May 2016 - European auction previews
5 May, 2016
The major European auction activity in May is centred around Monaco’s Grand Prix Historique weekend, with Bonhams, Coys and RM Sotheby’s all hosting sales in the glamorous principality.
RM’s impressive entry list includes 15 cars with estimates in excess of €1 million, the star of the show being a 1968 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider with a pre-sale estimate of €19,000,000 – 23,000,000. Chassis number 11057, the last of the 10 NART Spiders built, was the only European-delivery car sold, having been supplied new through Concesionario Tayre of Madrid to a Spanish Colonel of the Foreign Legion in February 1968.
Other significant Ferraris include; a 1951 340 America Barchetta, which competed in the 1951 and 1952 Le Mans 24-hours races in the hands of its first owner Pierre Louis-Dreyfus (estimate €7,500,000 – 9,000,000); a 27,000-kilometre 1972 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider, one of only 18 left-hand drive European specification examples produced (estimate €2,400,000 – 2,800,000); a 1967 330 GTS estimated at €2,100,000 – 2,400,000; and a 1964 250 GT/L Lusso, at one time owned by the late Aldo Cudone (estimate €1,550,000 – 1,800,000).
Rally cars offer include; an ex-Works 1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Evolution 1 Group B, driven by Ari Vatanen to victories in the 1985 Monte-Carlo Rally and 1985 Swedish Rally (estimate €600,000 – 800,000); a 1974 Alpine-Renault A110 1800 Group 4, which finished 2nd in the 1974 Tour de Corse, one of nine Works cars driven during the season (estimate €240,000 – 280,000); and the 1982 French Rally Championship winning Renault 5 Turbo Group 4 (estimate €250,000 – 350,000).
Also going under the hammer is a three-time Canadian GT Championship winning 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution, one of just 14 GT1 race cars in private hands, and the only street-legal race car example; it carries a pre-sale estimate of €2,700,000 – 3,000,000.
[Photos: Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s]
The star attraction at Bonhams ‘Les Grandes Marques’ sale is an unrestored 1953 Jaguar C-Type with a pre-sale estimate of €4,000,000 – 5,000,000. Chassis number XKC 011 was campaigned successfully in period, including races at Le Mans, Nürburgring and Spa, and has been in single family ownership since 1963.
Other notable highlights include; a 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS Supercharged Spider, first owned by the Italian racing driver Achille Varzi (estimate €1,800,000 – 2,400,000); a 850-km one-owner 2011 Aston Martin One-77 (estimate €1,750,000 – 2,250,000); a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS, one of 200 produced (estimate €1,500,000 – 2,000,000); and the ex-Glen Kidston, Vivian Selby 1925 Bugatti Type 35, owned by the current vendor since 1964 (estimate €1,000,000 – 1,500,000).
A 1968 De Tomaso Vallelunga that was awarded a 2nd in Class at Villa d'Este in 2004, following a 2,000-hour restoration, is offered with a pre-sale estimate of €320,000 – 360,000. The Vallelunga was De Tomaso’s first production model, with only an estimated 53 examples built prior to the company focusing on the Mangusta. Other rarities include a 1980 Lancia Rally SE 037, with an estimate of €320,000 – 400,000. Chassis number SE037-001, the first of the factory prototypes built, passed into the ownership of its creator - Sergio Limone - after its development duties ended.
A pair of F1 cars are set to go across the block at Coys ‘Legende et Passion’ sale on 14 May; a 1968 Cooper BRM T68B, driven by Lucien Bianchi to 3rd place in the 1968 Monaco Grand Prix; and the ex-Thierry Boutsen 1985/86 Arrows A8, with a pre-sale estimate of €150,000 – 180,000.
Other highlights include; a 1960 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder, one of only 245 examples produced, estimated at €750,000 – 850,000; a one-owner 109-km 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GTR, delivered new to Japan; and a 45,000-mile 1969 Jaguar E-Type Series II Roadster, with one lady owner from new (estimate €80,000 – 100,000).
Auctionata will host a 39-lot sale in Berlin on 20 May, highlights include a three-owner 1981 Porsche 911 Turbo with an estimate of €150,000 and a one-owner 1984 BMW 628 CSi estimated at €24,000.
Galerie Fischer, the long-established Swiss auction house, will hold their inaugural classic car sale on 28 May at the Swiss Classic World show in Lucerne. Top lots are expected to be; a 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Spider Zagato, owned by the vendor since 1994; and a three-owner 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Roadster, one of only 141 examples produced, with a pre-sale estimate of CHF 650,000 – 850,000.
Silverstone Auctions heads to Denmark for their two-day sale at the Classic Race Aarhus Festival, 28-29 May. Star attraction among the 90 lots due to go under the hammer is a three-owner 1982 Ferrari 512 BBi, originally delivered new to Switzerland and now showing just 6,729km, with a pre-sale estimate of €350,000 – 400,000. Other highlights among the low-mileage cars on offer include; a 3,298-km 2005 Ferrari 575M (estimate €225,000 – 255,000); a one-owner 1998 Ferrari 550 Maranello, which has covered just over 9,600km from new (estimate €165,000 – 195,000); and a manual gearbox 1991 BMW 850i with 1,759km on the clock (estimate €80,000 – 90,000).