Dubai’s passion for supercars is evident as you drive along the city’s highways - it is commonplace to see luxury cars cruising alongside the usual crowds of commuters. While there is a notable community of collectors with an interest in vintage cars, there is considerable demand for supercars that sit on the cutting edge of performance and technology.
In March 2024, RM Sotheby’s hosted its inaugural Dubai auction at arts and events hub Alserkal Avenue. The sale was a tremendous success, with a beautiful selection of vehicles and automotive memorabilia changing hands. The standout was a 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss - an homage to the classic 300 SLR that won the Mille Miglia in 1955 - which sold for over $3.2 million. It was inevitable that the auction would return to Dubai soon, and the second sale is slated to take place on the 1st of December. The winter is peak events season in the city, and for its sophomore outing, RM Sotheby’s has upped the ante by hosting the auction at Emirates Golf Club. One of Dubai’s oldest and most prestigious golfing venues, Emirates Golf Club is also the starting point for the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE, the local edition of the exciting 1000 Miglia racing event. Here are some of the best supercars that are up for auction.
2022 Aston Martin Valkyrie Coupé
This is no mere supercar - the Valkyrie is considered to be the first street-legal ‘hypercar’ produced by Aston Martin. It is one out of 150 models produced and was designed with airspace-grade technology under the aptly chosen codename ‘Nebula’. Finished in Lunar White with red and black detailing, the Valkyrie was delivered in October 2022 after 7 painstaking years of work. This involved reconsidering the airflow around the car to maximise aerodynamics instead of adding devices or elements that would detract from its look. The result is a vehicle that can achieve over 3.5 G around high-speed corners, which is over 3 times what a conventional racer can manage. The body of the Valkyrie is all carbon fibre, with a 6.5-litre V12 by Cosworth that gets additional support from a Rimac electric motor for a total of 1,160 horsepower. It also has the world’s smallest and brightest rear brake light, and a uniquely sleek windshield wiper provided by the same supplier as the Space Shuttle programme. The Valkyrie is being sold by its original owner and has only 109 kilometres recorded on its odometer. It would be the crowning glory of any sports car collection.
2019 McLaren Senna LM
This very rare car is one of only 20 Senna LM models that were produced to commemorate McLaren’s victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995. The F1 GTR was such a notable presence at the race that McLaren commissioned road-legal versions of the model, known as F1 LM. Only six chassis were ever produced. To mark the silver jubilee of the race,a special edition model was developed, taking the twin turbocharged V8 of the GTR racer and modifying it to generate an additional 25 horsepower (for a total of 814). Original supplier OZ Racing provided five-spoke wheels that matched the look of the original F1 GTR, and this is one of seven cars finished in Papaya Orange to evoke the XP1 - McLaren’s most famous LM prototype. The car has only had a single owner, who has put it up for auction. This is an incredible opportunity to own a car with a rich backstory behind it and a rare and iconic colour scheme.
2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series Coupé
The fifth vehicle in AMG’s Black Series, this model is a modern interpretation of the iconic 300 SL Gullwing and has the most powerful naturally aspirated eight-cylinder engine when it was first released. Only 350 units were produced, but this vehicle has an even rarer mark of distinction - it is the only example to be finished in Designo Mystic Blue. The colour fits it so perfectly that other Black Series owners have had their cars repainted to match it, but this is the original and the only one of its kind. The upholstery has also been finished in dark blue and there are multiple carbon fibre elements, as well as a Bang & Olufsen sound system and a rear-view camera. The car was originally delivered to a customer in Germany in 2013 and has spent precious little time on the road, with an odometer reading of just 326 kilometres. This is a highly desirable addition to and supercar collection on account of its unique (and original) finish alone.
2018 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake
Unveiled in the early 2000s, Aston Martin’s VH platform would form the basis for all models produced until around 2016. The second generation of the Vanquish tourer was built on this platform, with four stylish carbon fibre designs created by the renowned coachbuilder Zagato. The Shooting Brake became the most popular of the designs, featuring an elongated passenger compartment, raised ‘Z’ designs on the grille and rear mesh, and blade-like rear lights. It used the powertrain of the Vanquish S, with a naturally aspirated V12 capable of delivering 584 horsepower. The vehicle offered here is one of only 99 models produced and was finished in Lava Red, which was the colour of the launch editions.This is also a single-ownership vehicle that has spent the majority of its time as part of a South Korean collection. It is a stunning showcase of Aston Martin and of Zagato’s craftsmanship.
1966 Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 by Touring
One of the rare vintage models that is up for auction, this was one of Lamborghini’s initial forays into a 2+2 seating model, officially unveiled at Geneva in 1966. There are several aesthetic changes made to the vehicle from previous models, including a larger rear luggage compartment, increased fuel capacity, and four headlights. The most significant change was a technical one, replacing the standard gearbox of the older 350 and 400 GT models with a five-speed unit specially designed by Lamborghini. However, it maintained the fantastic performance specs of its predecessors. Originally delivered in California, the car found its way to a private collection and was auctioned in Germany in 1992, following which it was sold to its current owner in 2022 at a Paris auction. The original Grigorio St. Vincent finish was replaced with the present silver exterior and black interior. Some touchups are required and a mechanical inspection will need to be conducted, but this is a timeless piece that any collector would be proud to own.
