The upcoming Bonhams auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on June 27, 2014 promises to be an absolute treat. In addition to the "normal" classics à la 300 SL or Ferrari 275 GTB that are sure to be on offer, three cars will be going under the hammer that you may know but have hardly ever seen for yourself.
The famous Aston Martin Atom
The Aston Martin Atom was never produced in series and would probably not have been a great success. There is only one example. But as a prototype, this car had more influence on the future Aston Martin range and the car industry as a whole than few other vehicles.
It was equipped with a tubular frame and a lightweight fastback aluminum body. The front axle with independent suspension was just as patent-worthy as the entire body of the car. An electromagnetically controlled Cotal gearbox was used to change gears. At the rear, the Salisbury rear axle was used for the first time in England. The DB1 engine with a displacement of two liters was also tested in this car for the first time in 1945.
Many successor vehicles inherited elements from the Atom, even if they looked completely different on the outside.
When it appeared at the end of the 1930s, the Atom was generally regarded as the future of the automobile. And alongside the Buick Y-Job, it was one of the very first concept cars. The last time the Aston Martin Atom changed hands was around 1965, and the current "custodian" gave it all the care it needed.
Bonhams does not want to give an estimated price at the moment; the market will determine the true value. But a high six-figure figure is expected, and the rarity and significance would justify seven figures.
One of the first Ferrari sports cars
Ferrari built its first road sports cars as prototypes in 1947, the first series production began in 1948 and chassis 027S took shape at Ferrari in November 1949. The bodywork was supplied by Touring, and the car with its two-liter V12 engine was finally delivered to Roman Augusto Caraceni in 1950 and used on the road.
After several changes of ownership, the car took part in the Mille Miglia in 1992, 1997 and 2000. As one of only 37 Ferrari 166 Inter cars built, the car on offer is said to be worth around £ 800,000 to £ 1,000,000, i.e. approximately Euro 1.2 million or CHF 1.4 million
Another Austin Healey 100 S
Just 55 Austin Healey 100 S were built in the 1950s, a significant proportion of the population appearing in Bonhams sales catalogs over the last two years.
EVV 106" is one of the 100 Ss that were bought by private individuals at the time. David Shale was the first owner and he didn't let it burn on the road, winning seven of the 60 races in which he competed with the fast Healey.
The racing history of "EVV 106" lasted seven years until it was bought by Healey collector Arthur Carter in 1962, who kept it until 2004. Appearances at the Mille Miglia and the Goodwood Revival reflect the exceptional status of this classic, whose price is likely to be in the upper half of the six-figure euro/franc range.
More information about the auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed can be found on the Bonhams website. The Lotus 49B, which will be sold at the same auction, was reported earlier.
