Apply some hairspray, pull on a pair of Ray-Ban shades and dust off your old white blazer (come on, admit it…) then roll up the sleeves – because it’s time to step into the world of Miami Vice. A pristine collection of five late-1980s and early-1990s supercars and bling machines is up for grabs and every one could have starred in Miami Vice, television’s most over-the-top cop show of all time.
The Miami-based Curated auction house is hosting the sale of these ‘Vice-like icons. And while speedboats, helicopters and beachside condos are not included, V12s, wings the size of ironing boards and white and black paint that was so a signature of the 80s, are all present and correct.
Many of the vehicles have notched up just a couple of thousand miles or less. All five hail from the same preservation collection, and have been owned, from new, by the same individual. Now it’s someone else’s turn to do the timewarp and drive back into the excesses of the 80s and 90s.
1987 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC 6.0 AMG
First of the collection is the heavy hitter – the 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC 6.0 AMG. For most people, the standard C126-generation Mercedes-Benz SEC was quite the statement. However, taking one to AMG for additional performance (and presence) was more like a declaration of war, albeit a battle that would be played out at the traffic lights. Before AMG was brought in-house, conversions of existing cars were performed at facilities in Germany and in Westmont, Illinois. One of the outfit’s more famous conversions was the Hammer estate, but this coupé is a beauty in its own right.
With its V8 engine enlarged to 6-litres and the deployment of a four-valve head conversion, this 560 SEC 6.0 AMG ticks a lot of German hot rod boxes. Surprisingly, the wide-body wings don’t feature on this example, but the car does wear the iconic Penta alloy wheels.
The market for the 126-generation Mercedes coupé has hit overdrive in the past couple of years, with condition #1 (Concours) values increasing from $15,800 (£11,900) in 2017 to $80,900 (£61,000) today for US examples. Those cars converted by AMG have begun to sell for even more. The current auction record is from RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction in March of 2020, where a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 560 AMG 6.0 wide-body sold for $390,000 (£294,000).
1989 Lamborghini Countach Silver Anniversary Edition
The pinnacle of the collection is the 1989 Lamborghini Countach Silver Anniversary Edition (25th). Finished in Nero Tenebre over a cream-coloured leather interior, it has only put 2668 miles on its glorious V12. While earlier iterations of the Countach may be purer or more raw, the Silver Anniversary is considered more refined and the best-handling version. It is also the most successful, with 657 sold.
The current condition #1 (Concours) value is $310,000 (£234,000), which is down from a high of $436,000 (£329,000) in 2016, but up from $140,000 (£106,000) ten years ago. The auction record for one dates from 2016 where RM Sotheby’s sold one for $467,376 (£353,000) in Italy, but last August, a black over tan Silver Anniversary Countach with 6000 miles sold for $275,000 (£208,000) at RM Sotheby’s Shift/Monterey online auction.
1988 Lamborghini Jalpa
Before the Huracán and the Gallardo, with their screaming V10s, the entry-level Lamborghini was the Jalpa with a transverse V8. Despite its entry-level status, or maybe because of it, Lamborghini sold just 410 examples of the Jalpa.
The 1988 Lamborghini Jalpa in this collection is from the last model year and has racked up only 3200 miles. Reportedly the last Jalpa built for North America, it is finished black over black with white Silhouette (its predecessor) style wheels. The car also wears its original Pirelli P7R tyres, which are a reminder of the period in the 1970s when Lamborghini and Pirelli were at the forefront of developing high-performance low-profile tyres. Those wanting to drive it today would be advised to set them aside for a fresh set.
Values for the Jalpa have been creeping up over several years, with the top-condition value now at $118,000 (£89,000). The auction record for the Jalpa is from August in 2020, where one sold for $140,000 (£106,000) on Bring a Trailer.
1990 Lamborghini LM/American
The final raging bull of the collection is the vehicle that best personifies that spirit. The collection’s 1990 Lamborghini LM/American has just 1200 miles and is finished in “Bianco Perlato” (pearl white) over red. While a total of 328 LM002s were built, this is one of 60 LM/American models produced.
Given that the LM002 was originally developed as a military transport, and many saw off-road action around the world, the survival rate of them is likely to be lower than that of most Lamborghinis.
Hagerty Price Guide values of the LM/American have been climbing up the past several years. Starting from a recent low of $140,000 (£106,000) in 2014, the current condition 1 value is $382,000 (£288,000). The auction record for one is from 2017, where a black over black 1990 LM/American sold for $467,000 (£352,000 at RM Sotheby’s auction in New York City.
1991 Lotus Esprit X180R
The final vehicle in the collection is this 1991 Lotus Esprit X180R. In the 1980s, Lotus chased the sports cars from Ferrari and Porsche with its four-cylinder turbocharged Esprit. Originally launched in 1976 with a sharp-wedged design that was the work of Giugiaro, Peter Stevens restyled the car in late 1987, and this car wears that shape. This example, however, is not a standard Esprit.
Despite being best known for its Formula 1 team, Lotus was also involved in IMSA, where it raced the Esprit in the Bridgestone Supercar championship. As a homologation car, the X180R was fitted with a roll cage but also had air conditioning. It served its purpose, too: Lotus won numerous races that year. Curated’s car up for sale has recorded a mere 499 miles and is finished in white over black with black alloys.
While Hagerty does not specifically track prices for the X180R variant of the 1991 Lotus Esprit, the 1991 Lotus Esprit SE has been increasing gradually in value over the past several years. Five years ago, the condition 1 value was $38,600 (£29,000), but today the condition 1 value is $43,900 (£33,000). Despite only 20 examples of the X180R being produced, one did sell at auction recently, with #18 going for $61,425 (£46,000) on Bring a Trailer—albeit in less than pristine condition. An example such as this 499-mile car could be a great opportunity to capture a rare piece of Lotus motor racing history.
Curated does not say explicitly whether the cars will be sold together or broken up and allowed to go to separate homes, but we imagine that for the right price it would be possible to strike a deal either way. With more than a million pound’s worth of pristine Miami Vice-era exotic cars all in one collection, do you feel there’s something… in the air tonight?
Via Hagerty US
