All the big sellers at the 2018 Monaco auctions

And the top lots sold for a total of £21m

Auctions: you have to love and hate them. Hate them because you can’t afford a wheelnut’s worth of what’s going under the hammer. Love them because you get to ogle an array of ultra-valuable classics that would otherwise be cooped up in a private collection.

And that latter fact was very much the case with this year’s Monaco sales. As Coys, Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s auction houses took the best of their wares to the principality, we got to see an amazing array of near-priceless machines.

From Senna-raced F1 cars and one-off Lamborghinis to multi-million pound Ferraris and a clutch of celebrity classics, Monaco 2018 had everything.

With that in mind, here are the biggest sales from the weekend – and a selection of the best lots that didn’t sell.

1955 Jaguar XK140 Michelotti

Estimate: €20,000 – 50,000
Actual: €356,500

First up is this worse-for-wear Jaguar, which demolished its estimate on the way to a €350k sale price – all of which is going to one lucky animal rescue charity.

One of just three 1955 Jaguar XK140 SEs that are believed to exist with bodies by Michelotti, it's the only one with this style of bodywork (fitted after a crash in 1957).

Where was it found? In a Belgian barn, of course, after the owner passed away and Bonhams were called in to review his collection. Sure, it’s in need of extensive restoration – but all the important bits are there. 

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB

Estimate: €2m – 2.2m
Actual: €2,142,500

In auctions dominated by near-priceless Ferraris, it takes something special to stand out – but this ultra-rare 1966 275 GTB manages it, by virtue of being one of just 88 long-nose, steel body, triple-carb examples ever built.

More than that, it’s in outstanding condition, tastefully restored and carrying a matching numbers engine. Just as good for historic tours as it is for Concours events, here’s hoping this 1966 GTB’s Borrani wire wheels and Scaglietti curves aren’t hidden away in a private collection now that it's sold for a tasty €2.1m (£1.8m).

1993 McLaren MP4/8A

Estimate: €4m
Actual: €4,197,500

The clear chart-topper, this MP4/8A was always going to do well: it was Ayrton Senna’s steed for some eight races in the 1993 Formula 1 Season – his last at McLaren and one in which he won the Drivers’ Championship.

More than that, this was the car that the brilliant Brazilian steered to his remarkable sixth victory in Monaco, a record-breaking run that still stands unrivalled to this day. Little wonder, then, that it sold – in Monaco, fittingly – for a record €4.2m (£3.7m). And who was the lucky buyer? None other than Bernie Ecclestone.

1984 Toleman-Hart TG184

Estimate: €750,000 – 1m
Actual:  €1,610,000

Two ex-Senna machines in one list? That’s the magic of Monaco – and this Toleman-Hart F1 racer was truly magic around the principality’s streets in 1984. Starting 13th in a rain-drenched and borderline unraceable Monaco Grand Prix, Senna carved up the field in this TG184 to end up right on the tail of the leading McLaren of Alain Prost.

Alas, the race was stopped just as Ayrton was about to slice past the Frenchman, denying him victory and initiating a rivalry for the ages – a fact apparently not lost on bidders at the Bonhams auction, as the price was pushed to twice its low estimate.

1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight

Estimate: €1.4m – 1.8m
Actual: €1,242,500

Lightweight machine, heavyweight price: this 1973 Porsche was factory-built for Finnish racer Leo Kinnunen – but that’s not the only reason for its price tag.

Almost every Carrera RS 2.7 is desirable today, but this example ticks every box imaginable: it’s one of just 200 ‘Lightweight’ examples, weighing some 100KG less than the standard model (and thus getting a lot more out of the 210bhp flat-six engine); it’s also one of only two equipped with ST wheel arches; and it’s the only one ever factory-fitted with a 1974 Carrera 3.0 RS rear spoiler. Pretty rare, then.

1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe

Estimate: €800,000 – 1m
Actual: €848,750

Pininfarina goes with Ferrari like an Escort RS Turbo and torque steer – but when the esteemed Italian coachbuilder couldn’t keep up with demand for the body style it displayed at the 1956 Geneva Motor Show, it was the Boano body shop that took over production for the Ferrari 250 GT.

Some 67 were built under the watchful eye of former Pininfarina designer Mario Boano (albeit with a lower roofline than the original concept), and this Ferrari Classiche-certified example – chassis 0639 GT – is surely one of the best that exists today.

1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

Estimate: €950,000 – 1.5m
Actual: €1,219,000

Race-bred and renowned for its gullwing iteration, the most practical version of the aerodynamic 300SL was in fact the Roadster variant. Equipped with low-pivot rear suspension and a redesigned spaceframe, it was the consummate open-top tourer, with the 3-litre engine putting 130mph within its reach.

Fully restored in 2007, this stunning and highly original 1957 example continued the trend of rising 300SL prices by selling for €1.2m on Friday.

1987 Porsche 959 Komfort

Estimate: €785,000 – 950,000
Actual: €837,500

Set on tackling the hair-raising Group B category of the '80s, Porsche built the 959 for one reason: racing. Carrying a raft of advanced technologies – from automatic ride-height adjustment to a system that could dynamically vary the torque sent to the front or rear wheels – this homologation special was a truly innovative machine.

Rarely seen outside of museums, fewer than 300 959s were ever made – including this 1987 Komfort-spec example. Best hope the new owner likes Anthracite, mind, as that’s the rare colour scheme it’s wearing.

1987 Ferrari F1/87

Estimate: €650,000 – 850,000
Actual: €666,666

Raced by Italian legend Michele Alboreto in the 1987 Formula 1 season, this Ferrari might have been blighted by technical problems during its racing run, but it still competed in anger at a host of iconic races that season, including Monza.

Last driven in 1989, it was then consigned to climate-controlled storage for several years. While it needs a rebuild to be track ready, it’s also a remarkably original slice of late-’80s F1 machinery.

1999 Lamborghini Diablo GT

Estimate: €775,000 – 875,000
Actual: €815,000

Devil by name, Lamborghini’s late-’90s GT was a suitably radical machine bred to race: clad in aggressive carbon-fibre bodywork, the Diablo carried a V12 enlarged to 6 litres and a 575 bhp output – which was good for a truly ridiculous top speed of 215mph.

A mere 80 left the Lamborghini factory and the example sold by RM Sotheby’s was about as close to brand new as they come today, with just 276km on the clock.

1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1900

Estimate: €500,000 – 600,000
Actual: €522,500

It’s a general rule with classic cars that you should keep them as original as you can – unless, that is, you can find a Le Mans-style spider body crafted to an original design, fit it to your Alfa Romeo 6C 1900 and retain the original bonnet.

If, while you’re at it, you can also charge an Alfa expert with rebuilding the engine, fitting a period supercharger and new radiator, and rebuilding the suspension, chances are you’ll be onto a winner. Which is exactly what happened with this 1933 example sold at the RM Sotheby’s auction.

1962 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II

Estimate: €1.4m – 1.6m
Actual: €1,692,500

Another Pininfarina-designed Ferrari, the 250 GT Cabriolet marked an effort by Ferrari to appeal to a more refined market. Equipped with the latest Tipo 128F Colombo V12 engine, it delivered breezy, reliable performance in a package that was easy to live with and exuded Italian luxury.

Carrying its original engine and gearbox, recently restored by a team of specialists in Modena and with a lifetime of Italian ownership, the one sold at RM Sotheby’s is rare in every way – including the sale price.

1992 Benetton B192

Estimate: €550,000 – 750,000
Actual: €815,000

Brainchild of Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn, the Benetton B192 was instrumental in securing the team’s third place finish in the 1992 Constructors’ Championship, not to mention laying the foundations for the cars that would take Michael Schumacher to his 1994 and 1995 Championship wins.

Pretty pivotal, then – and the machine sold by Sotheby’s was used by Schumacher to qualify and finish second in the Spanish Grand Prix that year, which might well have helped it exceed its upper estimate by some €65,000.

1931 Bentley 8-litre Tourer

Estimate: €800,000 – 1m
Actual: €741,666

How do you protect your whopping great Bentley when there’s a war on? You wall it up inside a mine, of course – which is exactly what happened to this 1931 8-litre Tourer during WW2.

Delivered new to Singapore and shipped to the UK in the middle of 20th century, only 80 of its type survive today (out of 100 built) and this one’s in fabulous condition, having been meticulously restored – both mechanically and cosmetically – to its original specification. It didn't quite meet its estimate, but £650k is hardly pocket change.

1950 Ferrari 195 Inter Coupe

Estimate: €500,000 – 600,000
Actual: €590,000

Sure, it was derived from the racing 195 S, but Ferrari’s 195 Inter was every bit the grand tourer, built to deliver style and cruising comfort in spades. Just 27 were ever produced and only 11 of those were bodied by Italian coachbuilder Ghia – including this bonny one.

In fact, the famed styling house designed fewer than 40 bodies for any Ferrari, making chassis 0113 S a truly rare thing – not least because it also carries its original engine, gearbox and carburettors.

1973 Porsche 911 2.7 Carrera RS

Estimate: €550,000 – 750,000
Actual: €575,000

A proper homologation special, the 911 2.7 RS was pure Porsche: uncluttered and committed, everything on the RS had its purpose – from the duck’s tail spoiler to the fuel-injected 2.7-litre six-cylinder engine (good for 210bhp).

Lightweight even in Touring trim, the 2.7 was arguably the definitive RS, and this highly original, matching-numbers example is one of only four to have been delivered new to France. Complete with a vast history file, there’s little wonder it easily met its estimate at the Bonhams auction.

1993 Bugatti EB110 GT

Estimate: €600,000 – 700,000
Actual: €603,750

The brainchild of Romano Artioli, Bugatti’s Italian-built EB110 was designed to resurrect the ailing manufacturer and stand as a fitting tribute to its namesake. And, while the company was liquidated again in 1995, the EB110 was certainly the latter: fitted with a 3.5-litre quad-turbocharged V12, the 590bhp machine could do 0-60 in 3.2 seconds and carry on all the way to 216mph.

Exhibited at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1993, chassis 39033 happily met its estimate on Friday – selling for more than €600,000.

1999 Jordan 199 Formula 1

Estimate: €250,000 – 350,000
Actual: €241,250

Replete with Benson & Hedges branding, this 1999 Jordan F1 machine was piloted by Heinz-Harald Frentzen to a second place finish in the Australian season-opener, immediately followed by third place at Brazil before assuming spare car duties.

With two podium finishes in two races, chassis 003 set the tone for Jordan’s most successful season in Formula 1: the team would go on to finish third in the 1999 Constructors’ Championship. The machine itself remains in highly authentic condition, and sold complete with its original Mugen-Honda motor.

2015 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse

Estimate: €1.2m – 1.5m
Actual: €1,720,625

A Veyron’s a Veyron, right? Not quite. While the world-beating Bugatti machine is doubtless a chart-topper, even among Veyrons there’s a hierarchy – and the Grand Sport Vitesse is at the very top: equipped with that famous 1,200bhp quad-turbo W-16 engine, just 92 examples of the targa top machine were ever built.

Not quite unique enough for you? How about this one-of-a-kind iteration, one of the last ever built and finished in a Transformers livery inside and out. Tasteful? We’ll leave that up to you.

1957 Ferrari 250 GT ‘Tour de France’

Estimate: €7m – 9m
Actual: Failed to sell

Alas, even amongst a host of huge sales there had to be some stunners that didn't sell – and the biggest disappointment was this gorgeous 250 GT, the 15th of just 17 to leave the Ferrari factory in Series III guise.

Instantly recognisable by its Scaglietti curves, despite its value this Berlinetta was no museum motor: it successfully competed in a host of races in the ‘60s, before undergoing a painstaking 20-year restoration using authentic and original parts. It's still looking for a new owner, who'd be just its third custodian in the last 45 years.

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II

Estimate: €550,000 – 650,000
Actual: Failed to sell

Based on the DB2, Aston Martin’s DB2/4 was significant for several reasons – not least because it signified the real start of David Brown’s pivotal run at the helm of the British marque.

Why’s this one so rare? On looks alone it’s one of just 15 built in the Drophead Coupe style (only 199 Mark II DB2/4 machines were made in total). What's more, this was the very first Mark II, converted from demonstration vehicle to prototype with the addition of a 140bhp 3-litre engine – though that sadly wasn't enough for it sell at Monaco.

1954 Fiat 8V

Estimate: €750,000 – 950,000
Actual: Failed to sell

Fiat is these days more associated with hatchbacks than high-performance sports cars, but in the early-’50s the Italian marque stuck its first V8 into a coupe and invited the world’s greatest coachbuilders to clothe the machine. So was born the rare, unusual and generally beautiful Fiat 8V – or ‘Otto Vu’.

Wearing bodywork designed by Vignale (with styling flourishes notably similar to its Ferrari contemporaries), chassis 000047 went to auction as a truly evocative example of mid-century coachbuilding, complete with its original engine. Alas, it didn't sell – but it was still a treat to see.

1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona

Estimate: €550,000 – 650,000
Actual: Failed to sell

Signalling a step-change in Ferrari styling, the sharp-nosed Daytona was an exercise in advancement for the Italian marque: carrying a 4.4-litre V12 at the front, the two-seater 365 GTB/4 was the fastest production car in the world when it launched in 1968, capable of 174mph and a 5.4-second drag to 60mph – demolishing its chief rival, the Lamborghini Miura.

Fitted with an early plexiglass nose, rare factory-optioned air conditioning and its original engine and gearbox, this is one stirring Scaglietti-bodied machine – but that still wasn't enough for it to sell on Saturday.

2015 Ferrari Sergio by Pininfarina

Estimate: €2.5m – 3m
Actual: Failed to sell

When you’ve been working together for decades, it must be hard to innovate, right? Not so, if the Ferrari Sergio is anything to go by: a coachbuilt concept from Pininfarina, the re-shelled 458 was penned as a tribute to the late designer, Sergio Pininfarina, who lent his pencil to a host of history’s most evocative Ferraris.

Just six were built and delivered to specially selected customers – including this example, which was displayed at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. It didn't sell on Saturday, but it's still a corker.

1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America

Estimate: €800,000 – 1m
Actual: Failed to sell

Sometimes, an elegant design is all it takes to create a classic – even if that's not enough for it to sell at auction. Just look at this stunning Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America, which is still for sale after the RM Sotheby's auction: another divine design by Pininfarina, it blended subtlety with class to create a convertible fit for royalty.

Just 240 were built, with only 181 in left-hand drive setup and destined for the USA – making this 1955 example (stored for decades in a private collection) a thing of rare beauty.

1980 BMW M1 Coupe

Estimate: €540,000 – 580,000
Actual: Failed to sell

Keen to take the fight to Ferrari and Porsche, BMW commissioned Lamborghini in the '70s to develop a Group 4 racer. Styled by Gian Paolo Dallara (then working for Lambo), BMW, together with several former Lamborghini employees, finished the job when funding issues arose – and the iconic M1 was the result.

Just 453 examples of this rare homologation special were built, including this highly original one finished in an even rarer shade of orange. Bidding reached €460,000, but that wasn't quite enough to pass its reserve.

1955 Porsche 356 A Carrera GS

Estimate: €550,000 – 600,000
Actual: Withdrawn

There’s a slim chance that in 70 years the sunroof on your Fiesta will be something to remark upon. Things are different when you’re talking about mid-century Porsches, though.

The factory-fitted Golde sunroof on this 356A Carrera Grand Sport makes it a properly rare example – as if being one of just 390 Reutter Carrera 356 A GS coupés built in 1955 didn’t do the trick. Comprehensively restored and resprayed with its original colour scheme, chassis 55380 is as fine as they come – which only makes its withdrawal from the RM Sotheby's sale all the more disappointing.

1953 Ferrari 625 Targa Florio Vignale

Estimate: €4.5m – 6.5
Actual: Failed to sell

Last up is this lovely limited-run Ferrari – a 1953 number and one of just three 2.5-litre 4-cylinder twin-overhead camshaft 625 Targa Florio machines ever made (and the only one to have been remodelled by Vignale into a two-seater spider, on the instruction of a certain Enzo Ferrari).

What did that all mean at auction? Well, despite the bidding reaching a respectably hefty €3.4m, the 625's reserve wasn't met – meaning this rarest of Prancing Horses didn't change hands. A shame as it might well be our favourite lot up for grabs over the entire Monaco weekend.