Auction house Gooding & Co wanted to cross the Atlantic for the first time on April 1, 2020 to hold an auction in Europe. Until now, David Gooding and Charlie Ross, the British-born auctioneer, have always worked in the USA, in Scottsdale, Amelia Island and Pebble Beach respectively. Their auctions are among the most exclusive events on the collectors' scene and countless records have been set over the years.
However, Covid-19 forced a postponement of the plans. Following the easing of restrictions, the auction will now be held on September 4, 2020 at the Concours d'Elégance Hampton Court Palace.
The collection of a connoisseur
16 automobiles from collector Hubert Fabri will go under the hammer in London on September 4, 2020. The brands alone - Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Lancia, Vauxhall and Rolls-Royce (average age 77 years) - already give rise to great expectations, but the individual vehicles are even more so. No wonder Gooding & Co is expecting sales in excess of £45 million, with an average estimate of around EUR 3.5 million or CHF 3.7 million per car.
It is important to know that seven of the 16 cars are registered in Switzerland, the rest in the UK. This could simplify the choice for some interested parties ...
Three Aston Martin
If you had to choose three cars from Aston Martin's long history, the three that Gooding can offer would certainly be on the shortlist.
The rarest might be the 1955 DB3S that raced in Australia. £3 to 4 million is the estimate.
The most expensive car in the entire auction could be the 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, one of only 19 originals and one of the few to be painted in "Peony Red".
For pre-war enthusiasts, the 1935 Aston Martin Ulster certainly represents that era perfectly, especially as the car took part in the 1935 Tourist Trophy.
Three Bentleys
The three Bentleys in the collection are less racing, but all the more elegant.
The Bentley R-Type Contintental Fastback from 1952 was the ultimate GT of the time and is now said to be worth £1.5 to 2 million.
Vanvooren built a beautiful convertible in 1939 based on a Bentley 4 1/4 Litre chassis. At £450,000 to £600,000, this car is one of the cheaper ones at the auction.
The Bentley 3 Litre Speed Model Sports Tourer with Vanden Plas bodywork from 1927 is even more affordable. £ 350,000 to £ 450,000 should be enough for the fully restored car.
Three Bugatti
The three Bugattis are in a completely different league.
There is the Type 59 Sports from 1934, which is said to be worth at least £10 million. The car was driven by René Dreyfus in 1934 and 1935, but with modified bodywork was still frequently used afterwards, not least with some of the most famous racing drivers of the time (Benoist, Chrion, Taruffi, Varzi, Wimille). The car has never been restored since, a unique opportunity.
The Type 35 C from 1928 has almost more patina than the Type 59. This car also has a racing history and has never been restored in its entire life. £ 3 million is seen as an entry ticket.
In contrast, the Type 37S Atalante from 1937, which is also expected to fetch a price of at least £7 million, is more on the concours side.
Two Lamborghini
Let's move on from the pre-war period to the 1960s and Lamborghini. The two sports cars are perfect representatives of the early career of the young sports car manufacturer from Sant'Agata.
The Lamborghini 350 GT from 1965 was the first car built in series and is now expected to cost £400,000 to £550,000.
The Lamborghini Miura P400 SV from 1971 is one of only 150 SVs built, the pinnacle of the Miura series, so to speak. With a dry sump and ZF limited slip differential, it was built to a very special order. £ 1.6 to 2 million is expected.
Three Lancia
The fact that there were three Lancia cars in the collection proves the importance of the Turin-based car brand in automotive history.
On offer in London are an Aurelia B24S Spider America from 1955 (£700,000 to £900,000), a Flaminia 2500 Sport from 1959 (£400,000 to £500,000) and a Lambda 3rd Series Torpédo from 1924 (£320,000 to £400,000).
A Rolls-Royce
With the Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Alpine Eagler Tourer from 1919, the British marque proved that an RR could also be sporty.
Now £ 1 to 1.4 million is due for the purchase of the beautiful car
A Vauxhall
The Vauxhall 30-98 OE-Type Wensum from 1924 seems to be a little out of the ordinary, although this model was known as one of the best sports cars of the time and therefore a worthy addition to the Bugatti, Bentley and co. in the collection.
At £800,000 to £1.2 million, it is also not the cheapest car, but has been given an estimate commensurate with its rarity.
So 16 cars are going under the hammer in London, each of which would be worth a sin ...
More information about the individual vehicles, including many pictures, is documented on the Gooding & Co website.
