On the occasion of the Spa Classic, Bonhams is auctioning off twelve cars on May 21, 2017 that have been kept under lock and key for years.
This is the car collection of Rolf Erb, the son of the once dominant Swiss car importer and coffee magnate. In 2003, the Winterthur-based Erb Group went bankrupt, which was described in Switzerland at the time as one of the biggest company failures of all time. Billions in assets are said to have been destroyed.
The company boss responsible, Rolf Erb, maintained his innocence at the time and accused his father Hugo Erb of pulling the strings.
From bankruptcy assets
Since the bankruptcy, there have been disputes over the assets that Rolf Erb had passed on to family members shortly before the company went bankrupt. These included Eugensberg Castle and a car collection of 13 vehicles.
Bonhams can now put 12 of these cars, which until recently had been waiting for better times in an underground garage, under the hammer in May 2017.
300 SL and Silver Ghost
The most sought-after pieces are likely to be a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster from 1958 and a Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Double Phaeton from 1921, both estimated by Bonhams to be worth around EUR 600,000 to 800,000.
Hot-blooded Italian sports cars
Less expensive but hardly less attractive are a Lamborghini Espada from 1971 (EUR 70,000 to 110,000), a Maserati Ghibli 4900 SS from 1969 (EUR 100,000 to 150,000) and a Maserati Indy America from 1971 (EUR 50,000 to 80,000).
From Aston Martin to Jaguar
The dozen is completed by an Aston Martin V8 Volante from 1980 (EUR 90,000 to 140,000), a Maserati Quattroporte II from 1968 (EUR 40'000 to 70,000), as well as two Jaguar E-Types, a Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC from 1981 (EUR 20,000 to 30,000) and a Ford Mustang from 1973 (EUR 10,000 to 15,000).
For the exquisite taste
So these are cars for exquisite taste that have remained untouched for years and are gathering dust in peace. It goes without saying that you can't just get in and drive off, which also explains the sometimes cautious estimated values.
Further information and more pictures of the upcoming auction on the occasion of the Spa Classics can be found on the Bonhams website.
