Monaco’s well attended biennial Grand Prix Historique celebrations provided the perfect atmosphere for RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams and Coys’ May auctions. Although RM’s pre-sale star attraction – a 1968 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider – failed to sell when the bidding ceased at €17,000,000 (estimate €19,000,000 – 20,000,000), its 1951 Ferrari 340 America Barchetta still claimed the weekend’s top honours at €7,280,000 (estimate €7,500,000 – 9,000,000).
New auction records included a 6,731-km 1995 Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Jota which set a record for the model at €672,000 (estimate €490,000 – 550,000); as did a 2004 Aston Martin DB AR1 at €336,000 (estimate €180,000 – 230,000); and a 1997 Porsche GT1 Evolution, believed to be the only road-registered example of the 20 race cars produced, which sold for just above its low estimate at €2,772,000.
A 1939 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet, which lead the ‘without reserve’ 28-lot Quattroruote Collection, sold for €660,800. Elsewhere, other success included a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS which changed hands for a mid-estimate €1,792,000; an ex-Works 1961 Austin-Healey 3000 Rally car made €403,200 (estimate €250,000 – 300,000); a 2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta took €504,000 (estimate €375,000 – 425,000); and the ex-Ragnotti/Thérier 1982 Renault 5 Turbo Group 4 brought €475,000 (estimate €250,000 – 350,000). Overall RM reported total sales in excess of €27.5 million.
Heading the inventory at Bonhams’ 13 May sale was the ex-Guy Griffiths 1953 Jaguar C-Type which blitzed its €4,000,000 – 5,000,000 estimate, selling for €7,245,000. Verification prior to the sale that the car was the 1953 Belgian-entered Le Mans car, chassis number XKC 047 – re-stamped XKC 011 by the factory in 1955 – complete with its original body, no doubt influenced the strong result.
Significant sales included a 49,285-km 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO at €1,817,000 (estimate €1,300,000 – 1,700,000); an ex-Schumacher 1991-92 Benetton-Ford B191/191B which soared above its estimate, fetching €1,058,000 (estimate €220,000 – 280,000); a 2,800-km 1989 BMW Z1 at €95,450 (estimate €35,000 – 55,000); and a 1963 Ferrari 330 America, one of just 50 produced, sold for €431,250 (estimate €290,000 – 350,000).
The ex-Lucien Bianchi/Brian Redman 1968 Cooper BRM T68B proved to be the top performer at Coys’ 14 May sale, realising €1,102,500. Other highlights included a one-owner 109-km 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GTR which found a new home at €636,100 and a 1967 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, restored in 2014, comfortably exceeded its pre-sale estimate, going for €345,000 (estimate €250,000 – 300,000).
Highlights among the cars on offer at Auctionata’s 20 May sale included a 65,422-km 1979 Ferrari 308 GTS which fetched €66,125 (estimate €75,000), a 1959 Jaguar XK 150 went for €63,423 (estimate €75,000) and a 1983 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit Estate sailed above its estimate, selling for €34,500 (estimate €20,000).
Silverstone Auctions’ first overseas sale took place during the Classic Race Aarhus event in Denmark on 28-29 May. Headlining the 86 lots on offer was a recreation of the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR – one of five cars hand-built by Jim Marland – which sold for €326,250 (estimate €320,000 – 360,000).