Visitors to Blenheim, Ontario are often surprised to find the headquarters of a large global corporation located in the pleasant southwestern Ontario town of about 5,000 people. The RM group of companies, (comprising RM Auto Restoration and RM Auctions, the world's largest collector car auction house) was born here over 30 years ago. The company now has over 100 employees worldwide, including 50 people working in its corporate auction headquarters in Blenheim, and another 30 in the restoration division. Rob Myers' passion for classic cars started early, as he worked alongside his father on his collection of antique autos. In 1976, Myers started his own single-car garage restoration business. The company soon established a reputation for quality and attention to detail that prompted construction of a large restoration and sales facility. "Our success is built on a foundation of the craftsmanship of our people here in Blenheim," he says. "In show competitions, judges look at everything on a car: are the bolts all turned the same way, do the gaps on the doors meet tolerances, does the stitching on the upholstery line up? Our people have built an incredible knowledge base here, and if they can't source a part, they make it. The restorations often outdo the original cars in quality."

Myers continued to buy and sell collector cars through the 1980s, joined by partners Dan Warrener and Mike Fairbairn in 1988. The trio of experts was soon doing such a large volume of business with auction companies that they decided to open their own auction house in 1991. RM Auctions has since grown substantially, with an impressive roster of collector car auctions in prestigious settings around the world.

RM expanded into Europe in 2007, hosting record-breaking auctions in Maranello, Italy and London, England. In 2010, RM introduced a new sale in Monaco (held during the same weekend as the Grand Prix) and expanded its U.S. presence with the acquisition of the huge Auburn Auction Park in Indiana. A new subsidiary company, Auctions America by RM, specializes in the sale of American classics, Detroit muscle cars, European sports cars, custom cars, hot rods and collectible motorcycles.

RM Auctions continued its international expansion earlier this year with the addition of two new European sales in Italy and the U.K.

"We recently wrapped up our 2011 auction season, which featured eight different events in three countries, generating over $200 million in sales," says RM's Amy Christie. "In addition, 2011 saw the establishment of a number of new auction records, including a new world record for a Mercedes-Benz sold at auction when a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster sold for $9.68 million at our Monterey, California sale in August.

"At the same sale, RM also offered the iconic 1970 Porsche 911s as previously owned by the 'King of Cool' Steve McQueen and featured in his epic motorsport film Le Mans, which realized $1.375 million to set a new auction record for a 911."



All told, the company sold 32 motor cars for individual million-dollar-plus results in 2011. RM currently holds five of the top 10 all-time records for the most expensive motor cars ever sold at auction.

Among the company's best marketing tools are its auction catalogues, researched, written and designed by a team of in-house experts. Their attention to detail and outstanding commitment to accuracy are legendary in the industry, and have garnered several awards. The catalogues are just one example of how the company follows Henry Ford's practice of "vertical integration," providing the full range of services demanded by the exacting global collector car market.

"We offer a full range of services," notes Ms. Christie. "With decades of combined experience in buying, selling, racing and restoration, our expert team of car specialists are fully immersed in the hobby and uniquely qualified to advise on a diverse range of aspects. Additional services span from restoration to private treaty and estate planning services."

Back home in Blenheim, the company's renowned classic car display, which doubles as the local Chatham-Kent Tourist Information Centee, provides an ever-changing display of historic automobiles as cars are restored, bought and sold. The RM Classic Car Exhibit usually features around 60 of the finest classics (such as Duesenberg, Packard, Ferrari and Lamborghini), providing visitors with a fascinating insight into automotive history and development across the years.



The car collector market has bucked the prevailing economic trends and held up very well during recessionary times. As Ms. Christie notes, car collectors look at it as both a hobby and an alternative investment. "Despite the economy, the collector car market has remained stable, with great cars – exceptional, rare examples with important provenance – continuing to attract great prices at auction," she adds. As for the continued international growth of the hobby (in 2011, bidders at RM events hailed from 48 countries around the world), technology has played an important role.

"In addition to onsite bidding, we offer a diverse range of remote bidding options to enable easy participation from afar," says Ms. Christie, "including absentee, telephone, smartphone and internet bidding. The majority of our sales stream live online, providing real-time coverage of our events. When we sold 'the world's most famous car' last year (the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 James Bond movie car, which sold for $4.6 million US), over 100,000 unique visitors tuned in online to watch the sale."

And it all started with attention to detail in a single car garage in Blenheim, Ontario.

"Our background in restoration has enabled us to create a level of knowledge that is unmatched," says Mr. Myers. "This leads to accurate auction estimates and condition reports, which in turn produces strong sales percentages and satisfied buyers and sellers."