Unique Lamborghini, Lancia and Chevrolet Bertone prototypes to be auctioned in May 2011
RM Auctions is holding an auction of rare automobiles on the occasion of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. The list of lots already announced, including a Bugatti 57SC Atalante Coupé from 1957 or the Ford GT40 Works Prototype Roadster from 1965, not forgetting the two Ferrari 250 MM Berlinetta from 1953 and 375 MM Berlinetta from 1955, will make the mouths of wealthy collectors water, but even more unique is the auction of six cars from the Bertone collection, which are coming onto the market for the first time ever.
The people at RM Auctions have been commissioned by the liquidators of the Bertone Museum to offer three Lamborghinis, a Chevrolet and two "Lancias" to the highest bidder.
The (Lancia) Stratos HF Zero from 1970 is the first prototype that preceded the famous rally-winning Lancia Stratos. The name was inspired by the extremely futuristic stratospheric design. When you look at the car, you have to admire the courage of the designers of the time. The vehicle is probably one of the most frequently illustrated prototypes ever. In keeping with its importance, the specialists at RM Auctions are hoping for a hammer price of between €1 and €1.8 million.
The Lamborghini Marzal from 1967 was presented by Prince Ranier and Grace Kelly at the Monaco Grand Prix and embodied new design ideas with its four-seater layout and full-length gullwing doors. This car is also expected to cost between 1 and 1.8 million euros. We will be devoting a larger report to this car in the near future.
On March 3 , 1963, the Chevrolet Corvair Testudo was presented at the Geneva Motor Show, providing access to the futuristic interior via a continuous door-windshield-roof construction. You can imagine how impressed people must have been almost 50 years ago. This car is expected to fetch between 500,000 and 800,000 euros.
The Lamborghini Bravo from 1974 was technically based on a shortened Urraco, but in terms of design it could not be compared with anything that existed. Even today, the lines of the vehicle, which was just over one meter high, are still impressive. Our report shows many more details. The car was estimated at a comparatively reasonable €150,000 to €220,000, but at least you get a potential entry ticket to Pebble Beach or Villa d'Este.
More recent is the Lamborghini Athon from 1980, a straight-lined convertible with a three-liter V8 engine, shown in Geneva in 1981, among others. Bertone's aim with the drivable prototype at the time was to support the financially ailing Lamborghini brand in a way that would attract public attention. With an estimated price of EUro 150,000 to 220,000, this is certainly an attractive one-off.
In addition, the somewhat futuristic, angular and probably barely drivable Lancia Sibilo from 1978 is also for sale, with an estimated price of less than EUR 100,000.
We are curious to see what prices the vehicles on offer will achieve, as the "estimates" appear to be a little too wide-ranging. There is no "market" and no previous experience, so the auction in May will be all the more interesting.
(Note: All pictures are by Tom Wood (courtesy RM au)
