May 2023 - European auction previews
12 May, 2023
Blue-chip Ferraris head the entries at RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba sale on 20 May, topped by an ex-Works 312 PB with an estimate of €14,000,000 – 18,000,000. Chassis 0886 took pole positions and wins in 1972 at its debut race, the Buenos Aires 1,000 Kilometres, and the Nürburgring 1,000 Kilometres in the hands of Ronnie Peterson and Tim Schenken, helping Ferrari clinch the World Sportscar Championship of Makes.
The sale also features the 14-car Aurora Collection, with all lots being offered without a reserve. Highlights include a matching-numbers 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta (estimate €7,500,000 – 8,500,000); a 1956 Ferrari 500 TR Spider first owned by gentleman racer Prince Gaetano Starrabba di Giardinelli (estimate €4,000,000 – 4,500,000); and a Classiche-certified 1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider that has been owned by the consignor from new and has covered just 3,862 miles (estimate €2,500,000 – 3,000,000).
RM’s 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL Batmobile started life as a factory press car and has only had two private owners since its corporate duties ended (estimate €180,000 – 240,000). The M Power Collection brings five of the Batmobile’s younger siblings to auction, including a 95,800-km 1990 M3 Sport Evolution at €180,000 – 220,000 and a two-owner 2003 M3 CSL with 77,800km at €120,000 – 160,000.
A 1977 Lamborghini Countach LP400 that was delivered new to Rod Stewart while touring Australia and kept by him for 25 years is listed at €950,000 – 1,050,000. Converted to left-hand drive at some point after Stewart’s ownership, it recently underwent restoration works at Lamborghini Polo Storico.
[ RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba Sale – auction catalogue here ]
The Autoworld museum in Brussels will host Bonhams’ May sale where the star attraction is a 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, guided at €1,150,000 – 1,400,000. One of the few Roadsters originally supplied to Belgium, it underwent an engine upgrade in 1976 at an official Mercedes-Benz dealer in Germany, receiving a later alloy unit stamped with the original engine number. Further works have included a gearbox change and a two-year restoration that was completed in 1992.
A 2004 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR that competed under the TRG banner in the US before being run in the UK by Tech 9 Motorsport is expected to fetch €350,000 – 450,000. Retired from racing in 2011, it has spent the majority of the last four years on static display.
Among the low-mileage Mercedes-Benzes is a one-owner 2014 SLS AMG with 65km (estimate €150,000 – 200,000) and a 138-km 2007 SLR McLaren 722 Edition (estimate €300,000 – 500,000), both requiring re-commissioning; while an even rarer 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300 CE AMG 3.4 Cabriolet – believed to be one of only seven examples built – showing 107,000km is listed at €120,000 – 180,000.
[ Bonhams Autoworld Sale – auction catalogue here ]
Classic car auction price estimates for: Ferrari | BMW | Lamborghini | Mercedes-Benz | Porsche
From leading auction houses: RM Sotheby’s | Bonhams
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