Three Rolls-Royces that belonged to the late designer Karl Lagerfeld to be auctioned by Sotheby’s; the eccentric never drove them himself
“When I was four, I asked my mother for a valet for my birthday” reportedly once said Karl Lagerfeld and after having suffered “two terrible accidents” in his youth that “made [him] fearful of going behind the wheel,” the designer spent the majority of his days on the road being driven around in luxurious limousines when not flying around the world on private jets.
Now, in the wake of the death of this eccentric head honcho of his own label and creative director of both Chanel and Fendi in February 2019, three of his motors are set to be sold next month in Monaco by Sotheby’s.
Listed alongside a 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom and a 2019 Cullinan is Lagerfeld’s supposed favourite vehicle, his silver metallic 2017 Phantom drophead coupé.
Featuring a cream leather interior with ‘RR’ monograms on the headrests, antagonistic doors and yacht-like woodwork, the vehicle – which the auctioneers described as having cost over £375,000 when new – is offered with an estimate of £297,000 to £339,000, but will likely sell for a far higher sum given its provenance.
Of the drophead coupé, Pierre Mothes of Sotheby’s remarked: “It was his favourite vehicle, especially during spring and summer. He loved it as an open car,” whilst his longtime personal assistant Sébastien Jondeau’s stories about the vehicles were shared in early 2021.
According to a website named happy Lifestyle inc: “More touching encounters also occurred in cars. When Lagerfeld was weakened by cancer treatments, his appetite lagging, Jondeau would ferry him in the Rolls-Royce Phantom 8 to his favorite pizzeria, and once said, ‘Let’s try McDonald’s,’ and the designer downed two cheeseburgers before they arrived back at Lagerfeld’s home. ‘This pleased me so much,’ [Jondeau] writes.”
For auction through Sotheby’s in Monaco, 3rd to 5th December 2021 – Karl Lagerfeld’s cars
All described as being “in need of technical inspections.”
2017 Phantom drophead coupé, silver metallic
Estimate: £297,000 to £339,000 ($396,000 to $453,000, €350,000 to €400,000 or درهم1.5 million to درهم1.7 million).
Mileage: 6,617 miles (10,649 kilometres).
2018 Phantom, black diamond metallic
Estimate: £255,000 to £297,000 ($340,000 to $396,000, €300,000 to €350,000 or درهم1.2 million to درهم1.5 million).
Mileage: 1,414 miles (2,277 kilometres).
2019 Cullinan, tungsten metallic
Estimate: £255,000 to £297,000 ($340,000 to $396,000, €300,000 to €350,000 or درهم1.2 million to درهم1.5 million).
Mileage: 4,631 miles (7,453 kilometres).
