A rare competition-bred 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France, chassis number 1039 GT, and a multiple race-winning 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Scaglietti Spyder, chassis number 0502 M, have been confirmed as star attractions for RM Auctions’ annual Battersea sale, returning to Central London, England on the 26th of October, 2011.
Regarded as the UK’s premier collector car auction, the highly-anticipated sale will feature approximately 100 of the world’s finest motor cars, handpicked by RM specialists from 15 countries around the world. In addition to the automobiles, the single-day auction will extend RM’s growing presence in the collectible motorcycle market, with a select range of classic bikes also set to go under the hammer.
“Over the past five years, our London sale has established a reputation as a ‘must attend’ event on the global collector car calendar. This year’s sale has all the ingredients to continue the grand tradition: a fantastic roster of motor cars, a great venue and the unparalleled client service for which RM is known,” says Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Europe. “Our specialists have worked hard and travelled to the four corners of the world to select and assemble a magnificent collection of motor cars and, in addition, a great assortment of classic two wheelers for motorcycle enthusiasts. There is truly something for all automotive tastes,” Girardo adds.
Continuing the company’s strong track record for offering important and historic Ferraris at auction, the upcoming London sale is highlighted by a wonderful series of no less than 11 examples from the Modenese Prancing Horse. Headlining the offering is a rare, matching-numbers 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France, s/n 1039 GT, one of the most desirable competition-bred Ferraris in existence. Powered by an alloy block-and-head V-12 engine, 1039 GT is one of just 36 competition 250 GT LWB Berlinettas originally produced by Ferrari with the single vent and desirable covered headlamp configuration. Delivered new to California in November 1958, 1039 GT boasts a well-documented chain of ownership, having spent the vast majority of its life in the United States and later Switzerland. Beautifully-presented, it was restored by marque experts in Italy in 2005 before being purchased by its current owner in 2006. A matching-numbers, Ferrari certified example, it remains one of the marque’s most coveted models and is expected to garner significant attention from collectors at the upcoming sale. (Est $3.1m – $3.8m).
“Truly rare, superbly presented and capable of performance that remains very impressive to this day, this 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta is steeped in Ferrari’s rich competition legacy,” describes Girardo.
The 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Scaglietti Spyder, chassis number 0502 M, is also expected to attract significant interest from discerning collectors. One of just 29 examples built, 0502 M was also delivered new by the Ferrari factory to California, where it was successfully campaigned in period by Ernie McAfee and, later, by Masten Gregory and other luminaries. Interestingly, it is the only example of a 750 Monza constructed without a headrest and fairing, a feature which gives the car a unique and highly appealing aesthetic. In 2000, 0502 M was restored in Modena to exact original specifications and later received its Ferrari Classiche certification. An immensely desirable early racing Ferrari, in recent years it has enjoyed significant success on the showfield at concours events throughout the United States and Europe (Est. $2.5m – $2.8m).
“With its superb combination of a great provenance, well-documented history and Ferrari certification, 0502 M remains one of the best examples of its kind, eligible for every historic racing event, tour or concours worldwide,” Girardo adds.
Other important examples from the famed Italian marque up for bids include: a Ferrari-certified 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast, s/n 6659 SF, one of only eight Superfasts built in right-hand drive (Est. $900k – $1m); a long-nose 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy Berlinetta (Est. $1m – $1.1m); a unique 1980 Ferrari Pinin Prototipo, s/n 99788, the one and only four-door Ferrari ever built (Est. $750k – $875k); and, an excellent 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, s/n 5167 GT, offered for the first time in over two decades (Est. $630k-$760k). Also set to cross the podium, a highly-equipped, custom 2001 Iveco Domino HDH Orlandi Scuderia Ferrari F1 Driver’s Coach, used by the Scuderia Ferrari F1 team during the Schumacher / Barrichello years (Est. $315k – $475k, offered without reserve).
In addition to the Ferraris, Alfa-Romeo will also be well-represented at the forthcoming London sale, with six examples featured in the catalogue. Joining the previously announced 1972 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/TT/3 is a competitive 1980 Alfa Romeo Tipo 179 Formula One Monoposto, chassis 03, designed by Autodelta boss Carlo Chiti as Alfa Romeo’s comeback weapon following a long absence from Formula 1 and raced by Bruno Giacomelli during the 1980 season (Est. $175k – $235k); and a stunning, highly-desirable 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 SS Berlinetta, one of only 39 berlinettas built and featuring iconic Zagato “double bubble” coachwork (Est. $440k – $540k).
Illustrating the breadth of the offering, other notable blue-chip sale entries include:
· a highly-original 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV, featuring factory-fitted air conditioning and a limited slip differential (Est. $1.2m – $1.4m);
· a matching-numbers 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT, one of 75 GT examples built (Est. $1.2m – $1.4m);
· a stunning 1930 Bugatti T46 “Petit Royale”, one of the most elegant closed T46s in existence (Est. $710k – $870k);
· a freshly-restored 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing ($750k – $910k);
· an ‘as new’ 2005 Pagani Zonda C12 7.3 S Roadster (Est. $675k – $750k);
· a well-documented 1913 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Open Tourer “London to Edinburgh”, delivered new to the Maharaja of Patiala (Est. $600k – $790k);
· The oldest known 40/50 HP Silver Ghost in existence, the 1907 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Limousine, chassis number 547 (Est. $490k – $695k); and,
· a rare 1938 Jaguar SS 100 3 ½ Litre Roadster, formerly owned for over 40 years by the family of American antiques experts, authors and television hosts, Leigh and Leslie Keno (Est.$515k – $671k).
Continuing RM’s reputation as the specialists for the sale of private and estate collections, the Battersea auction will also feature a select series of nine automobiles from a private Swiss gentleman, along with a superb group of vintage motorcycles from ‘La Collezione Due Ruote’. Highlights from the Swiss-based collection include: an original, LHD 1965 Aston Martin DB5 (Est. $475k – $570k); a superb 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, accompanied by its original hard top and fitted luggage ($570k- $630k); and a 2005 Ford GT, one owner and just 9,700 miles from new (Est. $175k – $237k).
For full event details and a frequently updated list of auction offerings, including a list of classic motorcycles on offer, visit www.rmauctions.com or call RM London at +44 20 7851 7070.
Event Details – RM London
Sale date: 26 October, 2011
Preview dates: 25 & 26 October, 2011
Location: Battersea Evolution, Chelsea Bridge Entrance, Battersea Park
London, United Kingdom, SW11 4NJ
Admission: Admission to this event requires the purchase of an official auction catalogue for £50. The catalogue admits two and must be presented at the entrance to the sale to be granted entry.
For guests wishing to participate but unable to attend in person, RM Auctions offers a wealth of remote bidding options, including absentee, telephone, Internet and Smartphone bidding, and the auction will stream live online at www.rmauctions.com.