After the auction had to move to Gstaad the previous year, the Bonhams auction, which is based in western Switzerland, took place again on June 18, 2023 at the Bonmont golf course in Cheserex. There were 60 vehicles on offer, two of which were motorcycles. On average, the vehicles were around 35 years old, with only one dating back to the pre-war period. The total value of the vehicle lots was estimated at just over CHF 13 million, so each vehicle is expected to fetch around CHF 218,000.
All Aston Martin sold
Cars from the Aston Martin brand were the most strongly represented. The 13 sports cars and limousines had an average age of 22 years. All of the cars were sold, some of them at significantly higher prices than expected.
The very rare Lagonda Taraf from 2015, for example, achieved a price of CHF 345,000 (EUR 351,900), with the highest bid already 33% above the median estimate.
But there were also disappointments, as a 1968 DBS Vantage only just fetched CHF 59,800 (EUR 60,996).
Cheap Rolls-Royces
Seven of the eight Rolls-Royces were sold, while a modern Panthom Drophead Coupé from 2007 was left behind.
A Silver Cloud II from 1960 was a bargain, selling for just CHF 25,300 (EUR 25,806). Another bargain was a Silver Cloud II Chinese Eye Coupé from 1963, which found a new owner for CHF 80,500 (EUR 82,110).
A Silver Wraith Two Door Saloon from 1962 changed hands at the estimate level for CHF 46,000 (EUR 46,920).
The special Bugatti 44
A Bugatti Type 44 from 1929 with a Gangloff body had been in the same ownership since 1966. Under the long hood was an in-line eight-cylinder engine without a supercharger. Its approximately 100 hp should still be enough for speedy locomotion today. The car is exceptionally well documented and perhaps somewhat less spectacular than the Grand Prix Bugattis, but more roadworthy and almost even more special.
CHF 300,000 to 500,000 was the estimate here, with the highest bid quoted at CHF 420,000, which meant that the car found a new enthusiast for CHF 483,000 (EUR 492,660).
Almost like new
It is rare to see so many cars with such low mileages at an auction as on June 18, 2023. In fact, more than a dozen of the cars had mileages in the triple digits at most, including several recent Porsches, a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé from 2014 (105 km), an Aston Martin Vantage GT8 from 2016 (250 km), a Ferrari 599 SA Aperta from 2011 (350 km), the aforementioned Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf from 2015 (223 km) or a Ford GT from 2018 (750 km), to name a few examples.
Some of them also sold really well, while others only partially met expectations.
A Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 S Roadster from 2009 generated a lot of interest and was ultimately sold for CHF 8,5000 (EUR 821,100), well above its estimated value.
Underestimated rarities
The fact that the Peugeot 202 UH Pickup from 1949 sold for CHF 52,900 (EUR 53,958) instead of CHF 15,000 to 25,000 is certainly due to the dynamic nature of the auction.
But the special Lamborghini Urraci P300 from 1975 with factory modifications also clearly outperformed the estimate at CHF 69,000 (EUR 70,380).
More money than hoped for was also paid for the Monteverdi High Speed 375/L from 1970, CHF 155,250 (EUR 158,355) had to be invested here and it will probably be a little more until the car is reliably on the road again.
The yellow Ferrari 348 Spider from 1994 also fetched a good price, going to a new garage for CHF 109,250 (EUR 111,435).
Things went similarly well for the 1962 Fiat 500D, which was valued at CHF 41,400 (EUR 42,228), while its equally lavishly restored big brother, the 1956 Fiat 600, was sold for a disappointing CHF 12,650 (EUR 12,903).
The 1987 Maserati Quattroporte III also fetched considerably less than expected, with CHF 13,800 (EUR 14,076) being enough to take it over.
Somewhat less sought-after super classics
Of course, there was no lack of super classics at Bonhams in western Switzerland. Some have already been mentioned, but there were even more.
A 1957 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS Touring sold for CHF 126,500 (EUR 129,030), while CHF 93,300 (EUR 96,186) was paid for the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz.
The highest bidder paid CHF 506,000 (EUR 516,120) for the 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, while the 1990 F40 fetched CHF 1.955 million (EUR 1.994 million).
Two classic Porsche 911s were also represented, one of them a Carrera RS 2.7 Touring from 1973, which found a new owner for a comparatively reasonable CHF 316,250 (EUR 322,575), while the 911 SC 3.0 from 1981 was sold for CHF 64,400 (EUR 65,688).
An enthusiast paid CHF 92,000 (EUR 93,840) for the restored 1955 Alvis TC21/100 Coupé Graber, which was only just in line with expectations.
The 1962 Citroën DS 19 Cabriolet could not be sold; CHF 120,000 was not enough for a knockdown.
Entry-level option was expensive
There were also cheap cars for sale at Bonhams in Bonmont, a 1971 MGB GT V8 was the last car announced for just CHF 8,000 to 14,000.
The bidders took a different view and drove the not quite finished sports car up to CHF 29,900 (EUR 30,498).
Overall, Bonhams achieved a turnover of CHF 11.7 million (EUR 11.97 million) in Bonmont, with a sale price of CHF 213,293 per vehicle, which was pretty much in line with expectations on average.
Offered and Sold Vehicles
The following table lists all offered and sold vehicles with estimated prices, highest bids, and sale prices. The price conversion was made at the exchange rate valid on the auction day. All information is provided without guarantee.
| Lot | Car | Year | CHF Est from | CHF Est to | CHF HP | CHF SP | EUR SP | % Est | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Enfield 500 CM3 'Super Bullet' with Precision Sidecar Egli | 1996 | 10'000 | 20'000 | 13'000 | 16'640 | 16'972 | +10.93%
|
V |
| 102 | Ducati 916 Senna | 1998 | 20'000 | 30'000 | 11'000 | 12'650 | 12'903 | -49.4%
|
V |
| 103 | Peugeot 202 UH Pickup | 1949 | 15'000 | 25'000 | 46'000 | 52'900 | 53'958 | +164.5%
|
V |
| 104 | Citroën 2CV6 Club | 1986 | 20'000 | 30'000 | 16'000 | 18'400 | 18'768 | -26.4%
|
V |
| 105 | Maserati Quattroporte III | 1987 | 25'000 | 35'000 | 12'000 | 13'800 | 14'076 | -54%
|
V |
| 106 | Lamborghini Urraco P300 | 1975 | 25'000 | 45'000 | 60'000 | 69'000 | 70'380 | +97.14%
|
V |
| 107 | Fiat 600 Trasformabile | 1956 | 35'000 | 45'000 | 11'000 | 12'650 | 12'903 | -68.38%
|
V |
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All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
