Every year between Christmas and New Year, the Oldtimer Galerie Toffen holds an auction in Gstaad. The date is fixed, but the day of the week changes. It will happen again on Sunday, December 29, 2024. In addition to some automobilia, model cars and three motorcycles, 46 cars, a tractor and 1 boat will go under the hammer. The latter 48 vehicles have been estimated at a total of CHF 8.8 million, i.e. average bids of around CHF 184,000 or EUR 197,000 are expected per lot.
On average, the 48 vehicles are a good 51 years old, 10 of which (21%) are being offered without a reserve price.
Broad age mix
The vehicles coming under the hammer cover almost a whole century of automotive engineering. Four pre-war cars stand in contrast to six modern cars (built after 2005), the rest are distributed more or less evenly across the decades in between, even if the fifties and sixties are somewhat overrepresented, which is in line with the usual vintage car mix.
The 48 vehicles come from 26 different brands, with the most cars coming from Ferrari (5, including Dino), Mercedes-Benz (5), Porsche (4, plus a tractor), Rolls-Royce (4) and Ford.
There is no shortage of exotic car manufacturers, such as Hotchkiss and Monteverdi.
Noble and fast Brits
Great Britain is probably the most strongly represented car manufacturing nation.
Three pre-war Rolls-Royces built between 1924 and 1937 will go under the hammer, as will two young Bentley Azure and an Aston Martin V8 Vantage from 2009.
In between in terms of age are an Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II Competition from 1961 and a Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 liter flat floor roadster from the same year.
The beautiful D-Type replica from Proteus, which is based on the technology of a 1962 Jaguar, could be exciting for racing car fans.
Two- and four-door German collector's cars
German cars are also well represented in Gstaad.
From Mercedes-Benz there is a Ponton Cabriolet 220 SE from 1960, a 300 SEL 6.3 from 1969, a 600 from 1970 as well as a 500 SL from 1999 and the modern gullwing SLS AMG from 2010 (CHF 220,000 to 250,000).
Two Porsche 356 C Coupé and Cabriolet from 1963/1964 will be at the start, complemented by a 911 E 2.2 Targa from 1970 and a practically new 992 GT3 RS "Weissach" from 2024.
Italian super classics
The range of Italian classics on offer is broad. For example, a light blue Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce from 1957 (CHF 95,000 to 125,000).
The Maserati 3500 GT from 1959 is expected to be somewhat more expensive (CHF 230,000 to 250,000).
The elegant Maserati Mistral Spyder 3700 from 1966, which is on offer for CHF 395,000 to 425,000, also bears the trident.
While Lamborghini only has one "horse" at the start with a Jarama 400 GTS from 1974 (CHF 135,000 to 155,000), which at first glance appears to be a bargain. Ferrari is represented with several cars, namely a 250 GTE 2+2 from 1962 (CHF 400,000 to 450,000), a 365 GT 2+2 from 1970 with a rare sliding roof (280'000 to 320,000), a Dino 246 GT from 1971 (CHF 320,000 to 340,000), as well as a Testarossa with the high-mounted left wing mirror from 1986 (CHF 170,000 to 190,000) and a 575 Maranello F1 from 2003 (CHF 70,000 to 80,000), which has already matured into a classic car.
Wide-ranging Americans
The range of American sports cars is also diverse.
Two Corvettes - a C1 from 1960 and a C2 Convertible from 1967 - are joined by two Mustang derivatives - a 302 GT Convertible from 1968 and a Shelby GT 350 Fastback from 1968.
You could also describe the AC Cobra from 1990 as half American. In comparison, the 1971 Dodge Charger 440 R/T is of course as American as a car can be.
Priced above these American classics, which are at least 50 years old, are the two young Ford GT variants, one a GT from 2006 (CHF 380,000 to 420,000) and the other a modern GT Holman Moody Heritage Edition from 2022, which has been estimated at CHF 1.1 to 1.3 million, making it the most expensive car in the auction.
And a whole series of special rarities
That's the bulk of the cars listed, but there are still a few cars that certainly deserve a special mention because they are a little out of the ordinary.
One example is the Renault 40 CV Type NM Tourer from 1925, which is looking for a new owner for CHF 120,000 to 220,000. This open pre-war car has survived largely in its original condition, but has hardly been driven in recent years. The Oldtimer Galerie therefore recommends a major service and a thorough inspection.
The Alfa Romeo 2000 S as a Coupé Vignale from 1958 also has a beautiful history. This car was presented at the Turin Motor Show in November 1958, but was slightly revised again for the Geneva Motor Show in March 1959. The car was restored in the 1970s and can now be purchased at auction for CHF 225,000 to 250,000.
The body of the Monteverdi Safari was designed by Peter Monteverdi and built by Fissore. Underneath is the chassis of the International Scout II. Depending on the source, several hundred or even thousands were built. In any case, a Safari 700 from 1978 is going under the hammer in Gstaad, which is said to cost CHF 80,000 to 90,000. Certainly a nice alternative to the Range Rover of the time.
The Hotchkiss Anjou 20.50 from 1950 as a convertible from Worblaufen has a genuine Swiss body. This rare piece will find a new garage for CHF 235,000 to 255,000.
A 1964 Flavia Sport Zagato from Lancia is going under the hammer. Only 101 vehicles of this type were built, yet the exceptional-looking coupé is available for CHF 35,000 to 45,000, and the car is being offered without a reserve price.
And yes, there would also be a Porsche diesel tractor, two Land Rovers and a Pedrazzini mahogany boat for sale. However, almost all the lots are actually suitable as post-Christmas gifts for the Gstaad chic crowd.
And the MG B Roadster from 1973 for CHF 25,000 to 30,000 (no reserve), the cheapest car in the auction, is also recommended for classic car newcomers.
The vehicles can be viewed from 10:00 in the festival tent in Gstaad, the auction itself begins at 16:00. Further information and the opportunity to view the complete catalog can be found on the Oldtimer Galerie Toffen website.
