Putting on a brand-new event is never easy, but I’m giving ModaMiami credit where credit is due. In a collaborative effort with RM Sotheby’s, the event was full of rare and historically significant vehicles. There was also a plane, plenty of Ferraris, and some Pagani vehicles that I have personally never seen in the wild. For the automotive enthusiast, it was a not-to-be-missed weekend filled with hundreds of vehicles, elegant events, and plenty of auctions to keep you occupied.
If that’s what you’re into, RM Sotheby’s was on hand to auction off vehicles, a boat, a plane, watches, and even some handbags. The Casa Tua Club provided plenty of food, drinks, and a party atmosphere in the hotel lobby. Carbone, famous for its chef Mario Carbone’s culinary creations, was also on hand for an exclusive dinner. Finally, the Concours de Nuit party by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Miami had a similar ultra-exclusive feel. You get the picture: it was luxurious from start to finish.
Below are a few of the impressive vehicles laid out on the lawn of the Biltmore Coral Gables for the inaugural ModaMiami event.
Mercedes-Benz W 196 R “Silver Arrow”
I know we are getting deep into the Mercedes here, but the 1954/55 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R “Silver Arrow” grand prix car previously raced by Juan Manuel Fangio also made an appearance. The Silver Arrow traveled from the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Germany for the event but won its first race at the 1955 Dutch Grand Prix. With a 2.5L eight-cylinder engine, it has around 256-290 horsepower and a top speed of up to 186 mph. It only has room for one person, but that didn’t stop it from getting a lot of attention at ModaMiami.
Pagani Imola Roadster
The Pagani Imola Roadster brought out by Prestige Imports x Pagani Miami was one of the first examples of the hypercar that made it down to Florida. This is a street-legal version of the Huayra R with 850 horsepower from the V12 engine and a weight of only 2,776 pounds. Finished in an Azzuro Sardegna BMF factory paint with gold accents, this Pagani is undoubtedly eye-catching.
Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II
It is no secret that I love an old Mercedes, but the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II is one of my favorites. I’ve never actually seen one in person, though! This version went for $280,000 through the auction, as 226 out of only 502 examples were created. It only had around 34,000 miles and a numbers-matching engine and transmission, increasing its value. According to Sotheby’s, it has 235 horsepower from the 2.5L four-cylinder engine and a crazy high 7,800 rpm redline.
Mercedes-AMG CLK GTR GT1
Another historically significant Mercedes? You bet. This 1997 Mercedes-AMG CLK GTR GT1 is another vehicle I’ve always wanted to see in person. It was driven by Bernd Schneider in the 1997 FIA GT championship and helped him win the series. The CLK GTR GT1 won four times throughout its time on the track. It is one of only four examples that came out of the Mercedes-Benz Motorsport in partnership with AMG and was owned privately for many years.
G-AAMY De Havilland Plane
According to RM Sotheby’s, this yellow G-AAMY is a 1929 De Havilland DH60GM Gipsy Moth auctioned off to benefit a new rhinoceros sanctuary in Central Kenya. The Segera Conservancy will help increase the number of endangered rhinos as part of the Zeitz Foundation’s efforts. All $527,500 of the sales price will go toward these efforts. This was the only plane on hand this weekend that I ran into, but it sounds like the exclusivity served it well.
Mercedes-Benz 300 TE 6.0 AMG “The Mallet”
The 1988 Mercedes-Benz 300 TE 6.0 AMG, nicknamed “The Mallet,” is one of only two 6.0L wagons produced. That’s one of two. It’s also one of the more famous AMG models from before Mercedes and AMG partnered up. This one comes with the 6.0L AMG V8 engine with 310 horsepower, a four-speed automatic transmission, and a limited-slip differential. At auction this weekend, The Mallet went for $467,000.
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
The Mercedes 300 SL was a popular vehicle to see on the lawn of the Biltmore Hotel in Miami. There were many examples up for auction, and others were just on display, but this version with a cream-white exterior and red interior was cool to see.
Overall, ModaMiami earned my respect this weekend. I’m a little sunburnt and have about 5,000 new photos to sift through, but that is always a sign of a good weekend. Thank you to the team at Moda for the invitation.
