RM Sotheby's Monaco 2026 Auction Preview: Must-Watch Cars in April
RM Sotheby’s returns to the Principality of Monaco on April 25, 2026, for another edition of one of the most exciting collector car auctions on the calendar. Held at the iconic Grimaldi Forum during the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique weekend, the RM Sotheby’s Monaco sale is a biennial event that consistently draws the world’s most serious collectors – and this year’s lineup may be the strongest yet.
What to Expect at RM Sotheby's Monaco 2026
The RM Sotheby’s Monaco auction is timed perfectly alongside the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, one of the most celebrated events in the international motoring calendar. The auction preview is open to the public on both Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25, with the auction itself beginning at 4:00 PM (CEST) on Saturday.
This marks the eighth time RM Sotheby’s has staged its biennial Monaco sale at the Grimaldi Forum. With a catalogue spanning Formula 1 machinery, iconic GT cars, ultra-rare supercars, and landmark hypercars, the combined pre-sale estimate for the 2026 Monaco auction hit €87 million – more than $100,000,000!
No auction preview for RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2026 would be complete without mentioning the headline lot – a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider by Scaglietti, estimated at €14,500,000 – €16,500,000.
The 26th of only 56 short-wheelbase examples ever produced, this chassis was originally delivered to the German market and displayed at the 1961 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. Following a full restoration by respected atelier Dino Cognolato, it was shown at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and is accompanied by Ferrari Classiche certification confirming its matching-numbers status. With only 2,447 post-restoration kilometres, it arrives at Monaco in exceptional condition.
Three Featured Lots You Need to Know
Among the most collectible road Ferraris of the early 2000s, the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina was introduced at the 2000 Paris Motor Show as a strictly limited open-top companion to the acclaimed 550 Maranello. Only 448 examples were ever produced, making low-mileage survivors increasingly rare and desirable.
The example offered at RM Sotheby’s Monaco – car number “011” from the build allocation – was originally supplied by the Milan-based Ferrari dealer Rossocorsa, with the order taken on December 21, 2000. It has been owned by a single Milan-based collector since new and is finished in the definitive combination of Rosso Corsa over a Nero leather interior.
At the time of cataloguing, this Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina shows just 7,188 kilometres on the odometer. The car is accompanied by a numbered Certificato d’Origine issued by Ferrari, along with service invoices from 2025 documenting a new timing belt and general maintenance by Rossocorsa. For collectors seeking a single-owner, low-use example of one of Maranello’s most celebrated limited-edition models, this is a rare opportunity.
One of the most extraordinary and obscure automobiles ever to carry the Bugatti name, the EB112 is a car most enthusiasts have never seen in person – and for good reason. Only three examples were ever completed.
Developed during the Romano Artioli era as a four-door, grand-touring counterpart to the legendary EB110, the EB112 used an EB110-derived carbon fibre chassis but repositioned the engine up front. Its 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12 – based on the EB110’s turbocharged unit – produced a claimed 460 horsepower at 6,300 rpm, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel drive.
When Bugatti filed for bankruptcy in 1995, only the original prototype had been completed. Two unfinished chassis were acquired by Monegasque businessman Gildo Pallanca Pastor, who eventually completed both cars. The example offered at RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2026 – chassis 39003, the last of only three EB112 ever built – was retained by Pastor for his personal use and occasionally driven through the streets of Monaco.
Since passing to its current (second) owner in 2015, the EB112 has received over €37,000 in specialist maintenance including brake and suspension work, engine servicing by Lorrtec Race Engines, and new Michelin tyres. The odometer reads a remarkable 388 kilometres. It is offered accompanied by matching luggage, a tool roll, and its distinctive Rembrandt Bugatti elephant-handle umbrella.
The Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 represents one of the most significant milestones in Sant’Agata’s history: the final road (or track) car to be powered by a full, naturally aspirated, non-hybrid V12 engine. Lamborghini developed the Essenza through its Squadra Corse motorsport and Centro Stile design departments as a track-only machine, and limited production to just 40 examples worldwide.
The engineering is extraordinary. The Essenza’s carbon fibre monocoque was built to FIA Le Mans Hypercar safety standards – without a conventional roll cage – a first for a GT-style competition car. Its 6.5-litre V12, fed by a roof-mounted ram-air induction scoop, produces approximately 819 horsepower, making it more powerful than the Aventador SVJ and around 135 kilograms lighter. Downforce exceeds that of a GT3-spec race car.
The example offered at RM Sotheby’s Monaco is finished in Bronze with a black interior and shows just 505 kilometres on the odometer. It comes with the optional numbered flight case – matching car number 28 – containing a complete set of wheels, tyre warmers, car lifter, and MSA box. Deliveries of the Essenza ran from April 2021 through the end of 2022, and this car represents both the ultimate track tool and a historically important collector’s piece: Lamborghini’s farewell to the pure atmospheric V12 era.
Beyond the Headlines: More Lots Worth Watching
The RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2026 catalogue extends well beyond these three standout lots. Formula 1 enthusiasts will want to pay close attention to the 1984 Toleman TG183B – the very car in which Ayrton Senna made his Formula 1 debut at the 1984 Brazilian Grand Prix. Estimated at €2,800,000-€3,800,000, it is arguably the most historically significant F1 car to appear at auction in years.
Further F1 hardware includes a 1978 Ferrari 312 T3 (est. €4,500,000-€5,500,000) and a 1991 Ferrari 642, which were among four Formula 1 cars with a combined estimated value exceeding €10 million announced for the sale. For those more interested in modern performance cars, a 2018 Ferrari FXX-K Evo (est. €5,200,000-€5,700,000), a 2004 Ferrari Enzo (est. €4,900,000-€5,300,000), and a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari (est. €4,000,000-€4,500,000) are also on offer.
Why the RM Sotheby's Monaco Sale Matters
The RM Sotheby’s Monaco auction is not just a sale – it is a cultural event within one of the world’s most storied automotive weekends. Held against the backdrop of historic racing around Monaco’s legendary street circuit, the Grimaldi Forum sale consistently attracts a truly global bidding audience willing to pay top-of-market prices for top-of-market cars.
The biennial format keeps demand high and supply tight, reinforcing the sale’s reputation as the place where truly important cars change hands. The 2026 edition spans an exceptional breadth of eras and genres – from 1960s Ferrari Spiders to 1980s Formula 1 cars all the way to naturally aspirated hypercars – reflecting both the diversity of the collector car market and the strong demand across all segments.