June 2015 - US auction previews
22 May, 2015
One of the three Lotus 56 Turbine cars built for the 1968 Indy 500 race goes under the hammer at Motostalgia’s Indianapolis sale on 12 June with an estimate of $1,600,000 – 2,000,000. Chassis number IBY1568INDY was driven by Graham Hill in the 1968 race and subsequently was owned for a number of years by Richard Petty. Since then the car is described as having been magnificently and authentically restored back to its 1968 Indy 500 “as run” appearance.
Other race cars on offer include a 1972 AAR Eagle, driven by Graham McRae in the 1973 Indy 500 (estimate $375,000 – 435,000) and a Pontiac Grand Prix NASCAR Winston Cup, one of Richard Petty’s 1986 team cars (estimate $95,000 – 125,000).
European sports cars are well represented, including a 1985 Lamborghini Countach 5000 S (estimate $445,000 – 485,000) and a number of Ferraris. The 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona on offer started life in Europe as a Berlinetta before being converted to a Spider and carries a pre-sale estimate of $735,000 – 800,000.
Elsewhere, a 1932 Cadillac V12 Victoria Convertible that has been stored in a barn for 40 years is estimated at $285,000 – 350,000. If you are in the market for one of Datsun’s ‘Z’ Cars then they don’t often appear with mileages as low as the 1976 280Z offered here, with just 1,353 miles showing (estimate $30,000 – 45,000).
Returning to Newport Beach, California for its third season on 5-7 June 2015, Russo and Steele will showcase European Sports Cars, American Muscle, Classic Customs and Hot Rods. Among the Mercedes-Benz already consigned is a 1971 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet, one of just 1,232 built. Presented in triple blue livery, the car has been in single-family ownership for 25 years and comes with a set of owner’s manuals and canvas tool roll.
The 1956 Avia Streamliner was built in Czechoslovakia with steel frames and a magnesium skin, powered by a BMW 750cc four stroke engine. During the late 1950s the car was seized by the authorites, only to surface later in a German museum. In 1987 it was shipped to the USA, since then it has raced at Laguna Sega and been shown at Pebble Beach.
A number of Porsches have been entered in the sale, including a 1985 Euro-spec slantnose 911 Turbo and a 911 T that has only covered 750 miles since the completion of a seven year restoration.
Other notable entries include a 24,000-mile 1967 Ford Mustang GT Coupe powered by the factory “S” Code 390 engine and a 1959 Peerless GT Mk I, one of only 70 left hand drive models produced.