:
- 2015 Porsche 918 ‘Weissach’ Spyder sold for $3,937,500
- 1997 Porsche 911 GT2 sold for $2,397,500
- 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 sold for $2,073,000
- 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight sold for $1,875,000
- 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo S X85 ‘Flat-Nose’ sold for $1,462,500
- 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera RS sold for $555,000
What did we learn?
The market for modern Porsches, especially those with originality, low mileage, and pedigree, still can bring record-breaking results. Be it a Rolex watch, Faberge egg, or a Porsche, limited production numbers all but guarantee a future appreciation in value.
RM Sotheby’s response
“The White Collection sale captured the world’s attention with its exclusive Porsches and memorabilia, curated with a level of detail and perfection we rarely see. We always knew these cars would do well, but the results were incredible, indicating market robustness. Late-model sports cars, especially Porsches, are in high demand, with record-breaking sales like the 918 Spyder, which doubled its previous record. The prices realized set benchmarks that will follow these cars and similar models for life. There will always be a place for live auctions in this industry, and I don’t think any other auction company, online or in person, could have achieved these results—and I am incredibly proud of the entire team. Its reveal was a landmark event, and now, these iconic cars are cherished worldwide, marking a special moment for us and Porsche enthusiasts,” said Gord Duff, Global Head of Auctions, RM Sotheby’s.
Watch the car auction
Memorabilia
