RM Sotheby's

RM Sotheby's is a specialist auction house focused on collectible and historically important motor vehicles. The business was founded in 1976 in Ontario by Rob Myers and developed from a restoration and automotive-services enterprise into one of the best-known auction platforms for classic, competition, luxury, and modern collectible cars. It initially operated as RM Auctions and combined hands-on knowledge of vehicle restoration with live sales, private transactions, valuations, and collection management. The company differentiates itself from general auctioneers through its emphasis on provenance, condition, rarity, design significance, and presentation. Its consignments commonly include pre-war automobiles, post-war sports and grand-touring cars, race cars, American classics, European marques, supercars, hypercars, motorcycles, and automobilia. In addition to selling individual vehicles, RM Sotheby's has handled complete or partial collections and has offered cars associated with prominent manufacturers, racing histories, designers, celebrities, and major concours events. The business's specialists prepare catalog descriptions, coordinate inspections and photography, research ownership and competition histories, and support both sellers and buyers through the auction process. A major turning point came in 2015, when Sotheby's acquired a minority interest in RM Auctions and the company adopted the RM Sotheby's name. The relationship connected RM's automotive specialization with Sotheby's international brand, marketing reach, client network, and expertise in luxury auctions. RM Sotheby's has continued to operate as a specialist automotive auction business while using both live and online formats. Its sales calendar has included events associated with major collector-car gatherings and venues in North America and Europe, as well as standalone online auctions. The company operates across several parts of the collector-car market: traditional live auctions, online sales, private treaty transactions, valuations, collection services, and related advisory work. Its marketplace is international, with consignments and bidders drawn from North America, Europe, and other regions. Results are typically influenced by the quality and documentation of the consignments, market interest in particular marques or eras, venue attendance, reserve policies, and broader conditions in the luxury and collectible-asset markets. RM Sotheby's remains an active brand within the global collector-car auction sector. It is best understood not as a vehicle manufacturer or retailer, but as a specialist professional-services and marketplace brand whose core asset is expertise in identifying, documenting, marketing, and selling historically or culturally significant automobiles.

RM Sotheby's traces its origins to 1976, when Rob Myers established an automotive restoration and auction business in Ontario. The company became known for combining restoration capability and technical vehicle knowledge with the sale of collectible automobiles. This foundation helped it compete in a specialist market where buyers place substantial weight on authenticity, originality, mechanical condition, provenance, and historical importance. Operating for many years as RM Auctions, the business built a North American auction program around classic cars, sports cars, competition vehicles, American automobiles, European marques, motorcycles, and automobilia. It also developed experience in selling substantial private collections. Collection auctions are particularly important in the specialist market because they allow an auction house to tell a coherent historical story, market numerous related lots together, and attract international attention from collectors seeking both individual vehicles and broader acquisitions. RM Auctions expanded its profile through high-value sales and relationships with major collector-car events. Its specialist model involved more than conducting the bidding: teams researched lots, prepared catalogues, photographed vehicles, arranged inspections, advised consignors, and handled the logistical requirements of international transactions. These capabilities positioned the company as both an auctioneer and an automotive advisory business. In 2015, Sotheby's acquired a minority stake in RM Auctions and entered a strategic partnership with the company. The partnership led to the RM Sotheby's name and connected RM's automotive specialization with Sotheby's global luxury-auction identity and client network. RM Sotheby's remained focused on collector vehicles while benefiting from greater international visibility and cross-market access. The business subsequently operated through a mixture of live auctions, online auctions, and private sales. Its offering has covered vehicles ranging from pre-war and post-war classics to modern supercars and hypercars, as well as racing cars, motorcycles, and automobilia. Sales have been held in North America and Europe, often in connection with important automotive gatherings or at venues intended to attract concentrated collector audiences. The collector-car auction sector changed materially during the 2020s as online bidding became more accepted and auction houses adjusted their event models. RM Sotheby's expanded the role of digital auctions while maintaining live sales for consignments where physical presentation, specialist inspection, and an event atmosphere remained valuable. Its continuing business also includes valuations, private treaty transactions, and support for owners managing or dispersing collections. Today, RM Sotheby's is an active international specialist marketplace rather than a conventional consumer brand. Its reputation rests on automotive expertise, the quality and rarity of its consignments, the credibility of its cataloguing and provenance work, and its ability to connect sellers with a global community of collectors. The brand's position is strongest at the upper end of the market, although its sales may include vehicles across a broad range of eras and price categories.

• 2020

  Greater use of online auctions

  [1]RM Sotheby's official websitermsothebys.com

  The company expanded online auction activity alongside its live-event calendar as digital bidding became more important to collector-car commerce.

• 2015

  Sotheby's partnership and rebranding

  [2]Sotheby's and RM Auctions strategic partnership announcementsothebys.com

  Sotheby's acquired a minority interest in RM Auctions and the company adopted the RM Sotheby's name as part of a strategic partnership.

• 1976

  Business founded in Ontario

  [1]RM Sotheby's official websitermsothebys.com

  Rob Myers founded the automotive restoration and auction business that later became RM Sotheby's.

A premium, specialist auction and private-sales platform for significant collector vehicles, with an emphasis on provenance, rarity, documentation, presentation, and access to international collectors.

• Auction services

  Live collector-car auctions

  Scheduled physical auctions featuring curated consignments of collectible cars, motorcycles, automobilia, and related assets. These events typically combine specialist cataloguing, vehicle inspection opportunities, on-site bidding, telephone bidding, and online participation. The format is particularly suited to important collections and vehicles whose presentation, provenance, and event setting are central to the selling strategy.

• Digital auction services

  Online auctions

  Digital sales that allow bidders to review catalogued vehicles and participate remotely. Online auctions extend the company's geographic reach and provide a flexible format for selected consignments, while retaining specialist descriptions, imagery, bidding rules, and transaction support associated with the RM Sotheby's marketplace.

• Private treaty transactions

  Private sales

  Confidential or selectively marketed transactions for clients who prefer not to use a public auction. Private sales can be used for rare automobiles, high-value collections, or situations where timing, discretion, pricing strategy, and buyer qualification are especially important. The service draws on the company's specialist network and automotive market knowledge.

• Professional services

  Automotive advisory and collection services

  Advisory work connected with valuations, collection planning, acquisition, disposition, and the preparation of vehicles for sale. These services reflect the company's origins in restoration and automotive expertise and support clients who need assistance beyond a single auction transaction.

• 2020

  Expansion of digital auction activityStrategy

  Background

  Collector-car buyers increasingly used remote bidding and physical-event operations were disrupted during the global pandemic period.

  Action taken

  RM Sotheby's increased its use of online auctions and digital bidding while continuing to develop live sales where conditions permitted.

  Aftermath

  The company maintained a hybrid sales model combining live events, online auctions, and private transactions.

  Source

• 2015

  Strategic partnership with Sotheby'sM&A

  Background

  RM Auctions had established a specialist position in collector-car auctions, while Sotheby's possessed a global luxury-auction brand and international client network.

  Action taken

  Sotheby's acquired a minority interest in RM Auctions, and the business was subsequently presented under the RM Sotheby's name.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement increased the automotive auction company's international brand alignment and connected it more closely with Sotheby's broader luxury-auction ecosystem.

  Source

1. 1RM Sotheby's official websitermsothebys.com
2. 2Sotheby's and RM Auctions strategic partnership announcementsothebys.com