Big guns primed for Monterey frenzy

Auctions
 | 14 Aug 2013

The world’s biggest auction houses are offering up some of the planet’s most sought after classics during the annual Pebble Beach Week Spectacular from 10-18 August.

One of the most valuable cars will cross the block at RM’s Monterey sale (16-17 August) in the form of a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S NART Spider, with an estimate of $14-17,000,000.

The single-owner car is one of 10 examples in existence. The North American Racing Team Spider was born thanks to a direct request from Luigi Chinetti – Ferrari’s legendary US importer – for a ‘wind in your hair’ alternative to the 330GTS.

Next in line is a 1955 Jaguar D-type that is expected to make $4-5,000,000.

Extensively documented, the Jaguar recorded first-place finishes in period and, since its comprehensive restoration in 2003, has been extensively exhibited at Pebble Beach, Villa d’Este, and Amelia Island. It has also participated in the Mille Miglia and the Goodwood Revival.

Slightly more attainable than the car offered by RM is Russo and Steele’s 1965 NART Spider Conversion that carries no estimate will lead the auction house’s 15-17 August sale.

Based on an original 275GTB, the conversion was completed in the late-’60s /early-’70s after its French-singer owner crashed the car on the Riviera.

Completely original are the two AC Cobra’s the auction house will also offer up.

The first, a 1963 Shelby Cobra Independent Comp Roadster, retired from racing in 1993.

CSX2012 keeps its racing specification and comes with $40,000-worth of bills for work carried out in the past three months.

The second example – a 1967 Roadster – retains its original aluminium bodywork and fewer than 1000 miles have been covered since the car’s engine was rebuilt.

Last year’s week of auctions generated sales of more than £200million and making a huge contribution to this figure was Gooding, which sold 12 cars for more than $1million apiece.

The Santa Monica-Based auction house’s 2013 sale will feature three French machines and chief among them is a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante whose estimate is available on request.

It comes complete with its original chassis, engine and coachwork, plus has a history that includes participation in the inaugural International Bugatti Meeting in 1958 and first in class at The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2011.

Set to make $2-3million is 1925 Type 35 Grand Prix, which was displayed on the marque’s stand at the Olympia Motor Show in October 1925 and boasts period competition history including victory at its first race at Brooklands.  

Rounding off the trio is a 1935 Avions Voisin C25 Aérodyne that is also estimated at  $2-3,000,000. It is one of just four known to exist and has unique features including a stylised sliding roof complete with portholes and a streamlined trunk with disappearing wings.

Another Bugatti will feature at Bonhams’ Quail sale (15-16 August) in the form of the first Type 35 to be built. Also used by Ettore Bugatti himself, it’s set to make $1.5-2.5million.

Topping the auction, however, is a 1931 Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged Le Mans that carries a guide price of $4-5million.

It’s described as ‘rarity among rarities’, being one of only three of the 50 production supercharged Bentleys recorded by the factory as a Le Mans chassis on its build sheets (the others being SM 3918 and MS 3937).
Rounding off Auction Week is Mecum with a 1955 Porsche 550/1500 RS Spyder that’s carries no estimate, but is set to go well into the millions.

It’s the same model that took class wins in the Mille Miglia, Le Mans and the Carrera Panamericana in 1954, while the car on offer is well-known in the Porsche community and has taken several awards.

Joining the Porsche on the sales floor are headline lots such as a 1990 Ferrari F40 ($800,000-1million), a 1938 Delage D8-120 Aerosport Coupe ($2,950,000 - $3.5million) and a 1930 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Phaeton ($850,000 - $1million).

Keep up to date with all the auction goings on C&SC.com and the magazine’s Facebook page.