RM Group of Companies founder Rob Myers is being honored with the Nicola Bulgari Award from America’s Automotive Trust (AAT). The group bestows the recognition to select individuals within the automotive community for their efforts to preserve America’s motoring heritage.
Myers, who began his career in a one-car garage more than 35 years ago, has since become the head of the world’s leading auction house for collectible vehicles. A skilled automotive restoration expert and painter by trade, he established a following among enthusiasts and collectors early in his career.
Experiencing first-hand how lucrative collector car auctions can be, Myers partnered with Dan Warrener and Mike Fairbarn to form RM Auctions in 1991. This led the three to expand operations throughout North America and Europe, establishing the brand as the world’s premier auction house and restoration facility for collector cars.
“Rob’s commitment and efforts have been a major force in the growth of restoration and preservation into a multi-billion-dollar industry, which has led to countless jobs for restoration experts and preserved innumerable classic and vintage cars for collectors,” said David Madeira, AAT CEO. “We are honored to recognize him with our most prominent award.”
“Cars have been a part of my life as far back as I can remember, so to be recognized in this way is a distinct honor. In particular, I am beyond proud to accept the Nicola Bulgari award, named for someone whose collection is so extraordinarily well-curated and who obviously shares the same values and passion for restoration and provenance as I do,” said Myers. “I want to thank the great team of people who’ve been with me along the way and helped me to build RM Sotheby’s and RM Auto Restoration into world-class organizations. I also want to sincerely thank America’s Automotive Trust, whose work to pass automotive skills and knowledge onto future generations is near and dear to me. This is a tremendous honor.”
The Nicola Bulgari Award – named after the famous luxury goods magnate, renowned car collector and AAT board member – is presented annually in recognition of an individual’s lifelong efforts to promote America’s automotive heritage through education, car restoration and/or collecting classic cars. Bulgari selects the recipient from a slate of candidates and past recipients, including NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick; McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty; Dr. Frederick Simeone, founder of the Simeone Automotive Museum; and Edward Welburn, former vice president of global design for General Motors.
“Nicola Bulgari’s efforts to preserve America’s automotive treasures are unparalleled as exemplified by his remarkable collection, his long service to America’s Car Museum (ACM) and his generosity to countless heritage organizations,” said Madeira. “We’re proud that he allows us to confer this award in his name.”
The award will be presented at a reunion of previous winners at Bulgari’s private collection during the 2016 Buick Club of America 50th Anniversary Celebration in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The award will be on permanent display at ACM’s 165,000-square-foot facility in Tacoma, Washington.
For more information about AAT, visit americasautomotivetrust.org.
