A 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider and a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione share the headlines at RM Sotheby’s biennial Villa Erba sale on 23 May, held during the fabulous Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este weekend in Italy. Offered in stunning, factory restored condition, chassis 2505 GT, is one of only 16 open-headlight versions, and the 18th of just 56 SWB California Spiders produced (estimate €11,000,000 – 13,000,000). With similar ‘star status’ chassis 1953 GT is the 20th of 164 GT SWB Berlinetta Competiziones built and is one of 45 aluminium-bodied competition lightweights produced in 1960.
Amongst the 37 cars on offer, Ferraris feature strongly with an inventory spanning more than 60 years of Ferrari production, including an early 1950 Ferrari 195 Inter Berlinetta, estimated at €1,250,000 – 1,650,000. Chassis 0089/S, shown at the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium in 1951, was delivered new to Comptoir Automobiles Richard SA in Brussels and later raced in the 1957 Liège–Rome–Liège Rally.
Notable non-Ferrari entries include a 1974 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale, in its striking original pistachio green and trademark beige suede upholstery. The car was originally retained by Lancia S.p.A with the intention of transforming it into a race car, although this ultimately didn’t happen. The car was sold to Lancia dealer Fratelli Beretta in northern Italy, and it remained under his care until the early 1990s when it was purchased by its current owner (estimate €350,000 – 450,000).
Other highlights include; a 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Villa d’Este Coupé, one of just 36 built and the last hand-made Alfa Romeo of its era (estimate €600,000 – 750,000); and a multi award-winning 1930 Minerva AL Cabriolet, the only surviving Minerva AL Cabriolet (estimate €1,100.000 – 1,390,000).
Following RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba event the attention moves to Belgium for Bonhams’ Spa Classic Sale on 24 May. With 41 cars consigned, the top lot is the ex-Jürgen Oppermann/Otto Altenbach/Loris Kessel Obermaier Racing 1990-93 Porsche 962 C. Chassis 962-155 is a one-owner car and has a well documented racing career which included a seventh place finish in the 1993 Le Mans 24-Hour race (estimate €1,450,000 – 1,850,000).
Also consigned is a car that enjoyed competition success at Spa; the ex-Joosen/Andruet/Vermeersch 1981 BMW 530i won its class at the 1981 Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours race, and is once again sporting its evocative Bastos livery of the period, following a comprehensive restoration in 2010 (estimate €120,000 – 160,000).
Other highlights include; a 73,000-km 1980 Porsche 924 Carrera GT, one of only 400 examples built (estimate €75,000 – 90,000); a 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, in single-family ownership for 27 years (estimate €600,000 – 800,000); and a 25,428-km 1988 Porsche 959 has a pre-sale estimate of €700,000 – 900,000.
A 1957 Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet (estimate €60,000 – 120,000) heads an entry list of 38 cars at Auctionata’s Berlin sale on 4 May. Other lots include a pair of Alpines; a 1970 A110 (estimate €40,000 – 80,000) and a 1978 A310 (estimate €13,000 – 26,000).