Probably the most exclusive vehicle auction on Swiss soil in 2012 will take place on June 10, 2012 on the occasion of the DolderClassic above the glamorous Hotel Dolder. 51 classic cars (and two motorcycles/scooters) worth not quite five million Swiss francs (or a good four million euros) are on the auction list that Reinhard Schmidlin and his team have put together.
A colorful mix
No brand has more than three vehicles on offer, and the nations are also well represented, particularly Italy, Germany, England and the USA. Eight pre-war vehicles, 37 post-war classic cars and six so-called "young" or "future" classics make up the range.
Rarely traded rarities and standard offerings
The lot list includes rare one-offs and vehicles that hardly ever come under the hammer, such as the MBM Sport from 1960 or the Fiat Abarth 1300 OT from 1966, as well as classics that are often seen at auctions, such as the Porsche 356, the Jaguar E-Type, the Ford Mustang, the Maserati Bora or the Lamborghini Jarama. There is not enough space here to describe all the vehicles in detail, but a few of the rarities should be highlighted. The Oldtimer Galerie Toffen has produced an extremely comprehensive catalog for the auction, which can be viewed online here.
Swiss quality product - Buick Eight Series 40 Cabriolet Tüscher
Less well-known than Graber or Beutler, the Zurich-based Tüscher brothers also built impressive bodies on the chassis of various manufacturers before the war. In 1937, they built a Buick Buick Eight Series 40 Cabriolet, which is impressive not only in terms of its overall appearance but also in terms of its precision craftsmanship. The extensively restored vehicle was estimated at CHF 85,000 - 95,000 (Euro 71,000 to 79,000).
Dynamic even when stationary - De Tomaso Pantera GT5S
The De Tomaso Pantera GT5S from 1989 is a completely different story. This is one of the last classic Panteras, as the car was completely redesigned a short time later. The large-volume Ford V8 allowed for performance beyond what is permitted today, while the flat mid-engined sports car boasted wide wheels and a powerful rear spoiler. The De Tomaso is not intended to be a racing car, but a sports car suitable for everyday use for someone looking for something special. The car on offer is in mint condition and has only been used sparingly over the last 13 years. Due to the small number produced, the GT5S vehicles in particular are considered sought-after specialties, which is reflected in the estimated price of CHF 140,000 to 160,000 (Euro 116,500 to 133,500).
Elegance of the sixties - Lancia Flaminia 3C 2800 Super Sport Zagato
The Lancia Flaminia was one of the most sensational vehicles of the late fifties. The Pininfarina saloon was followed by a similarly designed coupé and shortly afterwards by the sporty coupé from Zagato, the most advanced version of which was called the Super Sport Zagato.
The model on offer with the 2.8-liter engine and three carburetors had a special feature. It is one of only two or three Super Sport models to have a steel body instead of aluminum. According to Lancia circles, the spicy background to this is as follows: the old Zagato was known to be an obsessive gambler and could regularly be seen in the casinos of Monte Carlo. When he had once again gambled away the cash he had collected and the aluminum suppliers no longer wanted to deliver because of too many outstanding invoices, he ordered that ordered vehicles be built from existing material - sheet steel. This has the advantage that contact corrosion, which otherwise threatens similar makes, is not an issue. The bidders will have to decide whether this special feature increases the value or not. In any case, the estimated price was set at CHF 200,000 to 220,000 (166,500 to 183,500 euros).
English small series success - Ginetta G15
Despite its Italian-sounding name, Ginetta was an English small-series manufacturer of fast sports cars; the G4 and G12 models, which were also successful in racing, are unforgotten. The G15 was the best-selling sports car. The car with Hillman Imp technology was presented in 1968, and as many as 800 units were built. Outside England, Ginetta vehicles are among the rarest on the road and the 1973 G15 Coupé on offer benefited from extensive restoration and optimization measures. Estimated at CHF 34,000 to 36,000 (Euro 28,500 to 30,000), the right-hand drive car is looking for a buyer who is looking for something special.
Open temptation from Italy - Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTC
Many classic car enthusiasts are familiar with the famous Alfa Romeo Giulia, the four-door saloon with the specially shaped boot lid, and of course the Giulia Sprint GT coupé, the direct predecessor of the Bertone GTV. However, few people know that there was also an open-top version of this Giulia GT, known as the GTC, and even in the 1960s the open-top Giulia GTC was a rarity with just under 1,000 units produced. This small car perhaps offers the best of both worlds - openness for four people and the inimitable mechanics of the Giulia series.
The rarity naturally has an impact on the price, which results in an estimate of CHF 75,000 to 80,000 (EUR 62,500 to 71,000) for the red convertible built in 1966.
Carrozzeria Italia V12 Barchetta court case
This open-top sports car has a very special history. Based on the Ferrari sports cars of the 1950s, it was built by a respected Carossier on the basis of a Ferrari chassis (330 GT 2+2 from 1964), but only in 1990. Whether this car can now be called a "Ferrari" and bear the famous insignia (prancing horse on a yellow coat of arms) is currently being debated by lawyers. A pity, really. Because this "Special" was created in the same way as the various Touring and Vignale versions on an original chassis a good fifty years ago, and back then Enzo Ferrari would never have dreamed of depriving people of his coat of arms.
Luxury in perfection - Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible
The first owner paid around 550,000 francs for the magnificent burgundy Rolls-Royce convertible around 12 years ago. Now in mint condition with a good 6,000 km on the clock, the car has an estimated price of CHF 140,000 to 160,000 (EUR 116,500 to 133,500) and, as one of the last cars equipped with the original Rolls-Royce V8 engine - after the takeover by BMW, this engine had to make way for the BMW units - could one day become a sought-after classic, not least because of the extremely small number of 374 examples.
At 5.4 meters long and 1.91 meters wide, this Rolls towered over most road cruisers. The turbocharged engine develops 329 hp at just 4,000 rpm. Everything that makes driving more pleasant is on board, from level control and automatic transmission to fully automatic air conditioning. Hardly anything requires any effort; electric little helpers are on hand everywhere. You can certainly feel at home in this car, and the Corniche is just the thing for the next driveway in front of the Dolder Hotel.
High-tech made in the USA - Studebaker Avanti Supercharged
Raymond Loewy designed the Schell shell logo as well as cars. Probably his most famous design is the Studebaker Avanti, of which there were also several supercharged vehicles. The fastest of these set speed records of almost 300 km/h on salt lakes in the USA in the early 1960s. One of these rare plastic vehicles is now inviting bids at an estimated price of CHF 48,000 to 52,000 (EUR 40,000 to 43,500). This unusually styled vehicle is sure to attract attention.
A sensible sports car from Germany VW-Porsche 914/2.0
A typical child of the late 1960s, the VW-Porsche 914 was the first road-going sports car with a mid-engine and was the result of a collaboration between Porsche and Volkswagen. However, while the Porsche version with six cylinders had little success, the VW version with the engine from the staid 411/412 sold in impressive numbers. This was helped by the Targa roof and the generally unpretentious technology. Visually, the VW and Porsche versions differed only minimally; only the sound of the four-cylinder boxer engine was slightly inferior to the Porsche unit. However, at an estimated price of CHF 22,000 to 26,000 (Euro 18,500 to 21,500), you can save around half the price of the six-cylinder version and still enjoy the sun and sporty handling.
The hammer falls on June 10, 2012
The auction will begin at 14:00 on June 10, 2012 at the Dolder. The vehicles can be viewed in advance from Thursday to Saturday from 12:00 to 20:00 and on Sunday from 09:00 to 14:00. If you are interested in one or other of the vehicles, we recommend a detailed inspection on site and a chat with Reinhard Schmidlin and his team. And even if you are not on site on Sunday, you can bid by telephone or by submitting a written offer in advance.
It will be interesting to see how this first auction at the Dolder goes. In any case, it is unlikely to be the fault of the bidding if expectations are not met, as rarely has such a high-class and diversified collection of vehicles been seen at a Swiss auction.
Detailed list of lots (excluding motorcycles, as of May 25, 2012)
| Lot | Vehicle | Year | Type of vehicle | Estimated price CHF | Estimated price Euro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | MG Midget Mk II | 1966 | Convertible | 15000-18000 | 12500-15000 |
| 03 | Alpine-Renault A310 V6 Group 4 | 1983 | Coupé | 32000-36000 | 26500-30000 |
| 04 | BMW 2800 CS | 1969 | Coupé | 22000-26000 | 18500-21500 |
| 05 | Fiat 1600 S O.S.C.A. Cabriolet | 1964 | Convertible | 45000-50000 | 37500-41500 |
| 06 | Lotus Elan S2 | 1966 | Convertible | 38000-42000 | 31500-35000 |
| 07 | Ford Mustang 302 Convertible | 1968 | Convertible | 34000-38000 | 28500-31500 |
| 08 | Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray 396 | 1965 | Coupé | 100000-120000 | 83500-100000 |
| 09 | Iso Rivolta IR 300 | 1970 | Coupé | 55000-60000 | 46000-50000 |
| 10 | Lamborghini Diablo VT | 1995 | Coupé | 105000-115000 | 87500-96000 |
| 11 | Studebaker Avanti Supercharged | 1963 | Coupé | 48000-52000 | 40000-43500 |
| 12 | Jaguar E-Type 3.8-Litre Series 1 Roadster | 1963 | Convertible | 90000-110000 | 75000-91500 |
| 13 | Mercedes 220 S Ponton Cabriolet | 1957 | Convertible | 95000-105000 | 79000-87500 |
| 14 | Intermeccanica Italia Spyder | 1972 | Convertible | 95000-115000 | 79000-96000 |
| 15 | Honda S 800 Coupé | 1969 | Coupé | 20000-25000 | 16500-21000 |
| 16 | Ginetta G15 | 1973 | Coupé | 34000-36000 | 28500-30000 |
| 17 | Pontiac Safari Wagon | 1960 | station wagon | 55000-60000 | 46000-50000 |
| 18 | Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow | 1974 | Sedan | 34000-38000 | 28500-31500 |
| 19 | Singer Nine Le Mans | 1935 | Roadster | 45000-50000 | 37500-41500 |
| 20 | Maserati Bora 4.9 | 1973 | Coupé | 85000-95000 | 71000-79000 |
| 21 | Ford A Pick Up | 1930 | Pick Up | 60000-65000 | 50000-54000 |
| 22 | Buick Eight Series 40 Convertible Tüscher | 1937 | Convertible | 85000-95000 | 71000-79000 |
| 23 | Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale | 1960 | Coupé | 70000-75000 | 58500-62500 |
| 24 | Porsche 911 2.7 | 1975 | Coupé | 34000-38000 | 28500-31500 |
| 25 | Aston Martin DB 2 | 1953 | Coupé | 170000-200000 | 141500-166500 |
| 26 | De Soto Six Sedan | 1930 | Sedan | 25000-30000 | 21000-25000 |
| 28 | LaSalle 345A Town Sedan | 1931 | Sedan | 75000-80000 | 62500-66500 |
| 29 | Dodge Challenger 340 Convertible | 1971 | Convertible | 65000-75000 | 54000-62500 |
| 30 | Carrozzeria Italia V12 Barchetta | 1964/90 | Roadster | on request | on request |
| 31 | Aston Martin V8 Volante Vantage Specification | 1981 | Convertible | 135000-145000 | 112500-121000 |
| 32 | Porsche 356 B Roadster | 1961 | Convertible | 170000-200000 | 141500-166500 |
| 33 | Cadillac Eldorado Custom by Coolidge Motorcars | 1979 | Coupé | 28000-38000 | 23500-31500 |
| 34 | Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible | 2001 | Convertible | 140000-160000 | 116500-133500 |
| 35 | Cadillac Eldorado Convertible | 1966 | Convertible | 38000-42000 | 31500-35000 |
| 36 | Pontiac Tempest Le Mans GTO Convertible | 1965 | Convertible | 65000-75000 | 54000-62500 |
| 37 | Lancia Flaminia 3 C 2800 Super Sport Zagato | 1966 | Coupé | 200000-220000 | 166500-183500 |
| 38 | Abarth 1300 OT | 1966 | Coupé | on request | on request |
| 39 | Lincoln Model K LeBaron Coupé 2P | 1936 | Coupé | 95000-115000 | 79000-96000 |
| 40 | De Tomaso Pantera GT5S | 1989 | Coupé | 140000-160000 | 116500-133500 |
| 41 | Jaguar Mk V 3.5-Litre Drophead Coupé | 1951 | Convertible | 85000-95000 | 71000-79000 |
| 42 | Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III BJ8 Injection | 1965 | Convertible | 75000-85000 | 62500-71000 |
| 43 | Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit Convertible Conversion | 1984 | Convertible | 80000-90000 | 66500-75000 |
| 44 | Lamborghini 400 GT Jarama | 1972 | Coupé 2+2 | 68000-72000 | 56500-60000 |
| 45 | Chevrolet Corvette | 1954 | Convertible | 95000-115000 | 79000-96000 |
| 46 | Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTC | 1966 | Convertible | 75000-80000 | 62500-71000 |
| 47 | VW-Porsche 914/4 2.0 | 1973 | Targa | 22000-26000 | 18500-21500 |
| 48 | MG M Type Midget | 1932 | Roadster | 35000-40000 | 29000-33500 |
| 49 | Marendaz Special 13/70 | 1933 | Tourer | 45000-55000 | 37500-46000 |
| 50 | Maserati 3500 GTI | 1965 | Coupé | 95000-115000 | 79000-96000 |
| 51 | Lamborghini Countach LP 5000 S Quattrovalvole | 1986 | Coupé | 200000-220000 | 166500-183500 |
| 52 | Austin-Healey Sprite Mk I "Frogeye" | 1958 | Roadster | 25000-30000 | 21000-25000 |
| 53 | Monteverdi MBM SP-100 O.S.C.A. | 1960 | Roadster | on request | on request |
