Record $1.655M for Wolf of Wall Street Countach at New York Sotheby’s Auction
A 1989 Lamborghini Countach used in the production of ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ was among the many lots sold as RM Sotheby’s’ final live auction of 2023 in New York City raised $13,610,200.
A selection of the world’s most desirable luxury cars were up for grabs at Sotheby’s global New York headquarters during its December Luxury Week sale series with 78% of all lots selling.
The most notorious of these was the 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition by Bertone, one of two used in the 2013 Scorcese film and the sole driveable model. It sold for $1,655,00, beating the previous record for the model by $880,000 and was the fourth most expensive lot sold on the night.
When the Countach LP500 prototype was originally unveiled at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, it signalled the beginning of something of a legend for the Italian marque. The released version packed a screaming rear mid-mounted V12 and complete with groundbreaking scissor doors making it instantly recognisable to petrolheads and the wider public.
The Countach 25th Anniversary Edition, named to commemorate the founding of Lamborghini, was the car’s final iteration and therefore, the most evolved. It featured many pioneering contributions by Horacio Pagani - who at the time was working for Lamborghini - which included a restyling and enhanced aerodynamics. A total of 657 25 Anniversary Edition Countachs were produced - 12 being delivered to the United States - bringing an end to the legendary run.
In ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, one of the defining moments of the film is towards the end when an over the limit (shall we say) Jordan Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, attempts to drive himself home only to repeatedly crash and damage the Countach in the process. Director Scorcese insisted that a genuine Countach needed to be used as he felt the damage sustained by a prop stand-in wouldn’t look as authentic. The car that was sold on the night was therefore the other example.
The highest selling lot on the night was a 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia. With just four owners in its 70 year life, it broke the previous record for the model and went to its fifth owner for $2,425,000.
Top 10 Lots Sold
1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia - $2,425,000
2015 McLaren P1 - $2,095,000
2015 Porsche 918 Spyder - $1,985,000
1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition by Bertone - $1,655,000
2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 - $1,490,000
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Coupe by Bertone - $1,105,000
2019 Ford GT - $863,000
2005 Ferrari Superamerica - $720,000
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI - $357,000
2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello - $335,000
Words: Mike Booth
Pictures: RM Sotheby’s