June 2023 - European auction previews
5 June, 2023
Le Mans hosts two high-profile auctions in June to mark the 100th Anniversary of the 24-Hour race, kicking off with RM Sotheby’s 24-lot sale which takes place on the eve of this year’s race on the 9th, with many of the cars being demonstrated out on track as they are sold. Star attraction is an ex-Works 1985 Porsche 962 with a pre-sale estimate of €6,000,000 – 9,000,000 – the first time a factory Rothmans Porsche 962 C has been offered at auction. Campaigned by Porsche in 1985 and 1986, it claimed pole at the 1986 24 Hours of Le Mans in the hands of Jochen Mass and was restored by renowned marque expert, Trevor Crisp, of Katana Ltd in 2018.
Another Works team car on offer is a Ferrari 121 LM Spider that ran in the 1955 Mille Miglia with Piero Taruffi at the wheel, and was piloted two months later at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by Maurice Trintignant and Harry Schell. Fresh from a five-year restoration at Maranello, it is accompanied by Ferrari Classiche certification confirming its matching-numbers chassis, engine and gearbox (estimate €5,500,000 – 6,500,000).
The ex-Derek Warwick/John Nielsen/Andy Wallace 1991 Jaguar XJR-12 LM that finished 4th at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans is listed at €2,500,000 – 3,000,000, while a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series III which served as the official safety car at the 1963 race is expected to fetch €550,000 – 650,000.
[ RM Sotheby’s Le Mans Sale – auction catalogue here ]
The end of the month sees Artcurial returning to the circuit for its Le Mans Classic sale, where the early consignments include a Porsche 962 C which finished 3rd at the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by Tiff Needell, David Sears and Anthony Reid. Chassis 154 went on to compete in the Japan Sports Prototype Championship, Needell partnering with Derek Bell, and it’s described as on-the-button following a full engine-rebuild (estimate €1,500,000 – 1,800,000).
Bonhams makes its annual visit to Switzerland for The Bonmont Sale on 18 June, with the top end of the catalogue dominated by modern exotica. A single-owner 2020 Bugatti Chiron, delivered new to Switzerland and showing under 5,500km is guided at CHF2,500,000 – 3,000,000. The sale also features a recently-serviced 16,100km 1990 Ferrari F40 at CHF2,000,000 – 2,500,000, and a one-of-80 2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta, Swiss registered and barely used with less than 350km (estimate CHF1,700,000 – 2,000,000).
Highlights among the classics on offer include a 1962 Citroën DS 19 Cabriolet, restored in 2006 (estimate CHF160,000 – 200,000); a right-hand drive 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III 'Chinese Eye' Drophead Coupe (estimate CHF150,000 – 200,000); and a rare Swiss-built 1970 Monteverdi High Speed 375/L Coupe requiring restoration (estimate CHF70,000 – 100,000).
Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari Enzo has been consigned for Monaco Car Auctions’ inaugural sale on 8 June in Monaco. The first Enzo built, its has covered 4,800km and carries an estimate of €5,000,000 – 5,500,000. Joining the Enzo in the single-marque Ferrari sale is a unique Beach Car, designed by Michelotti at the request of Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar. Based on a Ferrari 365 GTC/4, it started life painted Light Metallic Blu with a blue denim interior, but following Sheikh Al Thani’s cancelled order Michelotti resprayed it bronze and displayed it on their stand at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show (estimate €700,000 – 1,300,000).
[ Monaco Car Auctions L'AstaRossa Sale – auction catalogue here ]
Classic car auction price estimates for: Porsche | Ferrari | Jaguar | Bugatti | Citroën | Rolls-Royce | Monteverdi
From leading auction houses: RM Sotheby’s | Artcurial | Bonhams | Monaco Car Auctions
Read through the rest of our classic car previews for more information about our auction collections. Check out our online resource for upcoming classic car auction events and classic car auction results around the world.