September 2015 - UK auction previews
17 August, 2015
September is destined to be a busy month for Bonhams as they host four sales, kicking off with their regular event at Beaulieu on the 5th. Star billing is shared by a 1927 Avions Voisin C12 and a 1929 Bentley 4½ Litre, both with an upper estimate of £250,000. The Bentley has been in single-family ownership since 1935 and has been recently unearthed after some 30 years in storage. Another notable highlight among the barn finds and projects on offer is a 1950 Bristol 402 DHC, one of only 22 built, in need of a complete restoration (estimate £30,000 – 50,000).
Bonhams return to Goodwood on 12 September for their annual Goodwood Revival sale. 13 cars from Chris Evans’ collection are due to go under the hammer, headed by several of Evans' highly prized Ferraris, including; a rare right-hand drive 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy (estimate £2,600,000 – 2,900,000); a 1971 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 'Daytona' Spider (estimate £2,300,000 – 2,600,000); and a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L 'Lusso' with a pre-sale estimate of £1,400,000 – 1,800,000.
Competition cars include a 1970 Porsche 908/03 with World Championship for Makes racing provenance (estimate £2,200,000 – 2,500,000) and two Scarab Formula 1 racing cars, along with their much-admired Fiat-Bartoletti transporter. A 1965 Bentley S3 Continental 'Flying Spur' first owned by Keith Richards and known by him as 'Blue Lena' is estimated at £400,000 – 600,000. Richards purchased the car new from London dealer H.R. Owen, and later had it modified with a secret compartment to stash his drugs.
The catalogue cover car at RM Sotheby’s London sale on 7 September is a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione ‘Tour de France’. Chassis number 0897 GT boasts a period racing history, and is one of just 36 examples built with the single louvre body style incorporating covered headlamps (estimate £4,500,000 – 5,500,000).
Ferraris are much in evidence with 17 examples on offer, including; a 1973 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider, one of only 121 made, showing only 3,805 miles from new (estimate £2,000,000 – 2,400,000); and a 556-mile 1989 328 GTS with an estimate of £170,000 – 200,000.
Road going versions of Peugeot’s wild 1980’s Group B rally car - the 205 Turbo 16 - rarely come up for sale, with only 200 produced in total for homologation. RM’s example is described as showing only limited signs of use and is all original, aside from a Nardi Personal steering wheel and magnesium Group B wheels (estimate £120,000 – 150,000).
Coys hosts a single-marque Porsche sale during the annual ‘Porsche Classics at the Castle’ event at Hedingham Castle on 6 September. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first production 356 Carrera, the auctioneers have lined up a selection of 60 examples of the marque, from tractors through to a Carrera GT. The auction will feature the ex-Roy Lane 1966 911 SWB (estimate £95,000 – 120,000), an original right-hand drive 1960 356 B T5 1600 Super Cabriolet (estimate £140,000 – 160,000), and a 1959 356 A Convertible D (estimate £130,000 – 160,000).
Star cars at Silverstone Auction’s Salon Privé sale on 4 September are; a 1954 Bentley R Type Continental Fastback (estimate £900,000 – 1,100,000); a 1968 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Volante (estimate £825,000 – 925,000); and a 1963 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage with an estimate of £675,000 – 775,000. Other notable highlights include a 1971 De Tomaso Pantera ‘Pulsante’ that featured in an episode of Hawaii Five-O (estimate £90,000 – 110,000) and a 743-km 1986 Porsche 911 Supersport with no reserve.
Top lot at Barons’ 15 September sale is a 1936 Alvis Speed 20 SD Drop head coupe with bodywork by Vanden Plas, believed to be one of only 5 examples produced, with an estimate of £100,000 – 130,000. The following day Charterhouse will offer a 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 SE which has been in single-family ownership from new (estimate £3,800 – 4,200).
A two-owner 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8 with 31,300 miles on the clock goes under the hammer at Brightwells on 23 September (estimate £70,000 – 90,000) and a 1990 Renault 5 GT Turbo showing 24,200 miles is estimated at £8,500 – 10,000.