Monterey 2024 preview
12 August, 2024
The international auction market descends on Monterey in August, this year the jewel in the US calendar sees five auction houses hosting 11 sales from 14-17 August, with Gooding & Company once again holding a two-day sale at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Its line-up is headed by a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider which is expected to fetch $16,000,000 – 20,000,000. One of only five examples known to exist, it represents the ultimate in pre-war sportscar design and has formed part of significant collections, including those of Fred Simeone and Lukas Hüni.
Among the competition cars on offer is a 1995 Ferrari 333 SP Evoluzione that finished 2nd in Class and 6th Overall at the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans, together with wins in the IMSA Championship at Halifax, Lime Rock, Pikes Peak, and Sebring (estimate $6,000,000 – 8,000,000). The only ex-Works Martini Racing Porsche 935 in private hands is listed at $4,500,000 – 5,500,000. Chassis 935-001 served as a factory prototype, being the first built, and saw action in 1976, claiming victory at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen and a 3rd place finish at Dijon in the hands of Rolf Stommelen and Manfred Schurti.
[ Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Sale – auction catalogue here ]
An impressive roster of 47 Ferraris will cross the block during RM Sotheby’s three-day event at the Monterey Conference Center. Blue-chips include a 1955 410 Sport Spider, a one-off Speciale prototype that was driven to victory by Carroll Shelby at its inaugural race in Palm Springs (estimate in excess of $15,000,000); a 1960 250 GT SWB California Spider – the first SWB built – that was exhibited on the Ferrari stand at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari Classiche certified with its original competition spec engine and colour scheme (estimate $16,000,000 – 18,000,000); an ex-Michael Schumacher 2002 Australian Grand Prix-winning F2001b (estimate $8,000,000 – 10,000,000); and a one-of-seven 1960 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet (estimate $6,000,000 – 7,000,000).
The sale also features Hank Williams’ single-owner 1964 Shelby Cobra 289, a veteran of nearly 400 races in the US, and a unique 1993 Vector WX-3R Roadster Prototype (estimate $1,300,000 – 1,500,000), one of four ultra-rare Vectors consigned to RM.
[ RM Sotheby’s Monterey Sale – auction catalogue here ]
A 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Rennversion tops the entries at Broad Arrow Auctions, who open proceedings at the Monterey sales on 14 August. One of only nine GT1s sold to customer teams, it was campaigned at the 1997 Le Mans 24 Hours by Allan McNish and Stéphane Ortelli, before being sold to Rohr Racing and heading Stateside where it won the IMSA GTS-1 class the same year (estimate $8,500,000 – 10,500,000).
The GT1 is joined by a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150 C Lago Spéciale Teardrop Coupé, the only example with coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi (estimate $6,500,000 – 8,500,000); a one-owner 1998 RUF CTR 2 with 28,700km (estimate $2,200,000 – 2,500,000); and a 1987 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 Quattrovalvole in triple-white with 9,632km (estimate $650,000 – 800,000).
[ Broad Arrow Auctions Monterey Sale – auction catalogue here ]
Star attraction at Bonham’s Quail Auction on 16 August is a 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder optioned with the highly desirable Weissach package. One of the 294 US-market cars, it is presented in Paint to Sample Oryx White Metallic with Martini Stripes and has covered just 1,319 miles (estimate $2,600,000 – 3,100,000).
Other notable lots include a two-owner 1957 BMW 507 Series II, delivered new to Venezuela and purchased by the consignor in 1961 (estimate $1,800,000 – 2,500,00); a 5,285-km 1992 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione 'Martini 5', one of 400 limited edition cars (estimate $165,000 – 200,000); and a European-spec 1983 Mercedes-Benz 500 SL 5.0 AMG that was imported to the USA when new, and is believed to be one of only five equipped with an AMG close-ratio 5-Speed manual transmission (estimate $120,000 – 180,000).
[ Bonhams Quail Auction – sale catalogue here ]
A 1969 Ford GT40 Lightweight is the headline act at Mecum’s 450-car, three-day sale which takes place at the Hyatt Regency from 15-17 August. One of 10 factory competition lightweights, it retains its original body, chassis and engine following a competition career in Portugal and Angola, where its second owner Emilo Marta secured the sports car championship in 1972.
[ Mecum Monterey Sale – auction highlights here ]
Classic car auction price estimates for: Alfa Romeo | Ferrari | Porsche | Shelby | Vector | Talbot-Lago | RUF | Lamborghini | BMW | Lancia | Mercedes-Benz | Ford
From leading auction houses: Gooding & Company | RM Sotheby’s | Broad Arrow Auctions | Bonhams|Cars | Mecum
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