£10m Bugatti heads huge £43.2m London sale

Incredible auction for UK debut

The countdown is on for Gooding & Company’s first ever auction outside its US home – and it is certainly breaking new ground in serious style.

The Passion of a Lifetime sale is coming to the majestic Hampton Court Palace, on the outskirts of London, on 5 September as part of the Concours of Elegance, and if every lot in its 15-strong line-up hits the top of its pre-sale estimate, that will come to a mind-boggling £43.2m. Wow.

These are 15 very special cars, then, and leading the way is a history-rich Bugatti that could achieve more than £10m.

No, we can’t afford them, but let’s enjoy losing ourselves in dreamland as we check out this and all the other lots in this landmark sale.

1. 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports (est: £10m+)

So let’s start with the top lot, that Type 59 Bugatti that could surpass the £10m mark when the hammer falls. How can it command so much money?

In its 86 years it has had just a handful of owners, one of which was a king, plus it is a Grand Prix winner.

1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports (cont.)

It was one of a four-car team that took a 1-2 at the 1934 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, plus Jean-Pierre Wimille steered it to victory at that year’s Algerian Grand Prix.

Modified to a sports-car spec it raced on and scored further wins, including at Pau, Reims and again in Algeria in 1937, before being sold to King Leopold of Belgium.

It’s coming to auction in fascinating, timewarp condition – and you can read its full story here.

2. 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato (est: £7-9m)

If you can’t quite stretch to £10m, then this beautiful Aston Martin is predicted to sell for £7-9m.

Well, it is one of a mere 19 DB4GT Zagatos made and the only one finished in this, we think very attractive, shade known as Peony.

What’s more, it is described as being in ‘fundamentally original condition’.

1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato (cont.)

The entire history of this matching-numbers Aston Martin is known, starting with its first owner, here in the UK in Cheshire, who hung onto it for more than two decades – indeed, since 1979 it has had just four owners.

A concours award winner, someone will have to dig very deep to becomes this car’s next keeper.

3. 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Speciale (est: £1.6-2m)

Finished in stunning Oro Metallizzato, this is the ultimate development of the fabulous Miura, and one of only 150 SVs built.

And this restored V12 stunner has dry-sump lubrication and a limited-slip differential, and was built new for loyal Lamborghini customer Jacques Dembiermont for whom this was an upgrade, having already bought an original Miura when it was launched in 1966.

1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Speciale (cont.)

French industrialist Mr Dembiermont was clearly very happy with his purchase because he kept it more than 10 years.

This car has since been kept in the south of France, Norway and the UK – who knows where the winning bidder will take it on 5 September?

4. 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante (est: £7m+)

We definitely weren’t joking when we said this was a special sale – well, it’s not every day that two multi-million pound Bugattis are consigned to the same auction.

This fabulous-looking, 83-year-old car wears Jean Bugatti’s gorgeous Atalante coachwork and is one of just 17 built with such a body.

1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante (cont.)

Its first keeper was racer and Bugatti Owners’ Club president Earl Howe, no less, but in later life this car sadly slipped into oblivion.

This car’s current owner treated it to a careful and sympathetic restoration by marque expert Ivan Dutton, bringing it back to best – and it could well emerge as the top lot at Gooding & Company’s Passion of a Lifetime sale.

5. 1928 Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix (est: £3m+)

Yes, your eyes don’t deceive you, this is another phenomenal, history-rich and super-rare Bugatti.

Beautifully preserved and exceptionally original, this supercharged 35C was a works entrant in the Targa Florio of 1928, as well as being a Grand Prix, sports car and hillclimb contender at events across Europe.

1928 Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix (cont.)

What’s more, it has had just three owners since 1958, and you might not believe it from its incredible patina and seemingly undisturbed condition, but it has been mechanically restored, again by specialist Ivan Dutton.

A trio of outstanding Bugattis, then, for this landmark sale in a royal setting.

6. 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America (est: £700-900,000)

That is one breathtaking sight, we’re sure you agree, Pinin Farina’s lines as jaw-dropping today as they have ever been.

And this is one of the few left-hand-drive examples delivered new to a European owner, rather than one Stateside. As you might’ve guessed from the photo, this car is registered in Switzerland at the moment.

1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America (cont.)

This car’s first owner retained it until 1972 and its current custodian bought it in 2013, since when it has been the subject of a painstaking restoration.

Could it beat its estimate to crack £1m at Hampton Court Palace on 5 September?

7. 1927 Bentley 3 Litre Speed Model Sports Tourer (est: £350-450,000)

This Vanden Plas-bodied Bentley will be the first to cross the block at Gooding’s inaugural European auction and is a late Red Label Speed model.

With its four-seater bodywork, this car was road tested by Motor Sport magazine and later spent three decades in the custodianship of Bentley Drivers Club founding member, George W Bennet.

1927 Bentley 3 Litre Speed Model Sports Tourer (cont.)

Almost 100 years after its completion, it retains its original body, chassis and matching-numbers engine.

And now restored to show quality, it is a worthy member of this exclusive, 15-car line-up.

8. 1965 Lamborghini 350GT (est: £400-550,000)

Our second Lamborghini but a much less familiar sight, although the 350GT was the marque’s first production model.

And with its beautiful Touring-penned body and Bizzarrini-designed four-cam V12, it’s a mightily impressive debut.

1965 Lamborghini 350GT (cont.)

This car was finished in July ’65 and delivered to its first owner, who lived in the Italian city of Genoa.

It has since spent some time in the US but is now back in Europe, where its current keeper has enjoyed using the car on long-distance tours – sounds fantastic!

9. 1935 Aston Martin Ulster (est: £1.6-2.2m)

We’ve had a pair of Lamborghinis, so let’s now look at the second of three Aston Martins consigned to Gooding & Company’s Hampton Court Palace sale – and if you’ve spotted that Thai flag in the photo, you’ll know this is a car with special provenance.

That’s right, it was delivered new to Princes Bira and Chula, whereupon it joined their famous White Mouse Stable of racers – although they campaigned it just once, at the 1935 Tourist Trophy where it retired with a burst oil pipe.

1935 Aston Martin Ulster (cont.)

In the hands of second keeper, William Headlam, this car achieved a class win at Spa’s 24-hour race, and since 1949 it has had just two private owners.

In more recent times, this car has raced at the Le Mans Classic and graced concours lawns. Well, it is one of just 21 customer Ulsters built by Aston Martin and, following careful recommissioning by the experts at Ecurie Bertelli, it is a fabulous proposition. 

10. Aston Martin DB3S (est: £3-4m)

And here’s that third Aston Martin – a ’55 DB3S that could achieve £4m on 5 September.

Just 20 customer DB3Ss were built and this car, chassis 102, is one of a trio of Almond Green cars ordered by the Kangaroo Stable, the racing team from Down Under of Tony Gaze and David McKay.

What’s more, it was the team’s lead car.

Aston Martin DB3S (cont.)

As such, it saw action in the UK, across Europe and in New Zealand in 1955 and ’56, with a highest finish of second at the 12 Hours of Hyères.

For 1957 and with the addition of a Perspex canopy, this car was used to set an Australian Land Speed Record when it averaged 143.19mph, and it was raced until disaster struck while competing at Bathurst in 1960.

But it is certainly back to best now.

11. Lancia Lambda Series III Torpédo (est: £320-400,000)

With its monocoque chassis, independent sliding-pillar front suspension and narrow-angle V4, this was a technically advanced model when unveiled in 1922.

Two years later, this example was sold to its first owner who lived in Uruguay, and he kept it until he died in 1975, when it passed to his son, and was imported to the US and shown at the Briggs Cunningham Automotive Museum in California.

Lancia Lambda Series III Torpédo (cont.)

It has since had several keepers including well-known Lancia collector Lukas Hüni, plus it has been restored, whilst preserving its patinated interior.

Said to be one of the best of its kind and a wonderful car to drive, let’s hope its winning bidder puts it to good use.

12. 1959 Lancia Flaminia 2500 Sport (est: £400-500,000)

This much younger Lancia is a beautiful Flaminia 2500 Sport, with the famous, lightweight, double-bubble coachwork, and it comes to auction in a largely unrestored condition.

It is also one of only 99 pre-series, Zagato-bodied Flaminia Sports.

1959 Lancia Flaminia 2500 Sport (cont.)

Finished in elegant Grigio Newmarket, it has spent most of its life in Milan and, with its current keeper, conquered the Tour Auto Optic 2000.

Currently Swiss registered, it is a beguiling prospect.

13. 1924 Vauxhall 30-98 OE-type (est: £800,000-1.2m)

This vintage masterpiece is a magnificent example of what was Britain’s finest high-performance car.

In all, 313 OE-types were built and of these, it is believe that just a dozen were supplied with the Wensum coachwork that this car wears.

1924 Vauxhall 30-98 OE-type (cont.)

Completed in November 1924, its first owner lived in Sussex and kept it until the late ’50s.

It was later a repeat winner at the Vintage Sports-Car Club’s concours, and it has been described as an ‘exemplary Wensum’ – and possibly the best surviving example.

14. 1939 Bentley 4¼-litre (est: £450-600,000)

This dramatic, swooping, open bodywork is captivating, don’t you think?

It is the work of French coachbuilder Vanvooren, and this car is one of two cabriolets built on the 4¼-litre chassis.

1939 Bentley 4¼-litre (cont.)

As well as its spectacular styling, this Bentley has had some well-known owners, too, including Ivor Silverstone and Sir Evelyn de Rothschild.

The latter commissioned Alpine Eagle to restore the car and the present custodian, who acquired it in 2003, had it finished in the attractive two-tone blue you see here.

15. 1919 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Alpine Eagle Tourer (est: £1-1.4m)

Last but by no means least in this exclusive list is the oldest car – and the one with the longest name!

The ‘Alpine Eagle’ part of that is a reference to the marque’s success on the 1913 Alpine Trial, meaning this is one of the duplicates of those team cars, therefore it boasts a new four-speed gearbox and aluminium pistons.

The chassis was first bodied by Million-Guiet and ordered by the Parisian Rolls-Royce importer, its first owner being Uruguayan politician Diego Pons, who was also an ambassador to the Holy See in the Vatican.

1919 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Alpine Eagle Tourer (cont.)

Look inside and its show-quality restoration is evident all around. And while it was ordered new with options including the short-throw lever gearbox, the D-type steering, nickel fittings and a French chassis plate, you might more immediately be drawn to the exquisitely finished collection of glassware – yes, really.

Gooding & Company’s 15-strong Passion of a Lifetime sale at the Concours of Elegance in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace on 5 September looks like it is going to be very special, then.

Find out more here.