Pope’s Lambo auctioned for AU$1.2M

In what was described as a frantic bidding war at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, the one-off, 2018-model Huracán LP580-2 (the RWD companion to the AWD LP610-4) quickly sailed past its pre-auction estimate of €250k - €350k before the hammer fell at a staggering €809,375 (AU$1,281,621). To put that price into perspective, it’s more than three times the AU$390,000 list price of a regular Huracan LP580-2 coupe in this country.

While it wasn’t the top seller at the Monaco auction, the Huracan created unprecedented interest both prior to and during the auction, with a large number of bidders in the room, online and on the telephone eager to secure this special car. Created by Lamborghini’s ‘Ad Personam’ personalisation department last year, what set this particular Huracan apart for the norm was its one-off livery of Bianco Monocerus with Giallo Tiberino, which paid tribute to the white and yellow colours of the flag of the Vatican City.

When he was presented with the car on 15 November, His Holiness Pope Francis blessed the car and personally signed it. Lamborghini ensured that signature would last by sealing it before it was put up for auction. Part of a sale total of €23,317,290 (AU$36,922,229), the Lamborghini was offered without reserve, with all proceeds from the sale donated by Pope Francis to the Vatican’s preferred charitable organizations.

The top seller at the RM Sothebys Monaco auction was a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, which sold for €2,142,500 (AU$3,392,584), while a 2015 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse reached €1,720,625 (AU$2,724,558). Other big-dollar results included a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II that brought €1,692,500, (AU$2,680,022), while an historic 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight made €1,242,500 (AU$1,967,461) For further details from this auction, go to: rmsothebys.com.  Credit Image courtesy of RM Sotheby’s