Bonhams will offer 35 classic cars worth around EUR 17 million on the occasion of the Monaco Grand Prix Historique on May 13, 2022 at the Fairmont Hotel in Monte Carlo. On average, the cars are almost 49 years old and worth around half a million euros. 40% of the vehicles will be auctioned without a minimum bid.
Mercedes, Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin
With six cars, Mercedes-Benz has the largest brand contingent, followed by Ferrari and Porsche with five cars each and Aston Martin with four vehicles.
The remaining 11 brands are represented with one or a maximum of two cars.
Two Bugatti racing cars from really long-standing ownership
It is not every day that Bugatti racing cars from such long-standing ownership come under the hammer. The eight-cylinder supercharged Bugatti Type 35B from 1927 with chassis number 4888 had been with the same owner since 1975 and has an almost completely known history.
The estimated value of EUR 2 to 3 million is correspondingly high.
A Bugatti Type 37 with a four-cylinder engine from 1929, which was part of the same family for 63 years, is slightly cheaper but comes from an even longer-standing ownership. Chassis 37385 was delivered new in France, has an extensive racing history and was restored over 20 years ago. Now EUR 800,000 to 1.1 million is expected to change hands for it.
Some cars with famous previous owners
Hugh Hefner is known to have been the publisher of "Playboy" magazine. But he was also a friend of "Wacky Arnolt", an eccentric and wealthy man who had his own sports cars built, including the Arnolt-Bristol Bolide.
Arnolt gave one of them to Hefner, who soon gave it away to a "Bunny", who in turn soon sold it again. Neither Hefner nor the Bunny left too many traces, but the car has survived and is now expected to cost EUR 300,000 to 400,000.
Charles Gaston Renaud von Coraillod was a Swiss racing driver and car collector and owned a Ferrari 212 Inter Cabriolet Vignale from 1951 with chassis number 0159E. However, he was not the first owner, as this honor went to Peter Staehelin from Basel, who later sold the car on to August Zumsteg. The Ferrari was restored by the internationally renowned Heinrich Kämpfer and took second place in its class at Pebble Beach in 2014. EUR 1.9 to 2.3 million is now being sought for this Ferrari with Swiss history.
Jean-Pierre Beltoise was a Grand Prix racing driver and won the 1972 Monaco GP in a BRM. However, he was also a car dealer and thus came into possession of the Ferrari 275 GTS from 1965 with chassis number 06999, giving the car a very special shine, which is why the elegant convertible is now to find a new owner for EUR 1.2 to 1.6 million.
The Jaguar E-Type Series 2 Cabriolet from 1970 also comes from a famous owner: it belonged to Solar Productions and was driven by Steve McQueen himself, but at the end of the filming of the movie "Le Mans" it was given to the Swiss chef, who has kept the car to this day. The asking price is now EUR 250,000 to 350,000.
Mainly super classics
Bonhams' offering in Monaco actually consists almost exclusively of super classics, if you exclude the 1999 Williams FW21 Formula 1 racing car and the 1962 Brabham BT3, as well as the replica of a 1966 Batmobile and the more recent cars in the auction.
From the AC Ace Bristol (with racing history), to a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster from 1959, to the Lamborghini 400 GT from 1967 or Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster from 1958, everything is there, even an Aston Martin DB4 from 1961 or a Maserati Sebring 3.7 from 1966 are not missing.
The Alfa Romeo 1900 C Cabriolet from 1953, which is listed in the catalog for EUR 400,000 to 480,000, is certainly rare.
Also rare is the Facel Vega Facel II Coupé from 1967, which can be bought at auction for EUR 160,000 to 180,000.
Although somewhat younger, the Porsche 959 from 1988 is certainly also one of the super classics, especially if it is presented almost like a new car and is therefore valued at EUR 1.4 to 1.6 million.
Some youngsters
In addition to the older cars, there are also some young classics for sale, such as a Porsche 911 (993) GT2 from 1997 (EUR 850,000 to 1.15 million), a BMW Z8 from 2001 (EUR 210,000 to 230,000) or a Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG from 2005 (EUR 140,000 to 180,000).
Offered Vehicles
The following table lists all offered vehicles with estimated prices. The price conversion was made at the exchange rate valid at the time of publication. All information is provided without guarantee.
| Lot | Car | Year | NoR | EUR Est from | EUR Est to | CHF Est from | CHF Est to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Batmobile Recreation | 1966 | Yes | 100'000 | 150'000 | 102'000 | 153'000 |
| 102 | Williams-Supertec Renault FW21 Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater | 1999 | Yes | 100'000 | 150'000 | 102'000 | 153'000 |
| 103 | Ferrari 308 GTB Vetroresina | 1976 | 130'000 | 160'000 | 132'600 | 163'200 | |
| 104 | Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante 'X-Pack' | 1989 | Yes | 150'000 | 200'000 | 153'000 | 204'000 |
| 105 | Aston Martin DB2/4 3.0-Litre Sports Saloon | 1954 | 160'000 | 220'000 | 163'200 | 224'400 | |
| 106 | Ferrari 512 BBi Coupé | 1983 | 160'000 | 200'000 | 163'200 | 204'000 | |
| 107 | Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet | 1971 | 300'000 | 380'000 | 306'000 | 387'600 | |
| 108 | Ferrari Testarossa Coupé | 1989 | 140'000 | 150'000 | 142'800 | 153'000 | |
| 109 | Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 Coupé | 1967 | Yes | 240'000 | 280'000 | 244'800 | 285'600 |
| 110 | Brabham 1 1/2-litre Brabham-Climax BT3 Formula 1 Racing Single Seater | 1962 | Yes | 450'000 | 650'000 | 459'000 | 663'000 |
| 111 | Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé | 2011 | Yes | 100'000 | 150'000 | 102'000 | 153'000 |
| 112 | Ferrari 275 GTS Convertible | 1965 | 1'200'000 | 1'600'000 | 1'224'000 | 1'632'000 | |
| 114 | Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | 1959 | 950'000 | 1'200'000 | 969'000 | 1'224'000 | |
| 115 | Facel Vega Facel II Coupé | 1967 | Yes | 160'000 | 180'000 | 163'200 | 183'600 |
| 116 | Alfa Romeo 1900 C CABRIOLET | 1953 | 400'000 | 480'000 | 408'000 | 489'600 | |
| 117 | Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster | 1958 | 320'000 | 350'000 | 326'400 | 357'000 | |
| 118 | Bugatti T35 B | 1927 | 2'000'000 | 3'000'000 | 2'040'000 | 3'060'000 | |
| 119 | Jaguar E-Type Series II Roadster to US Specification | 1970 | Yes | 250'000 | 350'000 | 255'000 | 357'000 |
| 120 | Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG Coupé | 2005 | Yes | 140'000 | 180'000 | 142'800 | 183'600 |
| 121 | Porsche 911 GT2 Coupé | 1997 | 850'000 | 1'150'000 | 867'000 | 1'173'000 | |
| 122 | Porsche 959 Komfort | 1988 | 1'400'000 | 1'600'000 | 1'428'000 | 1'632'000 | |
| 123 | Bugatti Type 37 | 1929 | 800'000 | 1'100'000 | 816'000 | 1'122'000 | |
| 124 | Ferrari 212 Inter Cabriolet | 1951 | 1'900'000 | 2'300'000 | 1'938'000 | 2'346'000 | |
| 125 | Porsche 911 R Type 991 Coupé | 2016 | 300'000 | 400'000 | 306'000 | 408'000 | |
| 126 | AC Ace Bristol Roadster | 1956 | 350'000 | 450'000 | 357'000 | 459'000 | |
| 127 | Aston Martin Virage Shooting Brake | 1992 | Yes | 100'000 | 200'000 | 102'000 | 204'000 |
| 128 | Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet | 1955 | 470'000 | 530'000 | 479'400 | 540'600 | |
| 129 | Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series Coupé | 2009 | Yes | 120'000 | 160'000 | 122'400 | 163'200 |
| 130 | Porsche 911SC | 1982 | Yes | 170'000 | 220'000 | 173'400 | 224'400 |
| 131 | Maserati Sebring 3.7 Series II Coupe | 1966 | 180'000 | 220'000 | 183'600 | 224'400 | |
| 132 | BMW Z8 Roadster | 2001 | 210'000 | 230'000 | 214'200 | 234'600 | |
| 133 | Aston Martin DB4 Series III Saloon | 1961 | Yes | 250'000 | 300'000 | 255'000 | 306'000 |
| 134 | Arnolt-Bristol Bolide Deluxe Roadster | 1954 | 300'000 | 400'000 | 306'000 | 408'000 | |
| 135 | Jaguar E-Type Series I 2+2 Coupé | 1967 | 70'000 | 90'000 | 71'400 | 91'800 | |
| 136 | Maserati Mexico 4.7-Litre Coupé | 1970 | Yes | 60'000 | 80'000 | 61'200 | 81'600 |
All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column NoR = No Reserve (no minimum price), Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
