No less than five Bugattis are included in Christie’s sale which is being held at the Concours d’Élegance Paleis het Loo, near Apeldoorn in Holland. Prospective entrants to the world of the horseshoe radiatored cars can choose from a 1934 Type 57 Galibier Sports Saloon at €120.000 – 140.000, to what Christie’s consider to be the highlight of the sale, an exquisite two-tone 1936 Type 57 Atalante Coupé with Roll-Back top at €500.000 – 700.000.

A significant part of the auction is the sale of part of the Ado Blaton collection of fine road cars. Blaton, the brother of celebrated Belgian ‘Gentleman Driver’ Jean Blaton, taking ‘Beurlys’ as his nom-de-course, was an industrialist whose successful business acumen enabled him to collect many cars over the years. He was also fortunate in his daughter’s choice of husband – Belgium’s most successful racing driver, Jacky Ickx.

Included in this section of the sale are a 1958 Jaguar XK150 3.4 FHC, € 20.000 - 30.000, as well as a rare, completely original 1961 Cadillac Series 7600, ex-Princess Lilian of Belgium, at €40.000 - 60.000. A ‘matching pair’ of Rolls-Royce and Bentley limousines built on the Silver Cloud chassis are also included, the Rolls-Royce version, at €22.000 – 24.000 carrying a small premium over its sister.

The Bugattis include three of the legendary T57 models and while attention will naturally go to the headline stealing Atalante, there is also a very fine 1937 Type 57 (C) DHC Coachwork by Corsica at €300.000 - 350.000. Finished in two-tone grey the car benefits from a supercharger fitted in the late eighties to give very strong performance from its 3,257cc straight eight engine and represents that marvellous combination of performance, style and practicality that is a 4 seat Bugatti eight-cylinder. Bringing the marque almost up to date is a 1995 EB 110 GT at €210.000 - 260.000.

Ferrari is represented by five examples, the rarest being a 1953 250 Europa 1st Series Two-Seater Coupé, €310.000 - 350.000. This car carries elegant Pininfarina bodywork and, complete with FIA papers, will make an interesting entry to some of the world’s most prestigious sporting events. There is also the 1987 Dutch Motorshow Testarossa, €30.000 - 40.000 which proves these cars are still very much bargain basement entry to 12-cylinder Ferrari ownership. Your author’s preferred Ferrari in the sale would have to be the 1966 275 GTS Convertible, €125.000 - 165.000. A man’s or mistress’s car depending on your personal circumstances, this has always been a favourite and despite any Ferrari of this age needing some attention it looks the real deal.

Finally Christie’s have two examples of the Franco-era state-owned Spanish supercar the Pegaso, one original, one replica. Powered by varying capacity V8s the 1950s cars were designed to match anything Ferrari or Maserati could do on the other side of the Med. The 1954 Z-102 Coachwork by Saoutchik - ex Paris Motor Show is estimated at €160.000 - 240.000 while the white, Rover V8-powered 1991 replica Spyder is € 60.000 - 80.000.

The Sale starts at 5.00 pm on the 31st, having followed the concours prizegiving at 3.00pm. It commences with a selection of Automobilia.

For a full lot listing, see the Provisional Auction Entry

To see the complete entry of cars, with photographs, in the Classic Driver Cars for Sale Database please CLICK HERE .

Text - Steve Wakefield