Profiles
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1953 Bentley R-Type Continental
After creating some lightweight bodies on the Bentley Mark VI chassis, coachbuilding firm H.J. Mulliner was contracted to design and construct the R-type Continental prototype, affectionately named “Olga.” Exhaustive road testing resulted in modification of the gearbox to a direct-ratio top gear and a lowered rear-axle ratio for enhanced performance. These modifications provided high-speed touring…
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1934 Chrysler Airflow Coupe
The Chrysler Airflow was the first truly aerodynamic streamlined American car. “It bores through the air,” Chrysler advertised — and they could prove it, because the Airflow had been extensively tested in the wind tunnel. But it was more than its form that made the Airflow historically significant. Its steel, semi-unitized body was years ahead…
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1935 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Rollston
The Rollston Company was inarguably New York’s finest coachbuilder — renowned for the proficiency of its designers in both open and convertible styles, with conservative or rakish lines. Few American shops of any era were so skilled at so diverse a catalog, all built with outstanding craftsmanship and rock-solid quality. It is a testament to…
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1964 Aston Martin DB5
Clothed in aluminum “saloon” bodywork by Milanese design house Carrozzeria Touring, Aston Martin chassis DB51681R is resplendent in Snow Shadow Grey over red Connolly leather. Delivered new to Mr. A. White on July 7, 1964, this 5-speed DB5 spent much of its life in the U.K. until it was purchased by Sir Sean Connery through…
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1969 Monteverdi 375S Coupe
During the 1960s, American V8 power was seen by independent European manufacturers as a means of creating a luxury Grand Tourer to compete with the more exotic offerings of long-established firms like Ferrari, Maserati and Aston Martin. AC, Jensen, Facel and Iso, among others, all went down this route, as did Swiss BMW dealer Peter…
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1995 Ferrari F50
Creating a successful movie sequel, producing a follow-up album or becoming a repeat champion in sports can be the challenge of a lifetime. Think about being asked to improve on the Ferrari F40. For the F50, named as Ferrari’s 50th birthday present to itself, Ferrari elected to start with a clean-sheet design and lean on…
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1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Club Sport
Porsche sporadically released special derivatives of its 911 flagship including the 1973 Carrera RS 2.7, 1974 Carrera RS 3.0, and 1984 911 SC/RS. Continuing this tradition, Porsche introduced a 911 Carrera 3.2 Club Sport model at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show. Built with a “less is more” ethos, the Club Sport was created to satisfy…
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1988 Mercedes-Benz 300CE 6.0-L AMG Hammer Coupe
At the time this car was built, AMG was still an independent tuning company separate from Mercedes-Benz. This particular car was built by AMG North America in Westmont, IL, during an era when, infamously, “The only limitation on what could be done to your Mercedes-Benz was the size of your bank account.” It’s estimated that…
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1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider
Enzo Ferrari was determined to secure the FIA World Sportscar championship in 1955, with the final leg being the Carrera Panamericana. A grueling five-day rally, it traversed the Mexican wilderness en route to the border near El Paso, TX. For the 1955 Carrera, Ferrari designed an all-new chassis, the type 519/C. It utilized a low-riding…
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1959 Jaguar XK 150 SE 3.8-Liter Coupe
Bonhams is delighted to offer this beautiful example of a knowledgeably restored and race-ready XK 150 SE with an impressive racing history. Originally finished in Olive Green with matching leather upholstery, this manual-transmission XK 150 was first registered as “JYO 1” on April 10, 1959. It was not until late 2014 that the previous owner…