CCA OFFERS FOR AUCTION THE BEST OF BRITISH CARS AT PRACTICAL CLASSICS CLASSIC CAR AND RESTORATION SHOW

CCA OFFERS FOR AUCTION THE BEST OF BRITISH CARS AT PRACTICAL CLASSICS CLASSIC CAR AND RESTORATION SHOW

1951 Land Rover Series 1

The Classic Car Auctions (CCA) sale on the 23rd and 24th March, at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show will feature a variety of British classics to go under the hammer.

A number of Land Rovers will be up for auction with a 1951 Series 1 leading the charge. Land Rovers have become such an iconic vehicle in British motoring history, rarely changing in design until now with the imminent launch of the new Defender. Series 1 Land Rovers are always in hot demand and CCA have this lovely 1951 edition in traditional green with a Land Rover Heritage certificate. With a low estimate of £12,000, this looks to be a great offering.

Carrying on the British theme, a really splendid 1968 Jenson Interceptor Mk1 is being offered. This is an automatic version with the Chrysler 6.3 V8 fitted and only 84,000 miles. The car has had some of the bodywork refreshed in 1992 with new panels and floorpan. It comes with an extensive history file and the original bill of sale. With Jenson prices having been depressed the last few years, there now appears to be a resurgence, according to specialists Cropredy Bridge. Could this be the time to own an appreciating asset?

With the summer months coming shortly, now could be the time to indulge in some true comfort, a 1985 Rolls Royce Corniche to float around the UK lanes or even take to Europe as this car is left-hand drive. It grew up in New York before being imported to the UK in 2014 where it is now registered with 70,050 miles on the clock. The car had been in storage for the last couple of years but has since been re-commissioned for sale. This car is one of several Rolls Royces being offered.

If you fancy something a bit more sportier, CCA have a 1999 Aston Martin DB7 Coupe. This car was supplied new in the UK before it was exported to Canada and then returned to the UK two years ago. It has a very low indicated mileage of 25,122 miles and has been fastidiously maintained. Finished in British Racing Green with green piped parchment leather interior, this is a fabulous example to own.

With further lots from other British manufacturers, Lotus, Jaguar, Bentley, TVR, Rover and Triumph, there will be plenty to bid for depending on your budget.

Gary Dunne from CCA commented “I am looking forward to a fantastic event, we have a great level of cars with some true British classics. With prices for Jensen showing movement, Aston Martins and Bentley always offering great interest, the sale is looking very promising.”

A full list of the lots being offered can be viewed here View Lot List

2019 Forthcoming Auctions

23rd & 24th March – Practical Classics and Restoration Show Sale, NEC, Birmingham

25th May – CCA May Classic Car Sale, Warwickshire Event Centre

3rd August - CCA August Classic Car Sale, Warwickshire Event Centre

5th October - CCA October Classic Car Sale, Warwickshire Event Centre

7th December - CCA December Classic Car Sale, Warwickshire Event Centre

PORSCHE SPEEDSTER AND FERRARI DINO 246GT HEADLINE SILVERSTONE AUCTIONS’ RACE RETRO RESULTS

PORSCHE SPEEDSTER AND FERRARI DINO 246GT HEADLINE SILVERSTONE AUCTIONS’ RACE RETRO RESULTS

Silverstone Auctions successfully hammered away 69 per cent of lots at its eighth annual sale at Race Retro powered by Motor Sport held at Stoneleigh Park at the weekend.

With a varied catalogue including classic cars, competition cars and bikes, the auction achieved total sales of £2.8 million including premium. The results mirror the auction house’s success at its January sale, suggesting stability on the auction market so far this year.

“Once again the Silverstone Auctions team has seen fantastic results at our annual Race Retro sale,” comments Guy Lees-Milne, general manager, Silverstone Auctions. “Online bidders from all around the world joined a very full auction hall, and multiple cars sold above their pre-sale estimates, which is an incredibly positive result for the market.”

Highlight results of the sale included a restored 1958 Porsche 356 A Speedster which sold for £292,500 to a telephone bidder. Originally supplied to New York, it was later acquired by a noted collector and converted to right-hand drive in the UK.

Of the Italian classics at the sale, a right-hand drive 1972 Ferrari Dino 246GT Coupe finished in rare Azzurro Dino was offered with less than 52,000 miles on the clock. Supplied with its Classiche 'Certificato di Autenticita', it sold to a bidder in the room for £270,000. Also, a rare 2005 Ferrari F430 Coupé reading just 19,000 miles was hammered away for £115,875.

Among the modern classic hot hatches in the sale, a one owner from new 1979 Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk1 stormed past its estimate selling for £27,225, more than £10,000 above its lower guide price, after a long bidding war in the room.

A wide selection of competition cars also performed well at the sale, with a 1964 Elva-BMW Mk 7S (FIA), with extensive race history and multiple class wins, going to a new owner for £76,500, more than £20,000 above its lower estimate.

A left-hand drive 1964 Porsche 356C Road Rally with 25 years of competition history also sold significantly over estimate, with the hammer finally falling at £69,750 including premium.

From the same era, a left-hand drive 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint FIA touring car prepared by Martin Stretton Racing reached a sale price of £61,875, selling to a buyer in the Netherlands. Finally, an attractive 1966 Ginetta G4 in ready to race condition crept past its guide price when purchased by a telephone bidder for £31,275.

“We’re now preparing our next sales which are two brand new events for 2019 taking place in May. We’re seeking quality consignments but there are limited spaces, so anyone who is interested in selling with us should contact Silverstone Auctions early to avoid disappointment,” concludes Guy.

‘The Heythrop Classic Car Sale’ and ‘A Sale of British Marques’ in association with Jaguar Enthusiasts Club will take place on 10th and 11th May at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire. Vendors benefit from just 5% + VAT seller’s commission.

To see all the results from the Race Retro Sale, visit http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/race-retro-classic-car-sale-2019/view_lots/pn/all.

131 MILES IN 28 YEARS - ‘TIME-WARP’ PEUGEOT HEADS THE ‘LOW-MILEAGE LOTS’ GOING UNDER THE HAMMER AT BARONS ON TUESDAY

131 MILES IN 28 YEARS - ‘TIME-WARP’ PEUGEOT HEADS THE ‘LOW-MILEAGE LOTS’ GOING UNDER THE HAMMER AT BARONS ON TUESDAY

An immaculately-preserved, totally original one-owner 1991 Peugeot 309 GTi with a remarkable 131 warranted miles on the clock is among the early entries for Barons’ Classic Winter Warmer sale at Sandown Park next Tuesday, February 26.

The vendor bought the car new in 1991 but was working overseas a great deal and had a second car, so the Peugeot was barely used, as the mileage so clearly shows. Throughout its life the car has been kept garaged and it is in showroom condition. Engine, electricals, interior, bodywork etc. are as-new and, with a guide price of £8,000-£11,000 it represents a fantastic opportunity to acquire a ‘new’ classic family saloon that can only prove to be a sound investment for the future.

While none can rival the Peugeot for such extraordinarily low mileage, there are several other classics in the sale which have also covered significantly shorter distances than you might imagine, given their age...

The 1960 Morris Mini Minor De-Lux is a beautiful little machine, presented in wonderfully original condition. Thanks to its first, lady, owner, who never used the car, and a subsequent owner who displayed it in the Alford Grampian Transport Museum, it has clocked up less than 29,000 miles in just under 60 years. Guide price: £9,000-£12,000.

Until the vendor acquired it in 2017, the 1964 Morris 1000 Traveller in Tuesday’s sale had been in one family ownership since new and has covered less than 40,000 miles. This is a really charming car, in great condition, and is just waiting for another enthusiastic family to ‘adopt’ it. Guide price £6,000-£8,000.

Tuesday will also see two Jaguars showing particularly low mileages go under the auctioneer’s hammer. The 1966 S-type 3.8 litre is accompanied by a substantial amount of paperwork which appears to verify the displayed mileage of 31,000, while the odometer on the handsome 1951 Mk V saloon, which spent half a century in the dry, sunny Australian climate, displays 55,535 miles. Barons points out, though, that while the history and documentation for both cars supports the mileages, they cannot be warranted. The S-type carries a guide price of £14,000-£17,000 and the Mk V is estimated at £23,000-£28,000.

Just outside the ‘extraordinarily low mileage club’, but not exactly overused either is the 1964 Morris Mini Cooper Mk1 998cc. With 95,000 miles on the clock, this nippy little motor has been cherished over the decades, and still boasts the original shell, engine and interior. It comes complete with a huge history file and the original handbook and BMC Passport to Service books - a fantastic buy for a Cooper fan, at £17,000-£21,000.

For more information about Baron’ February 26 Sandown Park Classic Winter Warmer sale, please visit www.barons-auctions.com.

80 CLASSIC AND COMPETITION CARS HEAD TO RACE RETRO AUCTION

80 CLASSIC AND COMPETITION CARS HEAD TO RACE RETRO AUCTION

• 80 quality classics, supercars and competition cars for auction at Race Retro
• Immaculate 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI, ultra-rare 2018 Audi R8 Sport Performance Parts Edition and time-capsule 1996 Ford Escort Cosworth Lux among highlights
• Mixed, one-day sale on 23rd February at Stareton Hall, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry

80 best of breed classic and competition cars with a combined value estimated at over £4 million will go under the hammer at Silverstone Auctions’ next sale at Race Retro powered by Motor Sport on 23rd February at Stoneleigh Park.

The sale will also see three collectable motorbikes and over 120 items of automobilia, motorsport memorabilia and luxury watches cross the auction block at Silverstone Auctions’ eighth appearance as the show’s official auction partner.

“As always we’ve worked hard to source only the finest classic and competition cars on the market for our annual sale at Race Retro”, comments Guy Lees-Milne, general manager, Silverstone Auctions. “The catalogue not only offers some exquisite, collectable classic icons, but also a wide choice of race-ready competition cars for racers of all abilities.”

Among the headline, lots a 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI offers collectors the chance to own one of only 34 original, right-hand drive coupes produced. The immaculate example for sale is one of only two in finished in Silver and offers excellent long term investment potential guided at £125,000 to £160,000.

Other models from the 15-strong Porsche line-up include a 1988 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera 'Club Sport', one of only 53 in right-hand drive, guided at £95,000 to £110,000. A restored, original 1958 Porsche 356 A Speedster tops the catalogue with an estimate of £280,000 to £320,000.

Modern classics in the sale include a 1996 Ford Escort Cosworth Lux in time-capsule condition and reading just 838 miles, guided at £80,000 to £90,000. A trio of highly collectable Lotus Carlton is also expected to attract fans of exemplary super saloons. The UK, right-hand drive, 1992 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton reading just 41,960 miles will be offered with an estimate of £65,000 to £75,000, while a 1993 example from long-term ownership is guided at £28,000 to £32,000.

Meanwhile, a low mileage 1991 Opel Lotus Omega (Carlton), one of only 415 models produced for the German market, offers an amazing opportunity to own a piece of motoring history guided at £35,000 to £40,000.

Of the supercars at the sale, a 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT powered by a 6.2-litre V12 engine, one of only nine UK-supplied cars and with just 17,000 recorded miles, is estimated at £220,000 to £250,000. In addition, an ultra-rare, one of only five, UK, 2018 Audi R8 Sport Performance Parts Editions, with just one previous owner and only 70 miles on the clock, is expected to sell for between £160,000 and £180,000.

Competition cars in the sale range from historic saloons to rally cars and open-wheel racers. One of just 12 right-hand drive 1956 BMW 502 V8 cars produced is guided at £25,000 to £30,000. Driven by many famous racing drivers including Marc Surer and 1980 F1 World Champion, Alan Jones, the elegant post-war saloon offers unique access to the glamour of Goodwood while remaining a rare and stylish road car.

A 1972 Ford Escort Mk 1 RS1600 which competed in the 1993 Lombard London to Sydney Marathon, 2008 Classic Marathon and many other stage rallies, is race-ready and guided at £50,000 to £60,000. Alternatively, a 1970 March 703 1-litre F3, a regular at Goodwood and raced by Peter Needham, will be offered at £42,000 to £47,000.

The auction will commence at 1:00pm at Stareton Hall, Stoneleigh Park on Saturday 23rd February. Viewing is available from 9:30am to 5:30pm on Friday 22nd February and from 9:30am on sale day.

For more information on the full lot list on offer at the Race Retro Classic Car Sale 2019 and details on how to bid, please visit http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/race-retro-classic-car-sale-2019.

CONCOURS-READY CLASSICS LEAD BONHAMS 8TH GRAND PALAIS SALE

CONCOURS-READY CLASSICS LEAD BONHAMS 8^TH GRAND PALAIS SALE

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé sold for €1,207,500

Yesterday, 7 February, Bonhams held its eighth sale at the magnificent Grand Palais. The marathon sale saw more than 140 cars crossing the rostrum over several hours and spirited bidding taking place beneath the cavernous glass domes of the Grand Palais. The top lot of the sale was the imposing and elegant 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A, formerly owned by His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal, former King of Jordan. It sold for €1,581,250to a European bidder in the room.

Following closely behind was the immaculate 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé which sold for €1,207,500 – a testament to its absolutely pristine condition. Concours-ready motor cars were of great interest in the sale. The 1950 Porsche 356 Split-Window ‘Four-Digit’ Coupé boasted wins at both Zoute and InterClassics Brussels and sold for €805,000 to a European bidder.

1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A sold for €1,581,250

Bentleys were popular throughout the sale, and one of the lengthiest bidding battles of the sale was the competition to own the impressively original 1928 Bentley 6½-Litre Four Light Weymann Fabric Sports Saloon. It eventually sold for €1,150,000 to an online bidder. The 1931 Bentley 8-Litre Sports Tourer also performed strongly, achieving €787,750.

1928 Bentley 6½-Litre Four Light Weymann Fabric Sports Saloon sold for €1,150,000

Other highlights included:

• 1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer sold for €278,300
• 1937 Alfa Romeo 6C-2300 Berlina by Stabilimenti Farina achieved €264,500
• 1939 BMW 327/328 Sports Cabriolet sold for €212,750
• 1934 Lagonda M45 T7 Tourer realised €212,750
• The ex-Toyota Team Europe, Didier Auriol/Bernard Occelli, 1994 Toyota Celica ST185 Turbo Group A Rally Car achieved €207,000

Philip Kantor, European Director of Motoring, commented: ‘The top lots of the sale perfectly illustrated the diverse range of Bonhams expertise. We offered everything from pioneering veterans to ultra-luxurious, concours-ready classics to an enthusiastic, international crowd. The top lots such as the Mercedes-Benz Gullwing, the Mercedes-Benz 540K, the Porsche 356 and the Bentley 6½-Litre were all outstanding examples of some of the most desirable and iconic models in the automotive world and rightly commanded impressive prices. The Grand Palais is one of the most astonishing auction locations in the world, and we were proud to offer such a high calibre of motor cars and automobilia.’

RM SOTHEBY’S ACHIEVES BEST EVER RESULT IN PARIS AT €32.4M SALES LED BY RECORD-BREAKING FERRARI F40 LM AT €4.84M DEBUT OFFERING OF THE YOUNGTIMER COLLECTION SEES GLOBAL INTEREST

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RM SOTHEBY’S ACHIEVES BEST EVER RESULT IN PARIS AT €32.4M

SALES LED BY RECORD-BREAKING FERRARI F40 LM AT €4.84M

DEBUT OFFERING OF THE YOUNGTIMER COLLECTION SEES 

GLOBAL INTEREST

• RM Sotheby’s achieves €32.4 million with 79 percent of all lots sold at strongest Paris sale to date, 6 February
• Sale topped by the most iconic 1987 Ferrari F40 LM at €4.84 million, a new world record for the model at auction
• Additional supercars command enthusiastic bidding, with Bugatti EB110 SS smashing the previous record at €2.03M
• The first offering of cars from the Youngtimer Collection sees strong prices achieved for modern and future collectables
• Complete results from Paris sale available at rmsothebys.com

 RM Sotheby’s achieved its highest total for the company’s Paris sale to date on Wednesday evening, generating more than €32.4 million at its sixth annual sale during Rétromobile. A packed auction room, enthusiastic bidding, and strong prices were seen across the evening, beginning with a selection of motorsport memorabilia that well-exceeded expectations. The group was highlighted by an Ayrton Senna McLaren Rheos Helmet, which surpassed its pre-sale estimate at a final €162,000. RM Sotheby’s welcomed bidders from no less than 45 countries to the Paris sale, and noted a 25 per cent increase in total bidders over 2018.

The 1987 Ferrari F40 LM was the undoubted star lot of the sale and represented a very rare opportunity to acquire one of Maranello’s legendary sports racing cars of the modern era. The car offered is a unique piece of Ferrari history as it not only boasts a significant and successful competition history, but it also played an important development role as a pre-production prototype. As a result, pre-sale interest in the car was very strong and intense bidding in the room and over the phones saw the car achieve €4,842,500 to set a new world record for the model.

Demonstrating the continued high demand for top-tier supercars, the 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport, one of just 30 examples built and no doubt one of the lowest mileage examples in existence at a mere 916km from new, sold for €2,030,000 (est. €1.3/1.8m). The EB110 opened a sustained bidding contest between three bidders on the phone and one in the room, eventually nearly doubling the previous record for the SS model held by RM Sotheby’s (€1,152,500). Additional modern performance highlights include the 2017 Ferrari F12tdf, which saw tremendous interest throughout the exhibition for its stunning Brunito paintwork and tan saddle leather custom interior, translating to a bidding contest on the night, resulting in an above-estimate final price of €1,197,500 (est. €825/950k). A 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder, beautifully outfitted from the factory with Liquid Metal Silver finish, Magnesium wheels, and the Weissach package rear spoiler, sold for a final €1,101,875 (est. €950k/1.1m), while the 2018 Bugatti Chiron, showing less than 1,800 km on the odometer, as well as the Classiche-certified 1996 Ferrari F50, were sold immediately following the auction for €2,275,000 and €1,700,000 respectively.

 

Historic sports and racing cars from the 1950s and 60s also starred at the sale, with a 1956 Porsche 550 RS Spyder, Porsche’s first dedicated competition car, selling for a final €3,042,500 to become the second highest sale of the night. A 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C, the first of just eight long-nose, six-carburettor, alloy body, torque-tube examples and freshly restored in its rare original colour scheme, sold for €2,860,000 immediately following the sale, rounding out the auction’s top three.

Augustin Sabatié-Garat, Auction Manager, RM Sotheby’s Europe, said: “We have enjoyed a highly successful night in Paris, achieving the highest sale total since the first auction in 2014. This is a great indication that certain sectors of the market are looking strong for 2019, and it was particularly interesting to see how well cars from the Youngtimer collection sold alongside the established blue-chip collector cars. This was the perfect venue for the presentation of our star car, the F40 LM, with such fantastic French history, and our increased bidder numbers and growing participation from around the world also indicate sustained and new interest in the collector car hobby.”

RM Sotheby’s Paris sale also saw the first offering of cars from the highly anticipated Youngtimer Collection, a single-owner group of more than 140 modern classics from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. Prices were strong across the 25 cars presented at the sale, with numerous new benchmarks achieved for models indicative of changing collector tastes. Kicking off the group, a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG 6.0 ‘Wide-Body’ incited a long bidding contest at Place Vauban, eventually selling for a final €297,500, doubling its pre-sale low estimate and setting a new world record for the model at auction (est. €150/200k). 

The top sale of the Youngtimer group was a 2006 Ferrari Superamerica at €590,000, delivered new to the Kuwaiti royal family and presented in highly desirable six-speed manual transmission specification with the HGTC package (est. €575/650k). Additional stand out lots from within the Collection include a group of low mileage models that well-exceeded expectations, from a 17,000-km 1992 Porsche 928 GTS in eye-catching specification, which smashed its pre-sale estimate, bringing a final €138,000 (est. €70/85k), to a 1994 BMW Alpina B12 5.7 at €207,000 (est. €175/225k), a 1985 Audi Quattro at a final €77,625 (est. €40/50k), and a 1994 Mercedes-Benz E 500 Limited, which sold for €86,250 (est. €40/50k). More than 100 additional cars from the Youngtimer Collection will be presented at RM Sotheby’s upcoming Amelia Island, Fort Lauderdale, and inaugural Essen, Germany, auctions.

RM Sotheby’s Paris Top Ten Sales

1. Lot 126	1987 Ferrari F40 LM	€4,842,500
2. Lot 156	1956 Porsche 550 RS Spyder	€3,042,500
3. Lot 155	1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy Berlinetta	€2,860,000
4. Lot 168	2018 Bugatti Chiron	€2,275,000
5. Lot 165	1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport	€2,030,000
6. Lot 159	1996 Ferrari F50	€1,700,000
7. Lot 173	2017 Ferrari F12tdf	€1,197,500
8. Lot 180	2015 Porsche 918 Spyder	€1,101,875
9. Lot 136	2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta	€933,125
10. Lot 179	1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster	€902,187

RM Sotheby’s presence during Rétromobile continues this week with the company’s stand (Hall 1A, M105) featuring several cars available via RM Sotheby’s Private Sales division, as well as a 1931 Aston Martin LM5 with wonderful period competition history – an early highlight for the biannual Villa Erba sale set for 25 May. 

RM Sotheby’s continues its 2019 auction calendar next month with its Amelia Island, Florida auction on 8-9 March—the official auction of the esteemed Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Expanded to two days for 2019, the 21^st annual sale will bring more than 140 of the finest coach-built classics, sports and racing cars, and late model collectables to the Ritz-Carlton. The European calendar continues just weeks later as RM Sotheby’s stages the company’s first-ever German sale during Techno-Classica Essen, 11-12 April at the Messe Essen exhibition centre. The Essen sale is set to present more than 150 diverse collector cars during the long-running Techno-Classica fair, recognized as the first great German car salon for vintage cars and collector vehicles. 

Complete results from RM Sotheby’s Paris, as well as further details on upcoming auctions, are available at rmsothebys.com.

RM SOTHEBY’S BRINGS POWER AND PERFORMANCE OF EVERY ERA TO AMELIA ISLAND SALE

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RM SOTHEBY’S BRINGS POWER AND PERFORMANCE OF EVERY ERA TO AMELIA ISLAND SALE

• RM Sotheby’s announces final entries for two-day Amelia Island sale, 8-9 March, led by Bugatti 57SC Tourer and Shelby 427 Competition Cobra
• Additional highlights include Ferrari 275 GTB, McLaren P1, Maserati MC12 Corsa, and more
• Official auction of the esteemed Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance set to present more than 140 motor cars and selection of automobilia
• Complete Amelia Island catalogue and event details now available at rmsothebys.com

RM Sotheby’s is thrilled to release the complete catalogue for the company’s 21^st annualAmelia Island sale, set for 8-9 March. Final entries for the sale, which features 141 motor cars, one motorcycle and a handful of automobilia, include a roster of incredible performance automobiles from the 1930s through today. Leading the group is a stunning 1937 Bugatti 57SC Tourer by Corsica, recognized by enthusiasts as one of the ultimate expressions of pre-war motoring, alongside one of the most significant factory Competition Shelby 427 Cobras. 

Introduced in late 1937, the Bugatti Type 57S was, on its own, a potent creation. With just over 40 production examples built, it added a significant increase in both horsepower and overall performance to the standard Type 57. Of total 57S production, just 16 examples were finished with open coachwork, making the 1937 Bugatti 57SC Tourer on offer at Amelia Island exceptionally rare and desirable by any standard. Add the fact that Corsica built a total of only eight bodies on the Type 57S, including just two four-seat tourer bodies, with chassis no. 57512 being the second example commissioned, and the car becomes rarer still. Adding the available “C” specification Roots-type supercharger early in the car’s life further raised the power output to 200 hp, enabling a top speed of 120-mph and making the 57SC the fastest French production car of the period.

The Bugatti comes to Amelia Island having formerly been a centrepiece in the Judge North, General Lyons and Blackhawk Collections. While in the hands of the Blackhawk Collection, a full restoration was performed, and the car was displayed on the lawn at Pebble Beach in 2003 to much fanfare. As it presents today, it carries this well-preserved restoration from its Pebble Beach debut. Most importantly, the Bugatti retains its original chassis, engine, gearbox, and body, with the supercharger believed to be the same one that was installed within the first few years of its life (Est. $6,000,000 - $7,500,000).

Alongside the Bugatti, a 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra, chassis no. CSX 3006, also headlines RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island sale. One of 19 true production 427 Competition Cobras built, of which a mere handful retain their original body, the Cobra claims significant period racing and ownership history, perhaps most notably as the only production 427 Cobra to win outright in a major European race.

Equipped from the factory with a potent competition 427 side-oiler aluminium-head engine, the Cobra on offer was delivered new to William G. Freeman of Muncie, Indiana. Freeman campaigned the car in two SCCA races before he was offered a contract in Europe and had to put to put it up for sale. It eventually landed with The Chequered Flag in England, where its debut was in the 1966 Brands Hatch Ilford 500 at the hands of former Shelby American Team driver Bob Bondurant, paired with unparalleled long-distance racer David Piper. With wet conditions looming, the Cobra left two Ford GT40s, a lightweight Jaguar E-Type, and a Ferrari 250 LM in its trail spray, taking the overall win after six gruelling hours.

The Cobra was later sold to Mike Shoen, one of the earliest Shelby collectors and historians, and he commissioned a ground-up restoration to its original LHD configuration. The Comp 427 would then pass through the hands of such noted Cobra collectors as Steve Juliano, George Stauffer, Chris Cox, Jim Spiro, and Larry Bowman. In 2003, Bowman sent the car to Legendary Motorcar Company for a no-expense-spared restoration to its Brands Hatch-winning configuration, even finding the original lightweight custom seats that Piper and Bondurant used in 1966 – which are included with the sale. The car would then land with Gary Bartlett of Muncie, Indiana, the same town the car was delivered to nearly five decades earlier. Under Bartlett’s ownership, it was presented at such important events as the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Goodwood Revival, and the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Truly one of the most significant factory Competition 427 Cobras in existence, the car is fully sorted and ready for the road, rally, or track (Est. $3,000,000-$4,000,000);

Completing the incredible lineup of high-performance automobiles set for the Amelia Island sale, are:

• 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB, chassis no. 06899, retaining its original, matching-numbers engine, meticulously restored by Motion Products, Inc. in 2017 to its original Argento colour over Nero seats with grey cloth inserts, and wearing its original sunburst wheels (Est. $2,200,000-$2,400,000);

• 2005 Maserati MC12 Corsa, the incredible 755-bhp, track-only version of Maserati’s iconic 21st-century supercar, one of just 13 examples built, and the ultimate private racing car (Est. $1,600,000 - $2,000,000);
  
  
• 2015 McLaren P1, one of 375 examples built, finished in optional Volcano Red, showing less than 750 miles and recently serviced by McLaren Tampa (Est. $1,400,000-$1,600,000);

• 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder, exceptionally well-optioned, showing less than 1,300 miles and finished in dark blue metallic over the black interior (Est. $1,250,000-$1,500,000);

• 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II, chassis no. 1805 GT, the 19^th Series II Cabriolet built, fully restored by marque specialists in Modena and accompanied by a factory-correct hard top (Est. $1,150,000-$1,300,000);

• 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 S Roadster ‘McLaren Edition’, the only example like it ever built, showing less than 4,900 miles and coming to Amelia Island with Full McLaren upgrades, including the unique engine (Est. $800,000-$1,000,000, offered without reserve);

• 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package, one of just 50 Nürburgring Package cars, offered from single ownership, showing just 1,615 km and accompanied by a factory luggage set (Est. $825,000-$925,000).
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The RM Sotheby’s team is proud to once again offer an exciting collectible lot to benefit the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.The 2019 auction will present a Fender Player Stratocaster Guitar, painted with cars owned by or closely associated with renowned musicians, by automotive artist David Snyder. The guitar commemorates the special ‘Cars of Rock Stars’ class at this year’s Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, which centers on vehicles and guitars from John Oates’ personal collection alongside additional star cars. The Amelia Island sale will also present a Ferrari Mixed Media Collage by DeVon to benefit Spina Bifida of Jacksonville, a cause near to the Concours d’Elegance.

RM Sotheby’s 21^st annual Amelia Island sale is set to take place during the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on 8-9 March at the Ritz-Carlton, presenting more than 140 of the world’s most sought-after blue-chip automobiles. For further information on RM Sotheby’s 2019 Amelia Island auction or to view the complete digital catalogue, please visit rmsothebys.com. Interested bidders are invited to call RM Sotheby’s headquarters at +1 519 352 4575 to speak with a car specialist.

PORSCHE’S 356 SPEEDSTER ICON JOINS RACE RETRO AUCTION

PORSCHE’S 356 SPEEDSTER ICON JOINS RACE RETRO AUCTION

An original Porsche 356 A Speedster, one of the most collectable Porsche models in the world, will be offered for sale at Silverstone Auctions’ upcoming Race Retro Sale on 23rdFebruary at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry.

Recognised globally as the ultimate small sports car for its nimble, lightweight and timeless, simple shape, the example for sale is one of an estimated 555 356 A T2 Speedsters built in 1958, the final and most desirable production run of the model.

Presented today in beautifully restored condition and converted to right-hand drive, the matching numbers Speedster will go under the hammer guided at £280,000 - £320,000.

“This is one of the best examples of a genuine Porsche collector’s car that we have had the pleasure to offer at auction,” comments Nick Whale, managing director, Silverstone Auctions. “Over the past few decades, the 356 Speedster has become an automotive icon and is very much sought-after by enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. These days, replicas are popular with enthusiasts, but there’s nothing like an original, which is what we have here.”

This particular example was supplied new through well-known Porsche dealer Hoffman of New York finished in Silver with a Red leather interior. Distinctive features of the model include the low, removable windscreen, lightweight body, minimal folding top and side curtains in the place of side windows. The minimalist interior includes a large, two-spoke steering wheel, lightweight racing-style bucket seats, light grey carpet, and leather covered door panels and upper dashboard.

Located at the rear of the car, a 1,582cc flat-four engine capable of producing 60bhp with 4-speed transmission offers the sporting performance that made the Speedster popular with owners who enjoyed taking to the race track. The T2 models also benefit from numerous upgrades, including an improved transaxle and steering box design, among other refinements.

Having spent most of its life in America, the Speedster was acquired by its current owner, a serious and noted collector, from an auction at Pebble Beach, California, in 2015. It was then imported into the UK and immediately entrusted to JD Classics of Mayfair for a professional conversion to right-hand drive.

Today the car still retains the original engine and gearbox, making it a full matching numbers example. The Porsche Kardex also confirms it was originally supplied in Silver with Red leather, the same combination and specification of the car today.

Having spent the last few years in professional storage with little use, the Speedster now comes to market from a significant collection with all import taxes paid and the UK registered.

“The Speedster variant captured the imagination of A-list celebrities and film stars across the world and today offers the potential buyer a rare Porsche icon that can be used and enjoyed, whilst still offering a true chance of a solid investment,” concludes Nick.

The Porsche is accompanied by a CD showing the full restoration, a copy of the Porsche Kardex, original owner’s manual, tools and jack.

To find out more about the 1958 Porsche 356 A Speedster for auction please visit http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1958-Porsche-356-A-Speedster.