Seriously big bucks were also invested in other Ferraris, with 2.52m (£2.02m) apiece being forthcoming for a 1966 206 S Dino Spyder and a 1952 225 Sport Spyder ‘Tuboscocca’, 1.338m euros (£1.07m) for a 2006 FXX Evo, 1.01m euros (£808k) for a 1948 166 Inter Spyder Corsa and 1.008m euros (£806k) for a genuinely factory-opened 1971 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder. A Schumi-raced F1 from the Champ’s 2000 season found 806k euros (£645k) and a still appreciating 1963 250GTE for 2+2 218k euros (£175k).

A very Third Reich newsreel 1936 540K Sport Merc with Cabrio A coachwork realised the forecast 2.32m euros (£1.86m) and a 2007 Le Mans raced Peugeot 908 V12 HDi FAP a model record 1.68m euros (£1.34m). Top Alfa Romeo prices logged were 1.23m euros (£986k)for a 1969 Alfa Romeo Tipo T33/3 Sports-Racer, 1.01m euros (£806k) for a competition 1968 T33/2 ‘Daytona’ from one season earlier and 414k euros (£332k) for a 1958 Giulietta Sprint Veloce Coupe by Zagato belonging to a major UK collector.

The 425,600 euros result (£340,484) for a 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider America was quite extraordinary. Whilst even a 1958 Fiat 500 Nuova minter attracted 33,600 euros (£26,880) and a lefthand drive 1967 Morris Mini Traveller that had been gentrified by Radford 28,000 euros (£22,400). Small change on the planet Monaco.

And after a marathon afternoon punctuated by big screen audio visual clips had run its course in the Grimaldi Forum, 69 or 73% of the 94 cars and a Ferrari-powered 1953 Hydroplane (which raised 868k euros, a £694,400 hydroplane record price)were hammered away by an indefatigable Max Girardo for 32.2m euros(£25.77m), making this the North American firm’s highest grossing sale to date in Europe.

The previous day, 100% of the 101 mainly Italian bikes had also been snapped up by collectors for another 1.34m euros (£1.05m). According to the auctioneers, buyers came to party from 33 countries, 34% of them apparently being first time bidders at an RM sale.

Indeed, within 24 hours at the Coys and Bonhams sales on the other side of the Palace in reclaimed Fontivielle, a further 67 classics changed hands for an additional 6.33m (£5.07m).

Highlights at the former’s Friday morning auction in the famous Monaco Cirque facility, where there were buyers for 42% of the contents, were a 1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III with 3-Position Drophead coachwork by the craftsmen of Gurney Nutting sold for a double lower estimate 1.124m euros with premium (£900k), record money, and a 1954 Merc 300SL Gullwing Coupe for 663k euros (£530k). A 1958 Lotus XV Climax made 201k euros (£160k) and a 160 Lotus Elite Climax 87k euros (£70k). A low mileage 1990 BMW m3 Evo Sport Coupe certainly motored well to a 76k euros conclusion (£61k), triple the top estimate!

Whilst at the latter’s Friday afternoon fixture in the rather sleepy Rainier Collection Museum, notable were the performances of a 1965 Ferrari 330GT that had been well transformed into a 250GTO Evocazione sold for 282k euros (£225k) and the inevitable 1963 Fiat 500D Jolly Beach Car by Ghia, which was most deservedly applauded when sold for an unbelievable 83k euros (£66,240). Whilst another 1959 Jolly also caused a ripple in the harbour when achieving a more than top estimate 43k euros (£34k). An only 4700k from new in 1980 Citroen Mehari 4x4 also flew well here to sell for 41k euros (£33k) and even a much more down market 1970 Mini Moke mustered 11,500 euros (£9200) in a 46% sold event.

This Saturday, the Aston Martin commodity screen will be fired up by the annual Bonhams sale for classic Astons which again takes place within AML Works Service at Newport Pagnell - and then,next Thursday, H&H have what is billed as a ‘General Sale’ on their home ground at Buxton. News of what sells in Bucks and the Peak District as well as intel on the significant prices paid earlier this week at Leominster and at Silverstone will be in next week’s e-round-up. Until then, please spend those euros, lest there is no tomorrow! RH-E