Carmel, Calif. – 18 August 2008 – Bonhams & Butterfields celebrated the 11th year of its famed sale of exceptional motorcars and automobilia at Quail Lodge on Friday, August 15th, with resounding success — setting new sales records only weeks after establishing the highest price ever paid at auction for a Jaguar.
An at-capacity crowd of collectors and motoring aficionados from around the world paid more than $21.7-million for a stunning and diverse line-up of cars that included extremely rare and historic competition machines from noted private and institutional collections.
Spirited bidding was seen from assembled enthusiasts, sports racing fans and collectors, with international competition via telephones, resulting in the following highlights:
- The astoundingly original ex-Pierre Boncompagni, Ecurie Nice, 1939 Talbot-Lago T150 C SS made $4.3-million, setting a new world record.
- The 1960 Jaguar E2A Prototype “Missing Link” racer was sold for $4.5-million, setting a new record.
- The highly important 1936 Lagonda EPE 97, known as the most famous Lagonda of all, went for $1.4-million, smashing the previous world record for the marque.
Says Mark Osborne, VP and Director of the US Motoring Department at Bonhams & Butterfields, “This year’s stellar sale was another great effort put forth by our international Motorcar Dept. We’ve proven again today that cars of stellar provenance – the best of the best, continue to attract collector interest. The collector car market is alive and strong.”
Representing the finest of the motoring world, Bonhams’ auction, held in conjunction with the prestigious and perennially sold-out Quail Motorsports Gathering, will once again be remembered as an anchor and highlight of the world-famous Monterey Car Week.
Just weeks ago, Bonhams set a new world record for any Jaguar motor car sold at auction with its July 2008 sale of the 1955 Jaguar D-Type Sports Racing Car ‘XKD509’ for £2,201,500 [US$4.1-million] at The Goodwood Festival of Speed in Chichester.
Sales results (“lot lists”) are available by going to www.Bonhams.com/us For press inquiries or to request photos of specific lots, please contact [email protected].