The one-off 2006 Lamborghini Concept S is set to headline RM Sotheby’s upcoming New York auction in Manhattan, New York on November 18.
Based around the Lamborghini Gallardo, the Concept S was designed by the marque’s former head of design, Luc Donckerwolke and initially unveiled in non-running form at the Geneva Motor Show back in 2005. Following the positive public reception the Italian supercar received, Lamborghini made the initial Concept S functional and then debuted it at the Concorso Italiano in 2006.
Despite calls for the car to reach the production line and initial plans being put in place for just that, the car never hit the market owing to its high cost and time-consuming creation. Chassis 001 was soon sold to a private collector who has maintained ownership of the car for almost a decade. The Concept S continues to be so popular today that it is consistently displayed by Lamborghini at automotive events around the world.
Discussing the car, managing director of RM Sotheby’s West Coast division Ian Kelleher said “The Gallardo Concept S is downright wild and an absolutely perfect car to be featured within the 10th floor galleries at Sotheby’s. The Lamborghini’s blend of avant-garde style and uniqueness sets the tone for what will be a theme carried throughout the entire catalogue. As we carefully curate the 2015 New York offering, we will continue to place a strong emphasis on significant design contribution throughout automotive history. It will undoubtedly be another watershed event.”
Pre-auction estimates suggest it will sell for between $2.4 and $3 million.
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“NEW YORK, New York (July 9, 2015) – RM Sotheby’s, the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles, is thrilled to announce its return to Manhattan, November 18 for the second iteration of its exclusive Art Automobiles sale. The ultimate celebration of the RM Sotheby’s partnership, the upcoming auction will shine a spotlight on cutting-edge automotive design, lifting the gavel on some 30 blue-chip automobiles and select memorabilia.
The November auction follows in the footsteps of RM’s pioneering 2013 New York event. The first major collector car auction to be held in Manhattan in over a decade, the sale generated an extraordinary $63 million during just two hours of spirited bidding, raising the bar for collector car auctions with its innovative approach and presentation.
This year’s event, held at Sotheby’s global headquarters in Manhattan, is set to amplify these results. The automobile offering will again feature a selection of vehicles handpicked for their rarity, significance to design, engineering, and for the outstanding achievement they represent in their respective category; all will be displayed as part of an exclusive exhibition in Sotheby’s prestigious 10th floor galleries ahead of the sale. In a bid to broaden the event’s appeal, the catalogue will also feature a selection of more traditional artworks, including paintings and sculptures tied to an automotive theme
“Returning to the global stage of New York City is particularly special this year as we’ve entered into partnership with Sotheby’s. We are looking forward to once again hosting a world-class exhibition and auction with our new colleagues,” says Rob Myers, Chairman and Founder, RM Sotheby’s.
Befitting a sale focused on cutting-edge design, early entries for RM’s 2015 New York event are led by a unique 2006 Lamborghini Concept S, chassis 001. Conceived by the marque’s then head of design, Luc Donckerwolke, the car was introduced as an extreme interpretation of an open-top Lamborghini Gallardo. First presented as a non-running design study at Geneva in 2005, tremendous public interest in the Concept S prompted the decision to build a functional version of the vehicle in order to further gauge potential customer demand.
The fully operable version debuted at the Concorso Italiano the following year; a proverbial show-stopper, it remained true to its concept yet seemed even more extreme. The so-called “saute-vent” windscreens, re-designed and lowered for homologation, were even more radical than the original design, serving to visually divide the cabin and creating a “spine” that runs between the passenger and the driver.
While a limited run was originally planned for the Concept S, the exceedingly high cost and time-consuming production ultimately ended with the first example also being the last, rendering chassis 001 – the vehicle slated for RM’s New York sale – a true, production-ready, one-off Lamborghini. In single ownership from new, the current owner took delivery of the Concept S soon after it’s unveiling. It proved so popular that it was routinely invited back by Lamborghini to be shown around the world, including twice at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Fully operable and street-legal, it has been driven only 180 km, with many of those accumulated during initial testing and the remainder on the show field (Estimate: $2,400,000 – $3,000,000).
Ian Kelleher, Managing Director of RM Sotheby’s West Coast division adds, “The Gallardo Concept S is downright wild and an absolutely perfect car to be featured within the 10th floor galleries at Sotheby’s. The Lamborghini’s blend of avant-garde style and uniqueness sets the tone for what will be a theme carried throughout the entire catalogue. As we carefully curate the 2015 New York offering, we will continue to place a strong emphasis on significant design contribution throughout automotive history. It will undoubtedly be another watershed event.”
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