The car has proved a popular addition to Europe’s finest show fields, also being accepted and presented at the 2011 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
A star of the early Seventies offers considerably greater performance clothed in stunning Bertone coachwork. The 1972 Iso Grifo Series II is one of just 78 ever built and holds the honour of being the 1972 Torino Motor Show car. It’s estimated at $300-400,000.
Like the 2500 Super Sport, the Iso has been the subject of a recent and extensive restoration. The painstaking process was begun by Lusso Classics in the Netherlands before being completed by Roberto and Frederico Negri of Bottegone Restorations in Lombardy. The father and son team finished the Iso in its period-correct Volte Argentata Metallizzato, while a number of improvements were also carried out, such as fitting ZF variable-ratio power steering and air conditioning.
If competition cars are more your thing, you’ll be sorely tempted by a 1959 Osca Tip S-273 finished in Briggs Cunningham colours. The $650-800,000 racer was raced at Sebring in 1960 by Denise McCluggage, after which is was sold to Cecil Schoeneman, a forestry businessman and amateur racer from Sioux Falls who campaigned the car with some success.
By 1971 the car had been acquired by Dr John Hunholz, who restored the car with his son and kept it in his collection for the next four decades. It hasn’t been used much since, and is eligible for a number of exciting classic touring and competition events.
A 1966 Abarth 1300 OT Periscopio is every bit as striking, and predicted to sell for slightly less: $500-600,000. A former exhibit in the Rosso Bianco Collection, the racer was campaigned by Abarth Corse Deutschland during the 1966 season. It came first overall in the Touring Car Grand Prix at Hockenheim and the HMSC-Flugplatz-Rennen at Mainz-Finthen, coming second in class in the Nürburgring 500km.
Just 50 examples of the Sibona & Basano-bodied flyweight were ever built, making this a rare opportunity for collectors. The car’s provenance is undoubtedly an attribute, having spent time as a Rosso Bianco display between 1967-’87 before going on show at Japan’s Gallery Abarth between 1987-’08.
A 1976 Maserati Merak SS comes in at a more attainable $80-100,000, with the possibility of a bargain thanks to being auctioned with no reserve. It’s got a lot more going for it, too.
As well as an extensive history file proving both its low mileage and regular maintenance, plus all the original service books and owner’s manual, the car has been treated to a recent – and expensive – engine-out service.
Now for the dreamers: a 1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spider. It’s most people’s idea of a dream classic, and with good reason. Its triple Weber Tipo 168/61 engine is a marvel, and being one of only 37 covered headlamp examples exquisitely bodied by Scaglietti, it’s a rarity, too. The estimate? $15-17m.
