Auction News Network

Most Powerful Road Racer Ever Built

A lot of distinguished vintage cars will come under the gavel at Gooding’s Amelia Island auction on March 9^th, but none is likely to be more valuable than a 1973 Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder. Billed as “the most powerful road-racing car ever built,” the thoroughly restored 1,200 HP Porsche participated in such races as the Rennsport Reunion and the Monterey Historics. One of only six examples produced, it carries an estimate of $3.25m-$4m.

Over $200,000 Expected For Spitfire Remnant

In its last wartime mission, a training flight in 1944, the Spitfire fighter plane with the call sign NK-K didn’t fare well. It crashed and its Australian pilot perished. Since that time, its parts have been assembled in a fuselage and cockpit display that a local English scout troop used for promotional purposes. This weekend, the English auctioneer Historics at Brooklands will auction the historic plane—or what remains of it—in a sale at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey, where it’s expected to fetch $190,000-$237,000.

1941 Chrysler Indy 500 Pace Car At Amelia Island

Not surprisingly, there are some stunning cars in the lineup for RM’s Amelia Island auction next month. Among the rarest is a 1941 Chrysler Newport Dual Cowl Phaeton by Le Baron, one of only 5 ever produced. This example, designed and built in just 90 days, was the pace car for the Indianapolis 500 in 1941. Formerly owned by Walter P. Chrysler Jr., it’s expected to sell for $1.5m-$2m.

$5.8m For Roger Vadim’s Ferrari

The fact that the 1959 Ferrari  250 California GT LWB that Artcuriel offered in Paris was once owned by famed French director—and former husband of Brigitte Bardot—Roger Vadim certainly didn’t diminish its value. This weekend a telephone bidder paid $5.8m for the silver Italian convertible at the Retromobile auction. The price was well above its $3.9-$5.3m estimate

Over $1m Expected For 1961 Aston Martin Classic

In 1958, Aston Martin introduced Britain’s answer to Italy’s automotive mastery. Engineered to be the ultimate Gran Turismo, the DB4GT was designed for competition. Only 30 left hand drives were produced, and the rare 1961 example that Bonhams will offer in Paris on February 2^nd is the product of a ground-up restoration. Campaigned extensively–and successfully–on the historic race circuit, it’s estimated at $1.7m-$2.2m.

One-Off Ferrari Leads Scottsdale Sale

The rarest—and likely most valuable—of the 10 Ferraris that RM will be offering at its two-day auction beginning this evening in Scottsdale, Arizona is a 1957 410 Superamerica Coupe by Scaglietti. It’s a one of a kind example that the factory built for favored Ferrari client Dottore Enrico Wax. After a two-year restoration, the car won Best in Class at the 1990 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Distinguished by its delicate and highly unusual little fins, the Superamerica is expected to sell for $1.75m-$2.25m.

Dietrich & Warhol’s Rolls-Royces To Sell

Director Josef von Sternberg gave Marlene Dietrich one gift with the role of the temptress Lola Lola in the German/English classic movie, “The Blue Angel” (Der Blaue Engel). Another was a beautiful 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Transformable Convertible Sedan. Featured in “Morocco,” another von Sternberg/Dietrich collaboration, it will be auctioned next month at Bonhams during the Scottsdale Car Week, when it’s expected to sell for $300,000-$400,000.

Update: the Dietrich Rolls sold for $524,000, well above its high estimate.

A Maharajah’s Ride

Around the turn of the last century, open touring cars were a big hit with the Indian nobility, and particularly with Maharajahs. The 1912 Lancaster 38hp State Limousine that Bonhams will be offering tomorrow belonged to the Maharajah of Rewa. It’s expected to sell for $125,500-$157,000 at the Mercedes-Benz World sale in Weybridge.

UPDATE: The Lancaster sold for $131,795. The 1929 Bentley did not find a buyer.

Ferraris Lead RM’s London Lineup

Between 1956 and 1959, Ferrari produced only 39 competition 250 GT LWB ‘Tour de France’ Berlinettas. The automobile isn’t just beautiful.  It is, in the opinion of many enthusiasts, the most important Ferrrai road/racing car ever built. The 1958 example that RM will be offering at its auction in London on October 26 is pristine, having been restored in Italy to a Ferrari Classiche standard, meaning that every component is as if it had just emerged from the factory. It’s estimated at $3.2-$3.8m.

Update: The 250 Berlinetta realized $3.58m, in the mid-range of its estimates.

World’s Oldest Running Car

Any guesses on the world’s oldest running motorcar? Hands down, it’s the 1884 De Dion Bouton Et Trepardoux Dos-A-Dos Steam Runabout, nicknamed “La Marquise.” Winner of the first car race in 1887—it was the only vehicle to show up—it has a top speed of 38mph, and is capable of running 20 miles on a tank of water. Amazingly, it was in one family for 81 years and has had only four owners since new. A double award winner at Pebble Beach in 1997, “La Marquise is expected to sell for $2m-$2.5m at RM’s auction tomorrow in Hershey, Pa.

UPDATE: The DeDion Bouton sold for $4.62m, almost double its high estimate, establishing a new auction record for an early motorcar.

A Bugatti ‘Barn Find’ At Bonhams

As barn finds go, a Bugatti is close to the ultimate. The 1938 Type 57 Ventoux Coupe that Bonhams will be offering at the two-day Fairfield County Concours on September 17-18 is still more special. Never having been restored, it’s in near-original condition, with only 22,000 kilometers showing. Its estimate at the Connecticut auction is $150,000-$200,000.

Ferrari Sets New Auction Record

If the economy’s in disarray, there was little sign of it at the major vintage car auctions this past weekend in and around the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. At Gooding & Co.’s marquis event, a 1957 red Ferrari Testa Rossa prototype became, at $16.4m, the most expensive car ever sold at auction. Other records fell as well, as some $80m changed hands at Gooding’s alone. “The stock market almost helped us,” said RM Auctions’ Max Girardo. “It makes classic cars even more desirable” because they’re perceived to be safer assets.

Will Ferrari Set Auction Record?

Between 1957 and 1961, Ferrari produced just 34 Testa Rossa’s. Two years ago, one sold at an RM auction in Maranello, Italy for $12.4m. The 1957 example that David Gooding will offer in Pebble Beach next month, however, is unique: No.0666 is the very first prototype. Restored to the highest standard, it won first in class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. When it reaches the block at this year’s event, Gooding is anticipating it may become the most expensive car ever sold at auction.

Bonhams Offers A Frank Stella BMW

Back in 1975 BMW began commissioning famous artists to paint exceptional cars. Alexander Calder painted the first car, which raced at Le Mans. Later contributors included Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, and David Hockney. The 1979 BMW M1 Pro Car that Bonhams is featuring at its Quail Lodge sale this summer was painted by Frank Stella. New York’s Guggenheim Museum is selling the car, which it received as a gift in 1999. Proceeds of the sale will go toward the museum’s art acquisition program.

Ferrari Corners $4.7m At Villa d’Este

RM was hoping for some huge prices at its inaugural Villa d’Este auction, and even if the results weren’t quite as spectacular as the Lake Como shoreline, they were still impressive. As expected, a beautiful 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta was the top seller at $4.7m, near the low end of its $4.5-$5.9m estimate. Almost as expensive was a 1938 Tabot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe, which fetched $4.4m, also close to its low estimate of $4.35m.