NEWS
Motoring Heaven: Bonhams to offer 120 motor cars over this weekend at their Aston Martin and Spa Classic Auction Sales
Thursday 15 May 2014
Bonhams, one of the world’s largest international auction houses, will be hosting two sales, in two days, in two countries in a weekend-long offering of exceptional vehicles. The 15th Annual Aston Martin Works Sale takes place at the marque’s factory in Newport Pagnell on Saturday 17 May and the Spa Classic Sale will be held on Sunday 18 May at the famous Circuit at Spa Francorchamps, Belgium.
This year’s dedicated Aston Martin Sale features many outstanding and special examples of the marque. The top lots include a 1961 Aston Martin DB4, uprated to ‘GT Zagato’ specification; a 1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 Volante; the ex- Sir David Brown / Peter Collins, 1953 Aston Martin DB 2/4 'Notchback'; and the 1970 Aston Martin DBS featured in the television show The Persuaders!
The ‘Zagato’, estimated at £800,000-900,000, was the subject of a no-expense-spared project to re-create one of the 1960s' most beautiful and desirable cars. The original collaboration between Aston Martin and Zagato of Milan resulted in a production run of only 19 constructed between 1961 and 1963.
The very rare DB6 Mark 2 Volante, estimated at £700,000-800,000, is one of only 21 examples, and represents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most exclusive and highly sought after of post-war Aston Martins.
The unique prototype 1953 DB 2/4 'Notchback', estimated at £240,000-280,000, has a well known and extensively documented history. Originally purchased by David Brown as a drophead coupé in 1954, Brown had it converted to fixed-head coupé configuration while retaining the overall shape of the raised soft-top. In its new form, this car became, in effect, the prototype of the forthcoming DB2/4 'notchback' coupé, which was launched at the 1955 London Motor Show alongside the rest of the 'Mark II' range. The car’s second owner was Peter Collins, the celebrated British Racing Driver who had already distinguished himself driving Aston Martins, taking the Newport Pagnell cars to victory at the Goodwood Nine Hours race in 1952 and the Tourist Trophy at Dundrod in 1953. At various points in its colourful past, the ‘Notchback’ has also been owned by King Hussein of Jordan and well-known Aston Martin aficionado Simon Draper.
Also offered is the iconic 1970 Aston Martin DBS from the TV show The Persuaders!, starring Roger Moore and Tony Curtis, with an estimate of £350,000-550,000.
The Spa Classic Sale, with 28 of the 68 cars offered at ‘no reserve’ and a collection of ultra rare Alfa Romeo GTA engines and spares, is topped by Continental brands, with its top three lots being two Ferraris and a Porsche.
Leading the sale is a 1976/1983 Ferrari 308GTB Group B Michelotto, estimated at €550,000-750,000. Offered at Spa, Ferrari 308GTB chassis number '18869' was the first of four Group B cars built by Michelotto from a total of 15 combined Group B and Group 4 cars that the company modified in period. It was completed in February 1983 for the Pro Motor Sport team in Italy. It subsequently won many Italian national racing events including the Valli Imperiesi Rally and the Sciacca Terme, Mari e Monti, 12 Hours of Campobello, Neborid and Proserpina events as well as the Spanish Championship, and became Italian national vice-champion.
Another outstanding Ferrari on offer is the 1973 Ferrari 365GTB/4 'Daytona' Berlinetta, keenly estimated at just €300,000-400,000, which has had just one owner from new whilst covering a mere 84,299 km. The legendary ‘Daytona’ model was, at the time of its introduction in 1968, the most expensive production Ferrari ever and, with a top speed in excess of 170mph, was also the world's fastest production car. This 1973 model represents the last year of its production run and chassis number '17607' is a very late example, being the fifth from last produced.
The Porsche 930/935, estimated at €300,000-400,000 was factory commissioned and first owned by Mansour Ojjeh of TAG fame. For his own special 911 Turbo he opted for the 935-type bodywork and an engine tuned to produce 375bhp, an increase of some 25% over standard, alongside many more factory unique specification orders. According to the Porsche sheets on file, the result was a top speed of approximately 285km/h and a 0-100km/h time of 5.2 seconds for what copies of the car's original factory documentation refer to as a 'Porsche 911 Turbo Spezial'.
Other notable lots in the Spa Sale include a left hand drive 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Sports Saloon with manual gearbox, €150,000-180,000; a Factory built 1956 Austin-Healey 100M 'Le Mans' Roadster, €130,000-160,000; and in the marque’s centenary year a 1977 Maserati Khamsin Coupé voted Best of Show at 'Khamsin Quaranta', €125,000-155,000.
Find more details on both Sales online at http://www.bonhams.com/departments/MOT-CAR/
The ‘Zagato’, estimated at £800,000-900,000, was the subject of a no-expense-spared project to re-create one of the 1960s' most beautiful and desirable cars. The original collaboration between Aston Martin and Zagato of Milan resulted in a production run of only 19 constructed between 1961 and 1963.
The very rare DB6 Mark 2 Volante, estimated at £700,000-800,000, is one of only 21 examples, and represents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most exclusive and highly sought after of post-war Aston Martins.
The unique prototype 1953 DB 2/4 'Notchback', estimated at £240,000-280,000, has a well known and extensively documented history. Originally purchased by David Brown as a drophead coupé in 1954, Brown had it converted to fixed-head coupé configuration while retaining the overall shape of the raised soft-top. In its new form, this car became, in effect, the prototype of the forthcoming DB2/4 'notchback' coupé, which was launched at the 1955 London Motor Show alongside the rest of the 'Mark II' range. The car’s second owner was Peter Collins, the celebrated British Racing Driver who had already distinguished himself driving Aston Martins, taking the Newport Pagnell cars to victory at the Goodwood Nine Hours race in 1952 and the Tourist Trophy at Dundrod in 1953. At various points in its colourful past, the ‘Notchback’ has also been owned by King Hussein of Jordan and well-known Aston Martin aficionado Simon Draper.
Also offered is the iconic 1970 Aston Martin DBS from the TV show The Persuaders!, starring Roger Moore and Tony Curtis, with an estimate of £350,000-550,000.
The Spa Classic Sale, with 28 of the 68 cars offered at ‘no reserve’ and a collection of ultra rare Alfa Romeo GTA engines and spares, is topped by Continental brands, with its top three lots being two Ferraris and a Porsche.
Leading the sale is a 1976/1983 Ferrari 308GTB Group B Michelotto, estimated at €550,000-750,000. Offered at Spa, Ferrari 308GTB chassis number '18869' was the first of four Group B cars built by Michelotto from a total of 15 combined Group B and Group 4 cars that the company modified in period. It was completed in February 1983 for the Pro Motor Sport team in Italy. It subsequently won many Italian national racing events including the Valli Imperiesi Rally and the Sciacca Terme, Mari e Monti, 12 Hours of Campobello, Neborid and Proserpina events as well as the Spanish Championship, and became Italian national vice-champion.
Another outstanding Ferrari on offer is the 1973 Ferrari 365GTB/4 'Daytona' Berlinetta, keenly estimated at just €300,000-400,000, which has had just one owner from new whilst covering a mere 84,299 km. The legendary ‘Daytona’ model was, at the time of its introduction in 1968, the most expensive production Ferrari ever and, with a top speed in excess of 170mph, was also the world's fastest production car. This 1973 model represents the last year of its production run and chassis number '17607' is a very late example, being the fifth from last produced.
The Porsche 930/935, estimated at €300,000-400,000 was factory commissioned and first owned by Mansour Ojjeh of TAG fame. For his own special 911 Turbo he opted for the 935-type bodywork and an engine tuned to produce 375bhp, an increase of some 25% over standard, alongside many more factory unique specification orders. According to the Porsche sheets on file, the result was a top speed of approximately 285km/h and a 0-100km/h time of 5.2 seconds for what copies of the car's original factory documentation refer to as a 'Porsche 911 Turbo Spezial'.
Other notable lots in the Spa Sale include a left hand drive 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Sports Saloon with manual gearbox, €150,000-180,000; a Factory built 1956 Austin-Healey 100M 'Le Mans' Roadster, €130,000-160,000; and in the marque’s centenary year a 1977 Maserati Khamsin Coupé voted Best of Show at 'Khamsin Quaranta', €125,000-155,000.
Find more details on both Sales online at http://www.bonhams.com/departments/MOT-CAR/
