Most Expensive Porsche Ever Brings $3.9M at Bonhams' Quail Lodge Auction

15 August 2010—San Francisco—Bonhams & Butterfields celebrated the thirteenth anniversary of its renowned motorcar auction at the sunny Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley with resounding success.

Comprising a diverse selection of 102 cars, one airplane, and one boat, of which 77 sold (for a sell rate of 74%), the auction represented three major collections, headlined by the Michael Amalfitano collection of competition cars, which shattered pre-sale expectations and set the tone for a buoyant two-day sale.

A world record for any Porsche sold at auction was achieved with the ex-Jurgen Neuhaus/Jurgen Barth 1972-73 European Interserie and David Hobbs/Mike Hailwood Gulf-JW Automotive team 1972-73 Porsche 917 Interserie Spyder neé 1970 Gulf-JWA Le Mans 917K Coupe realizing $3,965,000.

Many other strong prices were attained for the rarest and freshest offerings, which included:

The exceedingly rare 1930 Mercedes-Benz 7.1 Liter SS Tourer that made $2,537,000 after spirited bidding.

The ex-works, Gerhard Mitter/Lucien Bianchi Nurburgring 1000 kms-leading 1967 Porsche 910 Endurance Racing Works Coupe that sold for $797,000.

The ex- J. Herbert Carpenter, Western Reserve Historical Society, Joe Tracy 1908 Thomas Flyer 4-60 Tourer that went for $733,000.

The ex-Ernst Loof racing team, Sandizell-owned 1937 BMW 328 Roadster that was bought for $667,000.

Furthermore, automobilia and spares posted the highest ever total at this venue with $1.185 million realized.

Bonhams’ annual sale at Quail Lodge is the longest running auction at the Monterey Peninsula Car Week.

For a full list of sales results, please visit bonhams.com/quail.