As in previous years Christie’s will commence Auction proceedings at this year’s classic motoring events at Monterey, California. A highlight of their sale will be the collection of Porsches that includes this 1963 904 Carrera GTS Prototype.
The type 904 was the first Porsche sports racing car with the dynamics to vie for overall victory. In fact in its debut year of racing in 1964 it won its class at Sebring (running as a non-homologated prototype) and then, as an official GT car, the Targa Florio outright in the hands of Colin Davis and Antonio Pucci - an amazing feat against bigger-engined GTOs and Cobras. Christie’s car is chassis 904-003, the third of three pre-production prototypes used (in typical Porsche thoroughness) to test the cars before customer delivery. The estimate is $450.000 - 550.000 and any potential buyer will be getting a car in very original condition as it has never seen serious racing either latterly or in period and thus retains the original profile of the 1963 car.
 1967 Porsche 911 'R' Prototype - $475.000 - 575.000 |
 1960 Porsche 356 GTL Carrera-Abarth - $600.000 - 800.000 |
 1964 Porsche 356 Carrera GT Speedster - $250.000 - 300.000 |
 1972 Porsche 911 2.7 RS Prototype -$300.000 - 400.000 |
904 Carrera GTS apart, the other Stuttgart cars are more than enough to generate interest from any true Porsche collector. Two cars, the 1964 356 Carrera GT Speedster - the last example built at $250.000 - 300.000 - and the 1960 356 GTL Carrera-Abarth at $600.000 - 800.000 carry similar highly-tuned ‘Carrera’ four-cam motors and represent the pinnacle of 356 development. There are also several 911s, each one a significant stage in the model’s history. Take the 1967 Porsche 911 'R' Prototype at $475.000 - 575.000, this model was the very first ‘hot’ racing 911 and although never homologated as a GT car won many events in racing and rallying being the first of the breed that ultimately led to the 800+ HP 935s. The yellow car in the sale was the 4th prototype and had lain undiscovered for 20 years before being disinterred in 1991.
There is also a 1970 Porsche 911 S/T ex-Werks, East African Safari Rally car, $350.000 - 450.000 and a 1972 Porsche 911 2.7 RS Prototype, $300.000 - 400.000, in this collection, one that has enjoyed storage in a bespoke garage in recent years.
From 1960s hard-nosed competition machinery to a more elegant era, forty or so years before. The 1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 Typ S Torpedo Roadster, Coachwork By Saoutchik, estimated at a sizeable $3.000.000 - 4.000.000 has, incredibly, been in the same family ownership since new, when it was bought by Frederick Henry Bedford, Jr from the German company’s showroom in New York; it having been an order cancelled by its original buyer. Restored in 1982 and lately residing in the Owls Head Transportation Museum in Maine (founded by James Rockefeller, one of the family with connections with the Bedfords) it has ‘Pebble Beach’ written all over it. A magnificent example of the glamorous, rather ‘showy’ cars of the period - but with effortless supercharged 6.7 litre straight-six performance.
For those wanting to chose a potential ‘Pebble car’ then there’s also the 1931 Packard 840 Deluxe 8 Victoria at $400.000 - 500.000 a car that has already won awards at the exclusive event in the past.
 1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 Typ S Torpedo Roadster, Coachwork By Saoutchik - $3.000.000 - 4.000.000 |
 1931 Packard 840 Deluxe 8 Victoria - Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Class Winning - $400.000 - 500.000 |
Another big-ticket lot is the ex-Scuderia Ferrari and Roberto Bonomi 1952 Ferrari 225 with Coachwork by Vignale at $1.200.000 - 1.500.000. Packing a 210 HP, 2,715cc V12 this car is everyone’s idea of how a 1950s Ferrari should look. On March 9 1952, chassis 0160ED was entered in the XII Tour of Sicily by Piero Taruffi and co-driver Mario Vandelli on behalf of Scuderia Ferrari wearing race number 443 which it displays today. While posting the fastest overall time, a blown head gasket sidelined 0160ED with a DNF. The car was then sold on to Italian privateers before passing into Mr Roberto Bonomi of Argentina’s hands at the end of the year. It was subsequently raced in period and comes to the saleroom in Monterey with an impressive set of binders cataloguing its complete history, as well as the ever sought after tools.
Ferrari fans will also like the rare 1967 Ferrari 330 4 Litre Coupé with unique bodywork by Michelotti at $300.000 - 400.000, as well as the nice 1967 Ferrari 330GTC Coupé, $150.000 - 180.000, finished in ‘Bianco’ with black leather interior.
 1962 Bentley S2 Continental Flying Spur - $150.000 - 180.000 |
 1967 Ferrari 330GTC Coupe - $150.000 - 180.000 |
 1965 Jaguar E-Type SI 4.2 Roadster - Current JCNA C-5 National Champion - $100.000 - 130.000 |
 1951 Lancia Aurelia B50 Convertible - $120.000 - 150.000 |
Of the other cars there are four Jaguar E-Types, the 1965 SI 4.2 Roadster being a current Jaguar Club of North America C-5 (S1 E-Types) National Champion and its estimate of $100.000 - 130.000 reflects the nut and bolt restoration the car has had, as well as 1000s of hours of loving care lavished upon it. And let’s not forget, the prices of these cars are rising anyway. The other ‘E’s are a 1962 SI 3.8 Roadster, $80.000 - 100.000, a 1970 SII 4.2 Roadster, $60.000 - 80.000, and a 1971 SIII FHC at $35.000 - 45.000.
You may remember last year a 1966 Volkswagen Campmobile making $99.000 at Gooding & Co’s Pebble Beach sale. Christie’s must be hoping the same lady purchaser has received a catalogue as they have a nicely-presented 1954 Volkswagen Kombi Model 211 Microbus that has clearly been the subject of some top-class Californian restoration with its two-tone DuPont Centari paintwork and custom-made birdseye maple veneer with mahogany trim interior. And dig the patterned cloth seating - groovy baby!
To view the complete Lotlist, please click HERE.
To see all the motor car entries, including colour photos and links to Christie's website, please click HERE.
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Exceptional Motor Cars at the Monterey Jet Center
17 August 2006, 7:00 pm Venue: The Monterey Jet Center 300 Sky Park Drive Monterey, California, USA Enquiries [email protected] Tel: +1 212 636 2277 Mark Donaldson Tel: +1 310 385 2698 Fax: +1 310 385 0246 Christopher Sanger Tel: +1 212 636 2277 Fax: +1 212 707 5979 Gordon McCall Tel: +1 831 372 9311 Fax: +1 831 372 8411 Vanessa Hill Tel: +1 830 775 4042 Viewing: 14-17 August 2006 Admission for two only with catalogue ($50, available at Monterey Jet Center and via Christies.com). |
Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Christie's
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