May 2024 - Monaco previews
9 May, 2024
Artcurial, Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s all head to Monaco for blue-chip sales accompanying the biennial Historic Grand Prix. Artcurial kicks off on 9 May with The W Collection; 44 cars estimated to bring around €35 million from Swedish enthusiast Staffan Wittmark – all offered at no reserve. 1950s and ‘60s big-ticket entries are led by a pair of standout Ferraris; a 250 GT SWB with Ferrari Classiche certification that was exhibited on Pininfarina’s stand at the 1962 New York Automobile Show (estimate €8,500,000 – 12,000,000), and a 1958 250 GT LWB California Spider, restored by marque specialists in Modena – Toni Auto, Cremonini and Luppi – after Wittmark’s purchase in 2011 (estimate €7,000,000 – 10,000,000).
The collection’s 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster emerged from a two-year €600,000 restoration at HK-Engineering in 2023 (estimate €2,400,000 – 2,900,000), while the 1972 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring (estimate €350,000 – 550,000) in largely original condition is one of 26 Porsches due to go under the hammer.
[ Artcurial’s W Collection Sale – auction catalogue here ]
Another Ferrari heads the line-up at Bonhams, its unique 1960 250 GT Coupe was re-bodied by Piero Drogo's Carrozzeria Sports Cars in 1966 and more recently it has been a regular competitor in historic races, with a notable 8th place finish at Goodwood Revival’s Lavant Cup in 2023 (estimate €2,500,000 – 3,000,000).
Lotus’s first ever F1 car is expected to fetch €290,000 – 390,000 when it returns to the principality. The Type 12 made its World Championship Grand Prix debut at Monaco in 1958 with Graham Hill at the wheel, followed later that year with further outings for Hill in chassis 353 at Zandvoort and Spa.
[ Bonhams Monaco Sale – auction catalogue here ]
RM Sotheby’s two-day event gets underway on 10 May at the Grimaldi Forum, where the highlights include 12 cars from Jody Scheckter’s collection. Star attraction is the 1979 Ferrari 312 T4 in which Scheckter claimed the F1 Drivers title, with wins at the Belgian, Monaco and Italian Grands Prix (estimate €5,250,000 – 6,500,000). Scheckter’s McLaren M23 was shared with team mates Peter Revson and Denny Hulme during the 1973 season, Revson posting its best result with a maiden win at the British Grand Prix (estimate €1,750,000 – 2,250,000).
A 2022 Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 tops the supercars on offer, guided at €1,900,000 – 2,300,000, it is one of only 112 built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original Countach and has covered just 110km from new. Iconic rally cars include a 1985 Lancia Delta S4, driven to second place at the 1985 Lombard RAC Rally (estimate €800,000 – 1,000,000); an ex-Walter Röhrl 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2 (estimate €500,000 – 700,000); and a 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 5.0 'Rallyewagen' that helped Björn Waldegård secure the 1979 World Rally Championship for Drivers’ title by a single point, when he came home second in the final round at the Rallye Bandama Côte D’Ivoire (estimate €800,000 – 1,000,000).
[ RM Sotheby’s Monaco Sale – auction catalogue here ]
Classic car auction price estimates for: Ferrari | Mercedes-Benz | Porsche | Lotus | McLaren | Lamborghini | Lancia | Audi
From leading auction houses: Artcurial | Bonhams|Cars | RM Sotheby’s
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