Coy’s upcoming sale at the TechnoClassica Essen on 18 April boasts everything from pre-war tourers through to modern supercars, but it’s a product of the 50s that’s expected to bring in the highest price of the sale – a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing.
The 1955 example is estimated to fetch between €900,000 and €1,200,000, and is the only of its type included in the selection. The SL was originally delivered to the United States, where it remained until it passed to an Italian collector who campaigned it on the inaugural Mille Miglia retrospective in 1988 and again in 1990. Since then, it has undergone a number of sympathetic upgrades, including the fitting of a brake ‘super servo’, while in 2011 it enjoyed a full mechanical check at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Centre in Stuttgart.
A 1988 Porsche 959 is likely to be a close second to the 300SL, though its pre-sale estimate hasn’t been disclosed. The 450bhp supercar has covered 75,000km since new, with the pre-delivery inspection and first four service stamps all being issued by Porsche Stuttgart.
Another German classic, this time from BMW’s stable, is also expected to perform well. The 1938 328 could fetch as much as €600,000, largely as a result of a recent full restoration. The car was discovered in Germany about 10 years ago before being transported to the UK, where it was rebuilt at a cost of more than £254,000. The work was carried out at TT Workshops and Bristol Engineering, and was completed in 2012.
An attractive Ferrari 250GTE finished in gold – one of just two thought to wear the colour – offers a change of pace in the German-centric sale. It is estimated at €285-350,000. The car owes its intriguing colour to its first owner, an ardent fan of the Swiss Scuderia Filipinetti racing team and its striking liveries.
The Ferrari remains largely unrestored, although its paint was refreshed in the late 1990s. A new exhaust will be included with the car, while the shock absorbers and braking system have recently been overhauled.
Offering greater performance for a similar amount of money (€275-350,000) is a 1980 BMW M1. The white Giugiaro-styled rarity is made all the more unusual by its incredibly low mileage – it has just 1650km on the clock. It spent much of its early life as a museum exhibit, before eventually being sold to a Spanish collector.
A Vanden Plas-bodied 1934 Bentley 3.5-litre provides an intriguing blend of sporting prowess and elegant design. The rare Oxborrow & Fuller Design coachwork was only fitted to 13 examples, while the mechanical components are in equally fine fettle having recently undergone a £53,000 recommissioning. It is expected to sell for €200-250,000.
If you’re looking for something unusual, a GAZ ZIM-12 limousine could be just the ticket. The 1954 car was exported from Ukraine to Germany in 2003, and received a replacement engine two years later. It has since been driven for more than 25,000km and is estimated at €35-50,000.
Even more affordable is a front-wheel-drive pioneer from 1936 – a DKW Meisterklasse Luxe Cabriolet. The tourer has spent a considerable length of time in a prominent British collection and was restored to museum quality by a team of experts 15 years ago. It could change hands for as little as €25,000.
The cheapest classic in the sale is a 1971 Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF, which is expected to fetch €20-25,000. The yellow car is described as being excellent both mechanically and bodily, while semi-slick racing tyres suggest that the car has been used as its manufacturer intended.
