October 2020 - European auction previews
6 October, 2020
With just 252 examples of BMW’s 507 built between 1956 and 1959, and spiralling production costs pushing its list price in to Mercedes-Benz 300 SL territory, rarity was guaranteed and ownership the preserve of the rich and famous. Bonhams’ Series II car is no exception, sold new to its first owner HRH Prince Constantine II of Greece, who specified it with a Nardi steering wheel and a Becker Mexico radio. Subject to a three-year nut-and-bolt restoration soon after the vendor’s purchase in 1989, it has since covered some 55,000km, including four appearances in the Mille Miglia. Chassis 70227 goes under the hammer at Bonhams’ Zoute Sale on 11 October with a guide of €1,900,000 – 2,300,000.
A 1957 AC Ace Bristol that competed in the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hours in the hands of Jean Rambaux and Pierre Boutin is listed at €400,000 – 500,000. Chassis BEX365 retired with engine failure in the 14th hour, and although it subsequently received a new engine – stamped 100D 784 ST2 – it retains the original Le Mans modifications to its body and chassis.
[ Bonhams Zoute Sale – auction catalogue here ]
Notable entries among the Italian classics on offer at Aste Bolaffi’s Milan sale on 16 October include a 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Sport with coachwork by Viberti (estimate €600,000 – 650,000); a 1951 Lancia Aprilia Spyder by Ghia, reported to be one of only three built (estimate €210,000 – 260,000); and a 1966 Fiat 500 Jolly – a rare Giardiniera variant (estimate €40,000 – 50,000).
A 1968 Lamborghini Miura that remained in a private collection for nearly 40 years is set to cross the block at Oldtimer Galerie on 17 October (estimate CHF1,450,000 – 1,650,000). Purchased by the consignor a number of years ago, chassis 3604 has since been cosmetically restored and returned to its original shade of Blu Miura, and now shows just 33,000km.
Other highlights include a 1973 Maserati Bora 4.9, originally delivered to the US but imported into Switzerland in 2003 where European-spec lights and bumpers were fitted (estimate CHF175,000 – 185,000); a 50,500-km 1992 BMW 850i with a 6-speed manual gearbox (estimate CHF45,000 – 55,000); and a matching-numbers 1961 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8 Flat Floor Roadster (estimate CHF165,000 – 185,000).
Osenat’s Fontainebleau sale on 20 October features a 1969 Lamborghini Islero S, owned by the vendor for two decades and treated to a four-year restoration in the early 2000s (estimate €250,000 – 300,000); while the top three is rounded off with a 1965 Porsche 911 2.0 at €85,000 – 110,000, and a three-owner 1990 Ferrari Testarossa showing 71,900km at €70,000 – 90,000.
Classic car auction price estimates for: BMW | AC | Alfa Romeo | Lancia | Fiat | Lamborghini | Maserati | Jaguar | Porsche | Ferrari
From leading auction houses: Bonhams | Aste Bolaffi | Oldtimer Galerie | Osenat
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