As advanced consignments to RM’s first Monaco sale, two single-owner collections provide an impressive start to the catalogue. Five significant Ferraris will join the Hans-Günther Zach collection of predominantly pre-War Rolls-Royces as early entries to the 80-car sale.

The Ferraris range in age from a 1952 225 Sport Vignale Berlinetta (above) with period Mille Miglia history (chassis 0170ET, estimated at 600,000 - 800,000 euros), to what could possibly be described as one of the last ‘Enzo era’, ultra-low production Ferrari road cars: a 1971 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ Spyder, chassis 14553.

One of only 121 Daytona Spyders ever built, it has since been the subject of a concours-quality restoration by a leading marque specialist and is officially certified by the factory. Estimate: 600,000 - 800,000 euros.

Most attention will centre on the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB ‘Tour de France’, a covered-headlamp car originally delivered to the famous American collector William Harrah through Otto Zipper Motors, Ferrari’s official representative in Hollywood, California.

The Rosso Barchetta GT, suitable for any number of top-level events, carries an estimate 2,000,000 - 2,500,000 euros.

The other Ferraris in this collection are a 1954 250 Europa Pinin Farina Coupé, chassis 0349, the 1954 Paris Salon car. This highly original first series GT is Ferrari Classiche-certified and won its class at Villa d’Este in 2008 (450,000 - 700,000 euros). The other is a long-nose 1965 275 GTB (chassis 7933), which was supplied new to an American owner by Chinetti Motors (700,000 - 900,000 euros).

The high-grade collection of Maranello’s finest will join other early consignments, including a 1938 Delahaye 135 MS Competition Cabriolet by Figoni & Falaschi and the 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet by Pininfarina.

This is one of just six short-wheelbase examples – the only one with covered headlamps – and was the factory’s Geneva and New York show car in 1962. Call the RM team for price, please - as well as advice on travel arrangements and hotel reservations for the company's inaugural Monaco auction.

The Zach Collection

Hans-Günther Zach’s passion for the Rolls-Royce motor car is well known. A lifelong devotee of the marque, during a 16-year period he amassed a collection of cars almost without equal. The decision to sell must have been a difficult one but 26 of his cars will be offered at Monaco, the highlight being the celebrated 1934 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Phantom II Continental Cabriolet, chassis number 188PY.

Most commonly referred to as the ‘Star of India’, the striking ochre and polished aluminium convertible was one of the ‘Maharaja Rolls-Royces’ of the 1930s. It’s joined by another extraordinary creation from the period, the bare-metal, ‘Aluminium Sculpture’ 1926 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Phantom I Open Tourer (above), first owned by the Maharaja of Nanpara.

No estimates on the Zach cars have been announced by RM.

You can see all the entries to the RM Auctions May 1, ‘Sporting Classics of Monaco’ Sale, as they come in, in the Classic Driver car database.

AUCTION:
May 1, 2010
6:00pm - 10:00pm GMT
(viewing starts at 10:00am GMT)

PREVIEW:
April 30, 2010
10:00am - 5:00pm GMT
May 1, 2010
10:00am - 5:00pm GMT

GALA RECEPTION:
April 30, 2010
7:00pm - 10:00pm GMT

ADMISSION:
Admission to this event requires the purchase of an official auction catalogue for 70 euros. The catalogue admits two and must be presented at the entrance to the sale. Catalogues are available to order online.

AUCTION LOCATION
The Grimaldi Forum
10, avenue Princesse Grace
98000, Monaco

RM Auctions in association with Sotheby's 46a Carnaby Street London W1F 9PS UK UK Telephone: +44 (0)20 7851 7070 Fax: +44 (0)20 7851 7079 North America Telephone: +1 519 352 45 75 Website: www.rmauctions.com Email: [email protected].