What is the best classic car in the world?

This is one of the most common questions to bounce around the car community as it changes based on trends and fashions. The title of the best classic car in the world is often put down to the best classic car of all time, a title which is often given to cars such as the Porsche 911, Jaguar E-Type and the Ferrari 250 GTO. However, this title is given by Peninsula Classics who are behind all eight Concours D'Elegance that take place worldwide each year, and the best classic car is given to the best of all of the 'Best in Show' cars. This article will cover the 8 nominees before announcing what is officially, the best classic car in the world. 

The first nominee was the 1948 Talbot Lago T26 GS Fastback Coupe which won the Salon Prive Concours event held at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. First displayed in 1947, this car is one of 12 made in the first production year of Talbot Lago and was one of the fastest cars at the time at 124mph. However, the Grand Sport (GS) was different to other Talbot cars as each model was built to the specification of the customer and therefore each of the bodies were built by a specialist coachbuilder. The coachbuilder for this chassis was Figoni et Falaschi, the same coachbuilder who would later commission the incredibly beautiful T150 'Teardrop' Coupe, giving the car an elegant blue body. This car underwent a full restoration prior to the Concours event and beat a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and an Alfa Romeo 6C Gran Sport to the prestigious 'Best in Show' award. 

Next up is the winner of the Amelia Island Concours D'Elegance which was the 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn-Kurier. This is rumoured to be one of only two produced on the very limited 540K production run. It was commissioned to be used on the newly opened Autobahn motor network. The car was bought by its original owners when they saw the car's twin at the Paris Motor Show and toured from Spain to North Africa, travelling between Libya and Egypt before shipping to Greece and touring through Austria and Switzerland. It remained in the ownership of this family up until 2003 when it was bought by current owner Jim McManemon, who sent it for a full restoration. It has previously won Concours events but this is the first time it was awarded the 'Best in Show' award. 

In Palm Beach, Florida there is a car show seemingly made for fans of the prancing horse of Ferrari. Some of the rarest and most prestigious Ferraris of all time from 250 SWBs to F40s and the final three 335s to exist. The show also featured the most expensive car to sell at auction in the form of the Ferrari 250 GTO and the only bronze coloured Ferrari 250 GT California Spider ever made. However, the car that won the 'Best in Show' award was the 1958 Ferrari (surprise) 335S Spyder. Being one of only three surviving models, this car is exceptionally rare and as pretty as it is rare. First raced in 1959 but sent back to Italy after a blown engine but it was too costly to fix, so was returned to its home in the US and stored in a warehouse for a year before being bought for only $900. After it was bought it was restored with an original engine, and driven at the Le Mans 50th Anniversary celebrations. It went to auction in 1990 but didn't sell and was later sold for just over £5million. In a rare public appearance, it won the best in show award alongside the other two remaining 335Ss. 

The next event was the Cartier Style et Luxe which was held at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed and therefore was an event I attended. The field was scattered with the most pristine classics that included a Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, an Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, Bentley R Types and even an Aston Martin Lagonda. However, to my surprise, none of these won the 'Best in Show' and the actual title went to the subtle and fairly cute Abarth 205 Monza. I saw this car and did the typical thing to take a photo, have a little look around and then leave. However, I should have had a read of the plaque besides it as it turns out this little Italian coupe is one of only three produced and has very little information known about it, but the rarity and style speaks for itself. It is a shame because this car was not looked at as much as maybe it should have been and I for one, regret not spending more time looking at it. 

I admit the final cars that won best in show, I know even less about than the previous cars. The only option is to simply list the cars and what shows they won their best in show award before getting to the answer of what is the best classic car in the world. At the 2019 Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille, the overall best in show went to the 1931 Bentley 8 Litre Foursome Coupe, the Hampton Court Palace best in show went to the 1919 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Torpedo Skiff, the Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance winner was the 1931 Bentley 8 Litre Dual Cowl Tourer and finally at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, the winner of best in show went to the 1931 Stutz DV32 Convertible Victoria.

So what is the best classic car in the world? Well the judges at Peninsula Classics decided that the best classic car to win a best in show award this year was the 1958 Ferrari 335S due to its rarity, exceptional quality and exorbitant price tag. It'll be interesting to see what the Concours events of this year gives us to rival what is officially the best classic in the world.  

Multi-Million Cars Headed to Auction

I may have missed out on covering the incredible Amelia Island auctions of the past few weeks however there are a few auctions upcoming with some incredibly rare and expensive cars in them. A majority of the auctions are centred around the Retromobile Paris car event but one auction, not for another few months, cannot be ignored for the sheer quality of the first 16 lots announced.

First up is the RM Sotheby's auction to take place in Paris on the 5th February. The most expensive estimate for a lot is the 1955 Jaguar D-Type, a Le Mans legend owned by the winner of the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans, Richard Attwood. This example is the seventh customer car produced with an extensive racing history. Predominantly it raced in Australia with its original owner, before changing hands a multitude of times until it became under the care of the current owner. The estimate for this car is between €5.9million and €6.4million, however it is estimated to go beyond that value. The second significant lot is the 2015 Lamborghini Veneno Roadster. This is the second Veneno to come to auction in the space of 6 months as the cream Roadster from the collection of the seized politician sold for £6.7million, however this car is slightly more famous. This comes from the collection of a member of the Saudi Arabian Royal Family who spent this summer in London with his 7 hypercars including this car. Built to celebrate 50 years of Lamborghini, the Veneno's dramatic, pointy shape symbolises the ethos of the mad, flamboyant Italian manufacturer. This example has 450km from new and an incredible spec of matte black with green accents. As the second of the nine built, this has an estimate of €4.5million to €5.5million. Besides these two superb lots also being sold are a Ferrari Daytona Spider, BMW 507, Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, Alfa Romeo 6C, Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio, Gemballa Mirage GT and a beautiful Delahaye 135 Roadster.

The Bonhams Paris auction focuses mostly around the vintage and classic cars, however the rarity of some of them are beyond belief. The headliner is the 1966 Ferrari 206 SP Dino which is one of 18 of these beauties made for Can-Am racing originally. This is chassis 022 with all original components and a full racing history. Although I do not know much about the classic cars as I do the modern cars, I can appreciate the value of this car and the history it has. Although no estimate is given on this car, other examples have sold for €2million+ before now. The next car that caught my eye in this auction was a little further down in terms of value but still a superb car. The car in question is the 2016 Zagato Mostro Coupe. Zagato are mainly known for offering their coach built versions of other cars predominantly Aston Martins but occasionally Ferraris and Bentleys. This car however is built entirely by Zagato for Maserati's centenary, based on the styling of the 1957 Maserati 450S. Powered by the same 4.2 V8 fitted to the Granturismo and with a beautiful carbon fibre body, the Mostro is one of five built. The original vendor price was just over €1million when it was first launched however the current sale of it has the top estimate at €900,000 which is a slight shock. Due to the auction being in Paris, there is a high amount of French cars going under the hammer, specifically Bugatti's. These cars range from the 1913 Bugatti Type 13 Sports with a price range of €240,000 top estimate, to the incredibly beautiful 1931 Type 55 which has a top estimate of €4million. There are also two Type 57s, a Type 39 Grand Prix, a Type 40 and a Type 23. Other significant lots include a Mercedes 300SL Roadster, the new Stratos in an Alitalia livery, two Mercedes 540Ks, a Mercedes 500K and, a personal favourite, an Alfa Romeo 75 IMSA.

Artcurial have the final auction in Paris and has an overall greater auction for me, as not only do they have some massive sellers and lower down in the prices, some incredible supercars. The star of the show in this case is the 1929 Mercedes Benz 710 SS Grand Touring which looks absolutely beautiful, one of the true great shapes of grand tourers. The elegant body is not the only attractive feature of this Mercedes as it is a multiple concours winner, it is in immaculate condition and has a very prestigious Mercedes-Benz Klassiche recommendation which suggests that it is a clear cut classic. Due to all these factors, it has a top estimate of €8million, but the small print below the lot suggests it could go for even more. The next lot worth pointing out is the 1965 Ferrari 275GTB/6C which looks absolutely stunning and has a very rich history. This is estimated to be the most highly raced 275 in history which only adds more value to an already valuable car. A regular 275 GTB can go at auction for up to €1 million. However with this much racing history, this car has a top estimate of €3million. Continuing the racing theme somewhat, there are a lot of unique and interesting racing cars going under the hammer including a former David Brabham Jaguar XJ220C, a Cosworth powered Rondeau M378, a former Rene Arnoux Ferrari 126 F1 car, a racing De Tomaso Pantera, an Alpine A110 hillclimb car, a Chevron B60 and an Alfa Romeo Junior. Along with these racing cars, there is a good mix of modern and retro supercars in this auction with some including a Lamborghini Murcielago, Ferrari 599 GTB, Venturi 400 GT, Mercedes McLaren SLR, Alfa Romeo 8C Spider, Lamborghini Diablo VT, Ford GT and a Ferrari 430 Scuderia 16M Spider. This auction is an incredibly interesting one which will be fun to watch.

The final auction is not for a few months but I couldn't help not mentioning it. The Passion of a Lifetime auction will be held by Gooding & Co in London on April 1st. Although there are only 16 lots as of yet announced, the top estimate of them all combined is over £55million, meaning that they are all supremely iconic and top of the line for classic car connoisseurs. The first lot is a Bentley 3 Litre Tourer which is a vintage sports car produced in 1927 and has an estimate of £400,000 as a top estimate. Next is a 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Speciale which is a limited version of the already superbly beautiful Miura. This car is finished in Champagne Gold and is one of only two cars finished in this spec therefore has a £2million estimate. Another of the top cars is a Bugatti Type 57C Atlante which is highly anticipated as the last time one of these came to auction it became the most expensive French car to sell at auction. This, along with an estimate of 'upwards of £7million' makes this a highlight. Not the only Bugatti to have the 'in excess of..' estimate as they have a Type 59 in excess of £10million and a Type 35C in excess of £3million. Some other significant lots include an Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, Aston Martin Ulster, Lancia Flaminia, Lancia Aurelia, Lamborghini 350GT and an Aston Martin DB3S. It is not yet known whether these will be the only cars in this auction but even so it is of such high quality it may not matter.

The Pinnacle Portfolio Auction - 2015

Every now and again, there comes an auction that stuns the world with the quality of the lots. An example of this is the Riyadh auction by Silverstone Auctions that occurred last Friday. However, there are some cases that within an auction, a private collection being sold may take the spotlight in the whole auction. A good example of this being the case is the extremely large Young-Timer collection that RM Sotheby's sold over the course of 4 or 5 auctions, which contained cars that were put aside in this collection to be seen as 'future classics'. These 140 cars were sold over the course of these 4 or 5 auctions with moderate success. However the topic of analysis in this post will be 'The Pinnacle Portfolio' which sold at the 2015 Monterrey Car Week RM Sotheby's auction. 25 cars which were sectioned off by the previous owners to be a 'rare collection of automotive distinction'. It was seen to be one of the most incredible collections and was one of the highest valued single collection of cars. I shall very briefly go through the cars, explaining why they are in this collection and the price at which they sold, before totalling the cars.

The first car is a 1993 Jaguar XJ220 which is in the collection because it was the world's fastest car, before the great McLaren F1 arrived onto the scene, with a top speed of 212mph. This is considered to be one of the forgotten 1990s supercars mainly because it was eclipsed by the McLaren F1, Bugatti EB110 and the Ferrari F50, but also because it did not fully live up to the legacy of Jaguar supercars that began with the early D-Types and E-Types. However the 281 examples, built in conjunction with Tom Wilkinshaw Racing, created a new legacy that reflects the $462,000 this example sold for.

Next in the auction is a 1988 Porsche 959 'Komfort'. This is one of the most technological advanced, mid-engine supercar of the 1980s due to the mid engine layout over the preferred rear or front engine layout taken by Ferraris and Lamborghinis at the time. With 450bhp and a sub 4 second 0-60 time, this is one of the fastest and most ahead of its time car of its generation. 337 examples were created by the legends at Porsche and therefore the rarity plus the technological advancements reinforce the $1,210,000 price tag it holds.

Enzo Ferrari was a sculptor and a genius in the car world, so a car named after him should hold and respect his legacy. The 2005 Ferrari Enzo certainly does the great man justice. With a large 6.0 V12 with 650bhp, pushing the car up to a speed of 220mph which is one of the fastest Ferrari road cars of all time. Not only that but it was tested and extensively driven in pre-production by the legendary Michael Schumacher. The production numbers were originally limited to 349 but with an excess in demand, Ferrari pushed the numbers up to 399. This one however is chassis 400, made and gifted to His Holiness Pope John Paul II by Ferrari themselves. It was later auctioned off to aid charity and once again found its way to the auction block in 2015. The final price of the Pope-owned, excess chassis Ferrari Enzo was $6,050,000, which is by far the most expensive sale price of a Ferrari Enzo at auction.

The next car along is a typically unheard of car to most car people but it is one of the most influential cars ever made. The 1967 Toyota 2000GT was the Japanese equivalent to, say, the Jaguar E-Type of Europe and the Corvette Stingray of the USA. It was the first proper Japanese supercar that had a few issues when establishing itself in the market, mainly the £7000 price when new, considering a Porsche 911 was just over £1000. Besides this, Toyota managed to produce just over 350 of these and the one sold here was the first US car to be sold. The car that kickstarted the Japanese sports car market that has gone on to produce the Toyota Supra, Nissan GT-R family and the Lexus LFA. The selling price for this car was $825,000.

The Lamborghini Miura on the other hand is debated to be the first supercar of all time. Coming from a fairly unheard company in Central Italy, the Miura put Lamborghini on the map to produce beautifully constructed cars. This particular example is the SV P400S, the most famous of the Miura family, with a total of 150 cars and powered by the 4.0 V12 that found itself in the later Urraco and Espada models. The design by Bertone helped the Miura SV to become a fan favourite among celebrities at the time with Rod Stewart, Elton John, Miles Davis and Frank Sinatra being owners of the Miura. This car had a best in show award at the 2007 Concourso Italiano which increased the price to a final $2,475,000.

One of the greatest engines ever fitted to a road car, the 4.7 V12 from the 1990 Ferrari 641 was one of the loudest and competitive engines ever to grace Formula One. The Ferrari F50 had this engine fitted to it which is the key factor to this car. One of 349 made, the F50 was the last 6-speed manual gearbox that Ferrari produced and one of the only Targa topped Ferrari supercar. This car is one of the closest that it is possible to get to driving a Formula One car on the road, only excluding track cars such as the Caparo T1. The F50 is overshadowed in the V12 supercar family made up of the 288 GTO, F40, F50, Enzo and LaFerrari, mainly due to it not being as stable to drive as the 288, not the prettiest and not having the greatest legacy. However it is still a $1,980,000 car.

The next car is similar to one at auction from this year. The McLaren F1 LM-Specification is one of two cars taken by McLaren by their special operations division to be converted to almost a road legal F1 GTR. It is the most desirable McLaren F1 specification in the world due to its rarity but also due to the fact that it is a fully street legal McLaren F1 with all the power, performance and aerodynamics of the LM racing car. The McLaren F1 has been called the modern 250 GTO due to its ahead-of-time technologies, in this case the central seating position and the extraordinary top speed. Before this car came out, the fastest car in the world was the Bugatti EB110 at 218mph. The F1 ran a top speed of 240mph, destroying the previous record. Due to all these factors, the McLaren F1 LM-Spec was the third highest seller at this auction at $13,750,000.

Next along is one of the cheaper cars to be auctioned but still a stunning car. The Porsche 356A 1600 Reutter was one of the genesis cars for Porsche because without it, the car world wouldn't have the 911, the Cayman, the Boxster, the Carrera GT etc, and it was owned by the legend himself, Steve McQueen. This example was completely original, with original engine and paintwork and with a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, it was one of the best examples around. The car then sold for $330,000, a decent amount for a 356.

Next up will be a short one as the car did not sell. It was a 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing, but it was the incredibly rare Alloy version, which is one of only 29 aluminium bodied cars. This was at estimate for $5.5million to $6.5million however failed to meet reserve.

Porsche have had a great success at making some amazing cars with some amazing aero parts and not too many come close to the 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8. The rarest and quickest naturally aspirated Porsche of its time, the Carrera RS shed 100kg from the standard 911 and pumped out a staggering 300hp from the 3.8 flat six. With one of 1120 built, this is sure to be a rare car wherever in the world you are. The car also comes with a built in, bolt-on widebody kit and is one of the best Porsche 993 cars available. This car sold at auction for $550,000 but have now increased their value to over $1million.

No car has made as much of an impact to the motoring world than the Bugatti Veyron. Announced in 2005 to be their first production car since the EB110, Bugatti launched the Veyron at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show with a red and black example. This example was the one sold in this auction and was chassis 001 and therefore the first production Bugatti Veyron. With a miraculous 253mph top speed and 1001hp, this is an extremely important car. At the time of sale it had 753 miles and had recently undergone a service at Bugatti Beverly Hills and therefore it sold for $1,815,000.

The Bugatti Veyron was so successful that 300 coupes were produced including many special editions between 2006 and 2012. This next car is another incredible Bugatti Veyron as it is the 300th one produced, ergo the final Veyron coupe. This example is the Super Sport which increased the top speed to 258mph and the horsepower to 1200hp. At the time of sale this car had recently undergone a service at Bugatti Miami and had just 200 miles from new which led to it selling for a massive $2,310,000 which is still one of the highest selling prices for a Bugatti Veyron at auction.

Classic Ferraris always tend to make a lot at auction, however not many make as much as the 250 series. Made up of the GTO, TR, GTE, GT, Lusso and of course, the LM. The Ferrari 250 LM is one of 32 examples originally made for racing with a few examples prepared for road usage. This example was chassis 23 which was shown at Earl's Court in 1966 in a Concours event, was a part of a legendary Japanese car collection and is one of the most sought after Ferrari models of all time. This example, due to its legendary prestige and history, sold for a superb $17,600,000 and it remains the most expensive 250 LM to sell at auction.

McLaren and Mercedes collaborated in the early 00s in the Formula One Constructors list to great success with Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen. They also collaborated in their road cars for one special model being the Mercedes McLaren SLR. The long nose with the side exit exhausts and long grille is an iconic design that harks back to the previous SLR model, the 300, driven by Moss and Fangio. This example was bought new by David Peterson, who owns the Peterson Museum in the US, with 2 owners and 134 miles from new. Another interesting feature to these cars are its rivals which, at the time, were the top dogs. It went up against Porsche's V10 masterclass in the Carrera GT and the Ferrari Enzo mentioned previously. This car sold for $495,000, just shy of half a million and the highest that standard SLRs have been.

Lamborghini have a case for making limited run supercars, and have been doing so for many years. There's been the Centenario in 2016 which had 20 coupes and 20 roadsters, the Veneno with 5 coupes and 9 roadsters and most recently the Sian which has 63 coupes. The car that started it all however was the Lamborghini Reventon. Based on a Murcielago chassis, the Reventon had 20 coupes and 15 roadsters built and was styled to look like a F-15 jet fighter. In fact, it inspired the design for the Lamborghini Aventador which arrived 4 years later. All examples were finished in matte Grigio Reventon, a colour made specifically for the Reventon. This example was number 7 of the 20 coupes and had 900 miles from new and sold for $1,375,000.

The Ferrari F40 is already a legend in its own right. Heralded as the prettiest supercar ever made, being photogenic from nearly every angle, the first car to break 200mph and one of the most valuable cars ever to be put into production. This however is the F40 LM, one of only 19 produced as a lightweight, more-powerful version of the standard F40. This is the only example to be owned in private hands and rumoured to be the most original in existence. The 720bhp V8 used to scream on the track when it was taken around numerous circuits worldwide and it changed hands for $3,300,000

The Maserati MC12 was a spiritual sister car to the Ferrari Enzo as it used the same 6.5l V12 and the same chassis platform. However the MC12 was an FIA GT Racing car for the road based on the GT1 car with a smoother and much more beautiful body. It has an advantage over the Enzo as well because the MC12 had only 50 examples produced and this one is number 31. Two owners and less than 770km from new, this sold for $2,090,000.

The Ferrari 250 series has already established itself in this list to be a very valuable car model, however this next one might just be the best of the lot (besides the GTO and TR). The Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider could be seen as the sexiest Ferrari model of all time, this one being the 23rd of 50 made, but this one has a story. It was owned originally by Prince Alvise Hercolani and then falling into ownership with ex-Formula One driver Wolfgang Seidel where it remained for many years. It is fitted with the rare Ferrari 400 Superamerica front fender vents, an air intake on the hood and is one of the most uniquely designed LWB California in the world. The whole car has matching numbers and is Ferrari Classiche Certified. This car, due to the rarity and the beauty of it, sold for $8,500,000.

Movie cars are often heralded in the auction world to be gold mines, take the James Bond DB5 that sold for over £10million last year, or the Bullitt Ford Mustang selling next year. However this car has been featured in two films and isn't particularly recognised. It is a 2005 Saleen S7 TT which was the USA's answer to the Ferrari Enzo and Porsche Carrera GT, however with a 1000bhp twin-turbo V8 rather than the exotic V12 or V10 option. This car was the original Saleen press car and was featured in the original Iron Man film which was a global success and Redline, the worst car movie of all time. Nevertheless the car sold for $682,000

Ferrari's most iconic open top roadster is the Daytona, released in the late 1960s and continuing production up until 1973 and named after the world famous American racing circuit. Considered to be one of the most beautiful cars of all time, the Daytona has always been a hit at auctions, always selling high. This example had matching numbers with the chassis and engine and sold for $2,750,000 which is one of the highest prices that a Daytona has sold for auction.

(Once again, due to my ramblings I've run out of space so the final cars will just have to have the prices unfortunately. All of the cars are still extremely special and are some of the greatest cars ever made)

1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 by Scaglietti - $3,300,000
2008 Koenigsegg CCX-R - $825,000
1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS - $368,500
1985 Ferrari 288 GTO - $2,420,000
1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione by Scaglietti - $13,500,000

For the conclusion, it needs to be reminded that all these cars were offered from the same collection and from the same person and that only one of the 25 did not sell. The total that this one person made from this auction was a ridiculous $88,962,500. An utterly ridiculous number and a sale most likely never to be beaten, making up 51.5% of the total $172,900,000 sale.

Auction Previews - November 2019

This auction preview is going to have to be a short one as there aren't particularly that many amazing auctions this month. However there are two that are ridiculous which are the RM Sotheby's first Abu Dhabi auction set to take place on the 30th November after the final race of the F1 calendar, and the Silverstone Auctions auction at the Riyadh Car Show in Saudi Arabia. Two Arabian auctions filled with some truly amazing cars for sale.

Silverstone Auctions

Silverstone Auctions actually have 4 or 5 auctions this month however their Riyadh auction is one of the greatest line ups I've ever seen for an auction. Considering that they are not one of the big 4 auction houses (RM Sotheby's, Bonhams, Mecum and Gooding), they have one of the best line ups. Whereas most auctions have a few stars and the rest of the lots are generally half decent, Silverstone have opted for the role reversal as they have a few 'normal' cars such as the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow and a Porsche 993 C4S and a massive amount of insane cars. These will be in order of the lots at the auction beginning with a Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale which is one of the cheapest cars to hit this auction which shows how amazing the auction is. This is followed by a 2005 Ford GT which is a superb example of the classic American supercar. Along next is the first of many extreme hypercars being the Porsche 918. One of the holy trinity of hybrid hypercars, the Porsche 918 is fitted with the Weissech package which adds the carbon body kit and an extra three noughts to the price tag. This specific example is finished in an ice white spec with a carbon roof, which should sell for over £1million. The next lot is a 2001 Lamborghini Diablo VT which is fitted with the highly desired manual gearbox from the final year of the Diablo's production. The cars now truly become insane with a 2015 McLaren P1, which is the second of the hybrid hypercar holy trinity. Finished in the secondary launch spec of Volcano Yellow, this example is extremely low mileage with less than 2000 miles from new and is another highly desired car. This is not the only P1 going under the hammer in this auction as they are also selling one of the five McLaren P1 XP's (Experimental Prototype). With a full carbon body and red accents, this car dates from 2015 and has been in private Saudi ownership since then, only leaving once to return to Woking to be personally serviced by McLaren. These two cars are both as desirable as the other. Next is the first of a pair, yes a pair, of Mercedes SLS Black Series', a limited series version of the insane SLS AMG. Fitted with the 6.3l V8 from the prior, this car featured a carbon aero kit as well as an increase in power to 622hp. Taking inspiration from the Mercedes SLS GT3 racing car that racked up 37 victories in the 2012 season, this car was a limited series masterpiece. Having one in one place is incredible however to have two, one of which has hardly been driven, is incredible. Next up is a Pagani Huayra Coupe, but not just a regular Huayra. This is the 'White Edition' which is number 5 of 100 produced, currently registered in South Africa with under 700km from new. With a list price of just under £2million with a decent mileage on it, one with under 700km will be sure to reach that price. ItalDesign also make an appearance with the final Zerouno finished in black with a tricolore stripe down the centre. At this stage of writing, there is not enough space for me to talk about every single amazingly incredible car in this auction so I may have to just mention the name of the cars which is a slight shame. However next is a Mercedes McLaren SLR 722S Roadster followed by a Mansory Vivere Bugatti Veyron, a Ferrari 599 GTZ Zagato Nibbio Spyder, a Gemballa Mirage GT, Lexus LFA, Aston Martin Rapide AMR, the incredible Pagani Zonda Riviera, the Bugatti Veyron Nocturne, a Ferrari 575 Superamerica, a restored Brabus Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, Ferrari 288 GTO, Aston Martin V12 Zagato, a Bugatti Chiron Sport, Gumpert Apollo S, Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, Lamborghini Reventon, Ferrari F12tdf in Blu Electrico, Aston Martin Zagato Shooting Brake and a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport World Record Edition. These cars will be auctioned on the 22nd of November at the Riyadh Concours D'Elegance. Edit : They have later added a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport World Record Edition, a Bugatti Chiron 110 Ans, a Lamborghini Murcielago SV, a McLaren Senna and a white Ferrari LaFerrari.

RM Sotheby's

Much like Silverstone Auctions, RM Sotheby's key auction is in the Middle East, more specifically the United Arab Emirates at the final Formula One race of the season. Each and every car in this auction has its own story, some more than others but this auction is significantly smaller with only 42 lots with two of these being automobilia. However the smaller the auction does not necessarily mean that the small amount of lots lose any quality. The auction begins with a slightly dangerous lot for the consigner at least. It is an Aston Martin One-77 which is being auctioned off charitably in order to raise money for parks in Africa. However the car is being auctioned off with no reserve, meaning there is no minimum price it has to sell for. In theory this means that it could sell for £200k but the estimate placed upon it by RM Sotheby's is £1.5million. Next up, after a BMW Z8, is the first significant sale being the 1992 Benetton B192 which was the first car that Michael Schumacher drove in his full time debut for Benetton and driven to a 3rd place in the German and Italian Grand Prixs. This has an estimate of £850k - £1.25million due to the name on the side of the car. Next along is another classic F1 car being the Ferrari 126 C2 which is the only surviving of seven produced for the 1982 Formula One season. This car was driven to multiple podiums by both Patrick Tambay and Mario Andretti. This model was also the last car that legendary driver Giles Villeneuve drove as he crashed at Zolder, which ended up firing Giles out of the car and into some metal fencing which killed him on impact. This car has an estimate of £2million-£2.75million. Next in the long run of Ferraris includes a Verde British 275 GTS, a 458 Speciale Aperta, an F12tdf, an F355 Berlinetta, an F40 and a Daytona. Two of the cars I have not mentioned I need to talk about in detail, the first of which being the F2002. This car was driven by the legend himself, Michael Schumacher, in his world championship winning season of 2002. A portion of these proceeds will be donated to the Keep Fighting Michael foundation, which adds to the value of the already valuable F2002. This was the most successful season that Ferrari had in F1 as with this car, Michael Schumacher and team-mate Rubens Barrichello finished on the podium in every single race. This specific car was driven to victory in San Marino, Germany and France, and was the polesitter car in the Spanish GP of that year. The cars current owner took it back to Fiorano for an engine and gearbox change where he made it available for Corse Clienti racing and provided a Ferrari Classiche certification. This plus all the other factors make the estimate of £5.5m-£6.5m seem like a real bargain and whoever buys this will be the owner of an extremely important model. The second car to be spoken about in detail is only the second variant of the model to come up for auction which is the highly exclusive Ferrari FXXK. Based on the LaFerrari hypercar, this is a track only version of the LaFerrari built in small numbers for certain customers. The XX programme allows for 30 of Ferrari's most loyal customers to buy special versions of these cars but not to own them. They are instead allowed to drive them on certain tracks when they want to. The FXXK has 1035bhp which is an 85 horsepower jump from the road car and only has 250km from its one person ownership. Typically, there is no way to auction XX cars but Ferrari has allowed it but, I believe, only through RM Auctions. Previously an FXXK sold for just over £3million but this model has an estimate of £4million to £4.5million, which would smash auction records for a Ferrari XX model. Next along, they have a 2017 Ford GT for sale with prices up to £1million which is astonishing given that the cars cost around £400k new. Sotheby's just keep bettering themselves with a Jaguar CX-75, one of the stunt cars used in the James Bond film 'Spectre'. Originally, Jaguar were going to put this car into production but they ran out of money so only made 6 or 7 prototype cars. Nobody really knows how many of these were made, between 6 to 10 of them for sure. Due to the strange circumstances of this car, the estimate is just over £1.2million as a top estimate, but none of these have ever come up for auction before so this will be interesting. A Jaguar XJ220 is also featured in this auction followed up by a blue carbon fibre, 2014 Koenigsegg Agera R. One of two finished in this spec and one of 18 in total, this was the centrepiece of the Koenigsegg brand until the RS replaced it. This is a fairly high mileage Agera R with 4400 miles when these cars are usually garage queens, as well as an interesting car as it is able to run on E100 biofuel making it an extremely innovative car. Much like the Jaguar CX-75, this is the first time one of these cars is for sale in a public auction so the £2.5million top estimate could be very different. There are a plethora of high end Lamborghini's going under the hammer such as a Countach LP400S, a Diablo VT Roadster and a Diablo VT with 19 miles on the odometer from new. Along with these are a Lamborghini Diablo GT which is a one of 80 model exclusively for the European markets with an estimate of just over £750k max however last year one was sold for £815k in Monte Carlo. The other Lamborghini for sale is the Concept S which was built originally for a design showcase for the Geneva motor show however the customers loved the design so much that it was planned to make production. However, another twist to the tale is that only one mechanical model was made being this one as well as one design model with resides at Lamborghini HQ. This one off has been privately owned but now is up for sale for £1.6million as a top estimate. After the Lamborghinis we have a yellow Lexus LFA and a Maserati MC12, the latter having a top estimate of £3.5million. McLaren are only represented by two cars which are the newest GTR models. First is a P1 GTR based obviously on the hybrid hypercar McLaren P1 finished in a black and orange livery fairly reminiscent of some of the older Gulf liveries held by the F1 GTRs. Second is a McLaren Senna GTR, of which not many are actually complete yet. Based on the Senna this car has an incredible aero kit to make the regular Senna look like a Corvette C8. Both of these cars are set to sell in the £2million range. Much like the Silverstone auction, there are too many insane cars to talk about them all so I will have to just list them with some highlights having a little description. Left in the auction is a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, Mercedes G63 6x6, Mercedes SL65 Black Series, a one of 75 Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss, a one of one Pagani Zonda Aether, a Singer Porsche 911, a Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Touring, a Porsche 911 Carrera RSR, a Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport, a Porsche 911 Speedster 997, a Porsche 911 Sport Classic, a Porsche 918 Spyder, a one of one Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead designed for an Arabian Sheikh and finally a one of one Zagato Raptor Concept car. This auction will take place on the 30th November after the final Formula One race of the season. 

Auction Price Changes over Time

As mentioned in the previous post, I am a large fan of car auctions. Having previously discussed the most expensive cars to ever cross the block, I have found another interesting topic surrounding the auction world. RM Sotheby's will be my case study for this post as they have a section of their site to see all previous auction results from 2000 to now. By scrolling through these previous results, I have compiled a list of the greatest changes in sale prices at RM Sotheby's auctions.

Jaguar XJ220 (Arizona 2009)

A fairly unsung hero of the 1990s to begin with in the form of the Jaguar XJ220. This car was meant to be the 90s supercar and was even the world's fastest car at one stage before being upstaged by the McLaren F1. There were only 283 examples made, meaning they're not common and a 3.5l twin-turbo V6 producing 542bhp, so it wasn't a slouch either. Even so with all these factors building up, RM Sotheby's sold one in 2009 for $154,000. Hardly a cheap car purchase but compared to now when there's one at an estimate of £350k-£400k and one sold in 2017 for £418,500, the buyers of 2009 will be very happy with the timing of their purchase. 

Mercedes Benz CLK GTR Coupe/Roadster (London 2009)

This may be cheating to have a double bill but they were too good not to mention. This legendary car was the homologated edition of the Mercedes Benz CLR LMP car of the 90s. Therefore it was only made in very small numbers with 20 Coupes and only 6 Roadsters. Powered by a 7.3l Mercedes V12, that would be used in the Pagani Zonda, producing 604bhp. The current value of the two cars are as follows. The last time a CLK GTR Coupe sold at auction was the RM Sotheby's Monterey auction of 2017 and it sold for $4.5m. The last CLK GTR Roadster to sell at auction was the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed which sold for $1.5m. But what were the prices of the cars that sold in 2009? The Coupe sold for £522,000 and the Roadster £616,000. That is a truly insane buy. 

Bugatti EB110 GT (London 2009)

Built in 1993 to commemorate the 110th birthday of the founder of Bugatti, Ettore Bugatti, the EB110 GT was a lighter, more powerful and more aerodynamic version of the standard EB110. Powered by a 3.5l V12 producing upwards of 550hp, this was one of the most powerful road cars in the world at the time. Designed by Gandini and produced in very limited numbers, this model is one of the greatest cars ever made, as well as one of the fastest at 213mph. This car in 2009 sold in London for £220,000 and a mere 10 years later, one sold in Arizona for £967,000, which shows the amazing inflation these cars have.

Shelby Cobra 427 (Monterey 2009)

The Shelby Cobra has a fascinating history which helps its price at auction significantly. Originally, the Cobra began as the little AC Ace that was emerging in the British sports car market in the 60s, alongside the AC Aceca. Carroll Shelby, an American engineer working at Ford, took one of these Ace's and dropped a 7.0 supercharged V8 into it, and creating the Cobra. This then launched the Shelby motor company which spent its days racing at Le Mans with the Cobra Daytona Coupe, creating interesting road cars such as the Series 1, legendary muscle cars such as the Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang and spent his later days before his death in 2012 by supercharging Mustangs. All of this heritage leads to the 2009 Monterey auction by Sotheby's which had an original Shelby Cobra 427 for sale. This car sold for a exceptionally small £66,000, around the price of a second hand Aston Martin V8 Vantage today. A similar car sold with Bonhams for £977,000 with a top estimate of £1.2m. Someone in 2009 got very, very lucky. 

Mercedes Benz 300SL (Monterey 2004)

A little further back in time when Sotheby's was only just starting out in automobiles, they sold a Mercedes 300SL for £236,000, not particularly cheap at all. Coined as the original supercar, some believe the Lamborghini Miura is responsible, the 300SL was a masterful piece of engineering with gullwing doors and long smooth styling referenced in the 2012 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG. The long hood is the key beauty element in this car and the prices since then have risen just slightly. The price of one in 2017 sold by Gooding and Co comes to £4.5m. Quite an increase on the £200k that they sold for 13 years prior. 

Ferrari 275 GTB (Monterey 2004)

The greatest bargain I have seen in auctions happens to be this car, the Ferrari 275 GTB. This is the car that succeeded the Ferrari 250 series which features the GTO, GT SWB and TR, so it had a lot to live up to. Ferrari's designers perfected the design with the long nose similar to the long hood of the previously mentioned Mercedes 300SL as well as the beautiful curves. Rarer, faster and debatably more beautiful than the legendary Ferrari 250 GT SWB, this car is a stunner to anyone who can see one (I have not seen one yet sadly). This crossed the block for £178,500 in 2004 and now they can sell for up to £3,500,000 such as the longnose variant that sold at Knocke-Heisse in Belgium last year. Or if you can find a Competizione variant, look forward to upwards of £10m coming your way.

Case Study - Ferrari Legganda e Passione 2009

This whole auction is a treasure trove for low prices and any person who managed to pick up a car in this auction most definitely made a profit. Rather than the explanation of previous entries, I will simply name the car, the price it sold for and the price it is now to show the changes. Ferrari 365 GT 2+2, £77,000, £250,000. Ferrari Dino 246 GT, £82,500, £380,000. Ferrari 288 GTO, £385,000, upwards of £3m. Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, £60,500, £450,000. Ferrari 250 GT Ellena Coupe, £275,000, £960,000. Ferrari F40, £260,000, £750,000. Ferrari 250 GT SWB, £440,000, £1.9m.  Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione, £1.1m, £7.9m. Ferrari 250 GT TDF, £2.3m, £7m. Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider, £2.1m, £9.8m. Not too bad then

The 15 Most Expensive Cars Sold at Auction

I have always had a fascination with car auctions and the fluctuation in prices over the years. Whenever the opportunity arises, I will watch auctions live be it on YouTube or on the auction house's website. The thought then occurred to me of, what are the most expensive cars ever sold at auction. After lots of research, I have this list of 15. 

15) McLaren F1-LM Specification - RM Sotheby's (2019)

The first entry onto this list comes from earlier this year, in Pebble Beach. RM Sotheby's managed to sell off a McLaren F1, which is a star car in itself. However it was converted to LM specification which is one of the two cars to have this treatment, adding the Extra-High Downforce kit and the unrestricted F1 GTR engine. The car was in the hands of McLaren for a very long time before it was bought, however was returned to McLaren for specialist servicing along with a written evaluation by MSO (McLaren Special Operations) to certify its authenticity. This car sold in the summer for £15,264,000.

14) Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider by Touring - RM Sotheby's (2016)

This is the Italian equivalent of the Bugatti Atlantic, the Alfa 8C is a pinnacle of Italian beauty then and now. This car was one of 12 known to the world, the first of its kind to come up for auction. This specific example came from a very coveted collection of cars that won it a Concours D'Elegance Best in Show. Finished in a metallic black original paint with its original engine and original bodywork. Although I do not know much about vintage cars, especially ones from 1939, I can appreciate the styling and the legacy that these cars leave, hence I completely agree with the £15,216,000 that the car sold for. 

13 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe - Bugatti Museum (1987)

Legend has it that Ettore Bugatti was talking to an English lady who stated that the Rolls Royce Phantom was the ultimate car and considered it to be a superior car to the Bugatti. After this, he created the Royale which was the ultimate epitome of luxury. Bugatti only made 7 of these and they all have their unique stories. This example was not sold by Bugatti as the asking price was equivalent of £560,000 in today's money. This car was bricked away during the war to avoid being commandeered by the Nazis, was sold to American Le Mans racer Briggs Cunningham for $571 plus two refrigerators not available in post war France. The car was then put for auction when the Bugatti Museum closed due to its liquidation. It sold for an amazing £5.5m which in today's money comes to a total of £17,400,000.

12) Aston Martin DP215 - RM Sotheby's (2018)

Known as one of the most important Aston Martins ever made, this one off project built in 1963 was a works car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Piloted by Phil Hill and Lucien Bianchi, it is said to have clocked 198.2mph on the famous Mulsanne straight before it retired with a broken transmission. However, the success of this car may have been a little drab with only a few Goodwood Revival race wins, the car itself was the last car that the legendary David Brown signed off and entered personally into a race. This car was fitted with the original engine and correct 5 speed manual transmission. A slight personal bonus of this car is that I have actually seen it at the 70th anniversary of Aston Martin Racing at Goodwood 2019. This car sold for £17,700,000 at the Sotheby's Monterey auction but it does still make racing appearances which is always good.

11) Duesenberg SSJ - Gooding and Co. (2018)

Although, much like the Alfa Romeo, I do not know much about this car, however some of the specs that the car carries makes it 100% worth the price. The Duesenberg was the American Rolls-Royce and in produced in much smaller numbers than its British counterpart. The SSJ presents a case for itself in that it is one of only two produced. Adding to the value of this is the fact that it was originally delivered to Hollywood legend Gary Cooper and another owner of the car was Briggs Cunningham, the same man to own the Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe from earlier. The car remained in its original condition with original brakes, engine, chassis and body. The car in the end sold for a whopping £18,200,000.

10) Ferrari 290MM by Scaglietti - RM Sotheby's (2018)

This is where the cars start to get really, really interesting. This car is a legendary racing car as it raced as a Scuderia Ferrari works car for the 1956 and 1957 season that led to podiums in the 1000km of Buenos Aires and the legendary Mille Miglia racing event. It won the Nassau racing weekend and the Memorial event with Sir Stirling Moss behind the wheel. Not only has it been driven by some incredibly special drivers, but it is one of 4 examples, 3 left, it is eligible for many, many classic race events such as the Mille Miglia and Concours events. The car was restored to its original 1957 Sebring 24 hours livery and Ferrari Classiche certified. Due to all of these factors, the car sold for £18,200,000, headlining the auction for Sotheby's.

9) Jaguar D-Type - RM Sotheby's (2016)

This 1955 Jaguar D-Type is the most expensive Jaguar ever sold at auction in 2016. This car was raced by Ecurie Ecosse to victory in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, which makes it already a special car. What adds to the value is the fact that it is the only surviving original Jaguar C/D-Type that still holds all of its original components, it had remained in the same private collection for 16 years before the sale and it was the first Jaguar D-Type chassis to be built. Being one of the most important Jaguars in history, and officially the most expensive Jaguar of all time, the price was £18,300,000.

8) Aston Martin DBR1 - RM Sotheby's (2017)

This car beats the Jaguar in one sense, that it is the most expensive British car ever to sell at auction. The DBR1 is one of five DBR1s and this car was the first car to roll out of Aston Martin. Although this did not succeed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (the sister car won the 1959 Le Mans), it did see some success by winning the 1959 1000km of Nürburgring. The list of drivers to drive this exact car is unbelievable spanning from Sir Stirling Moss to Jack Brabham, Roy Salvatori and Carroll Shelby. The car was maintained by Aston Martin specialists who fitted it with a racing reproduction engine which came alongside the original engine when it was new. Critics have said that this is the most important Aston Martin model of all time, as well as the most expensive British car of all time at £18,600,000.

7) Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale by Scaglietti - RM Sotheby's (2014)

Known as the spiritual successor to the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO, the 275 GTB/C is a crucial area of Ferrari's history. It was one of only 3 works Berlinetta Competizione cars, making it a lot rarer than the 250 GTO. It is a known Ferrari car which helps to increase the value of it because it is a documented classic vehicle. It is fitted with its original numbered engine and has a glittering racing and rallying history. It was meticulously researched by a Ferrari specialist who confirmed it was the car that everybody thought it was. Due to this confirmation, the car sold for £20,350,000. This also makes it the first car on this list to break the £20m mark. 

6) Ferrari 275 GTB/4 S N.A.R.T Spider by Scaglietti - RM Sotheby's (2013)

N.A.R.T stands for North American Racing Team and was the key Ferrari racing team in the US up until the 1990s. The 275 NART Spider is an incredibly rare car to bear this name as it is a one of 10 car. It may not be the rarest car on this list by far, however the beauty and class of this car definitely makes up for it. It was sold with the original toolboxes and original documents because this car, miraculously, had one owner from new. The fact that it had single ownership boosts the price significantly. The car was auctioned in 2013 by Sotheby's and again headlined the auction even when it was auctioned alongside a Mercedes 540K, Mercedes 680S and a Ferrari 375MM. The final price.....£21,197,000.

5) Ferrari 290MM by Scaglietti - RM Sotheby's (2015)

A second Ferrari 290MM to see this list, this one sold in New York in 2015. There is one reason that this car sold for more than the other 290MM, that reason is the fact that the car came 4th overall at the 1956 Mille Miglia. Fourth place may be seen as nothing because it didn't win, however it was driven by the one and only Juan Manuel Fangio. For the unknown, Fangio was one of the greatest racing drivers of all time with 5 Formula One world championships and many other race wins in sports cars and rallying. His name alone adds so much value to any car, let alone an already expensive Ferrari 290MM. The car in question has a large racing history and is Ferrari Classiche certified meaning that it is an official piece of Ferrari history. The final value for the car was £21,640,000, which further increases the record value.

4) Mercedes Benz W196 - Bonhams (2013)

From one Fangio car to another, only this car is much more significant than the previous. This Mercedes was the car that Fangio drove in the 1954 Formula One Season and drove to victory in the German and Swiss Grand Prix. The car was also driven by Hans Hermann and Karl Kling and was the sister car to Sir Stirling Moss's Mercedes. This car comes from an incredible family of vintage Mercedes Formula One cars, and this particular car was the only post-war Silver Arrow to be held in private ownership for many years. The car went on to be the generation that won Fangio his second world drivers championship. When it was put for auction at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed, it sold for £25,750,000. 

3) Ferrari 335S Spider Scaglietti - Artcurial (2016)

The only mention of Artcurial in this list comes with the 2016 sale that they sold a very significant Ferrari. This was a works 335S driven at so many racing events such as 1000km of Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans and then the 1957 Formula One season. This car took Sir Stirling Moss to victory in the Cuban Grand Prix before it was sold to a leading Ferrari collector in Switzerland, Pierre Bardinon. Bardinon, who died in 2012, had a collection of up to 50 classic Ferrari cars and exercised them on his private racetrack that he built outside his house in Switzerland. It is thought that he had four of the nine 1960s Le Mans winners in his collection. After he died, his family sold off some of his cars and none of them were anticipated more than the 335S, which eventually sold for £27,635,000.

2) Ferrari 250 GTO - Bonhams (2014)

One of the greatest cars ever made, the Ferrari 250 GTO is one of Ferrari's greatest ever cars and has always been a highlight at auctions, especially one with a back catalogue like this car. This is a 1962 car so it retains the classic shape unlike the later cars, and the drivers of this car included Jo Schlesser and Paolo Colombo. It was offered from 49 years of single ownership and had a great success rate of Italian hill-climbs and the famous Tour De France route which gave its name to some other Ferrari models such as the 250tdf and, more recently, the F12tdf. This car came 2nd in the 1962 Tour De France and is a proven historic race winning car. It also features the idea that it has never been restored, just maintained and looked after. The total price for all this specification? £29,562,000. 

1) Ferrari 250 GTO - RM Sotheby's (2018)

And the most expensive car ever to sell at auction is this amazing Ferrari 250 GTO. Sold by RM Sotheby's in 2018, this car is much different to the previous GTO which helps the price significantly. It is one of 36 GTOs made, and is considered to be the most original and well-maintained model of those 36. It was upgraded in period by Scaglietti to the Series 2 body shape which is considered to be a more aggressive styling for the 250 GTO, similar to the later 275 model, and is one of few cars to be offered this treatment. It had over 15 class and individual wins during its racing period of 1962-1965 including victories in the Targa Florio in 1963 and 1964. It has been studied by Ferrari master engineers and the family of the Godfather, Enzo Ferrari himself and confirmed to be the car everyone wanted it to be. This along with a matching engine number helped this car to be the most expensive sold at auction. The final price was £37,310,000, a record unlikely to be beaten soon. However with more and more classics popping up seemingly everywhere, who knows how long this record will stay for?

Auction Round-Ups October 2019

Although I have not done 'Weekly Car News' for a while, I have been keeping up with the news and have decided that there are too many places that do this already, that I cannot make this unique. Therefore I am doing an auction round-up every month to see what cars are being auctioned when. This will be monthly due to the frequency of car auctions and I will be presenting it one auction house at a time. 

                                                                     RM Sotheby's                                                                                                                                                                                                           

This month, RM Sotheby's will be holding two auctions that are both highlights on their calendar. The first of which is the Hershey sale, held on the 10th-11th of October in the US, which focuses on vintage American classics from 1900 to 1970. Although I do not know a great deal about this niche in cars, I do appreciate some of the cars they are selling such as the 1936 Cadillac V16 Phaeton which starred in the 1964 film 'The Carpetbaggers' and is recognised as being one of the sole surviving V16s. The estimate price of $750k-$1.2m seems fair although as I've said, I do not have much knowledge of these cars so I'd love to talk about the lots more but I do not have a clue. The second Sotheby's auction this month is the famous London auction which is definitely more up my street. This auction mainly features classic racing cars as well as some modern classics and modern hypercars. Rather than going through every car in detail, I shall pick some personal highlights starting with a 2018 Porsche 911 GT3. This may be seen as just a regular Porsche, however with gold wheels, a manual gearbox, the Clubsport package and PTS Sepia Brown finishes allow for the £150k estimate to seem like a drop in the ocean. The first significant car to be auctioned will be the 1994 Ferrari 412 T2 Formula One car. This car has been driven by Tifosi legends Jean Alesi, who took this car to 3rd at the 1994 Brazilian GP, and Gerhard Berger, who took it to 2nd at the Italian GP. This was the first car to be designed by F1 legend Jean Todt and featured the roaring V12 that F1 cars in the 90s possessed. Although this car was not necessarily the most successful Ferrari F1 car, netting only 73 points between the two drivers, it has been in the ownership of Ferrari from production until 2003 when it was sold to a private owner. The estimate of £1.4m-£1.8m seems very fair and someone will be leaving the auction with a piece of Ferrari history. A few vehicles are being sold from the Youngtimer Collection which is a 100+ car collection to be entirely sold by RM Sotheby's in 2019. The feature cars of this auction are the 2014 Mercedes SLS AMG GT Final Edition with an estimate of £275k-£325k, a Lamborghini LM002 with an estimate of £180k-£230k, a Lamborghini Diablo VT for £150k-£175k and a Mercedes SL 73 AMG for £200k-£240k and which features the engine used in a Pagani Zonda. A few other high end cars selling includes a Maserati MC12 GT1 and a Porsche 962C from the Autobau collection, a barn find Lamborghini Miura P400S, a Ferrari Enzo, a Jaguar XJR-11, a Lancia Delta S4 Rallye, an Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Ville D'Este and finally the prettiest car in the auction, the Maserati 3500 GT Spider. Overall these two auctions should give a lot of car collectors new horses for the stable.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Rand Luxury

Now for an auction house I'd never heard of in the form of Rand Luxury in the US. Upon first glance they are just selling Ferrari F355s and Porsche 911s, but when filtering by price, we see there is a lot more than first thought. They are selling 5 of the world's most exclusive hypercars, 3 gorgeous classics and a few stunning supercars. The highlight of the sale is a Lamborghini Centenario LP770-4 which is superbly rare. One of 20 in the world, one of 6 in the US and one of 2 in exposed carbon fibre, this is one rare car. Finished in exposed carbon and red accents, this is one of the first Centenarios to come up for auction so the $3m-$3.3m estimate is justified. They also have a black Porsche 918 Spyder and a black Bugatti Veyron for just over $1.5m each which is justified as well as a white Ferrari F12tdf with a tricolore stripe estimated at $1m-$1.35m. The star for me though is the 2006 Koenigsegg CCX which is one of 49 cars, finished in silver over blue interior which will definitely sell for over its estimate of max $1.6m. A few more highlights include an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, Ferrari 458 SA, De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S, Ferrari 575M SuperAmerica and a Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS. This auction is to take place on the 12th and should be an interesting watch.                                                                                                            

                                                                           Bonhams

Bonhams have had a tough time recently, especially comparing their Pebble Beach auction to Gooding and Sotheby's, however their Zoute sale in Belgium looks to be a good one. The star of the show is a Ferrari 275 GTB Short Nose which has not been given an estimate but I predict it will be upwards of £2.4m. They are also selling a 250 GT Cabriolet S2 for a max estimate of £1.6m and a Ferrari Enzo for upwards of £1.5m. Besides these it seems to be a regular standard auction however I will draw attention to the Bonmont Sale which was legendary. Although the sale took place in the last week of September, I cannot help but mention it. In 2014, 20+ cars were seized from the president of Equatorial Guinea who was corrupt. These cars were kept in police lockups for 5 years until they decided to auction them all. Some of these cars did sell for a smaller price than expected such as the 1991 Ferrari Testarossa which can sell for up to £160k but only sold for a very cheap £69k. Moving up into the £150k range, we begin to see some of the President's cars such as a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and a Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead. Moving further up the prices, there is a Brabus 900 which is a 900hp Mercedes Benz S65 AMG which sold for £230k which I believe to be cheap. As prices increase and increase, we pass the matte black Lamborghini Murcielago SV, Lamborghini 400GT and the two Ferrari 250 GTs and get to the real stars of the auction. For £862k sold was a Giallo Modena Ferrari F12tdf and for £996k was the black Ferrari 599 SA Aperta which is the convertible version of the Ferrari 599 GTO, and much, much rarer. Next up are two cars that would be found in the alleyways of Bond Street. The Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf was originally created for customers in Saudi Arabia but some have made their way to Europe and clearly, Africa. The second is a Maybach Mercedes G650 Laudalet which is a strange car. It's a Mercedes G Wagon 4x4 that has been taken by Maybach and made into a convertible. Both of these cars unfortunately did not sell at the auction but sold afterwards for 'upwards of £1.2m each'. Now we have the hypercars, a McLaren P1 sold for £1.26m, a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 sold for £1.31m, a one of 77 Aston Martin One-77 sold for £1.52m, a one of one Porsche 918 sold for £1.55m, a one of 20 Lamborghini Reventon Roadster sold for £1.95m, a Ferrari LaFerrari sold for £2.1m and a Ferrari Enzo to match the LaFerrari sold for £3.1m. All these cars are good but still the two best cars have not been mentioned. A Koenigsegg One:1 sold at this auction, a one of 7 car that has a one to one power to weight ratio hence the name. Koenigsegg contacted Bonhams about this auction as the original estimate was only £1.2m-£1.5m. The estimate was raised before the auction but that did not make a difference as the One:1 sold for £4.6m which was twice the second estimate. The star of the show however was a Lamborghini Veneno Roadster. Finished in a cream over cream option which is not entirely delightful, only 9 of these cars were built to celebrate Lamborghini's 50th anniversary. The original price of the Veneno was £3m and this is the first time one has ever come up for auction, therefore it was a superb opportunity for collectors. One lucky owner got their hands on it for an insane £8.28m. 

6th Sept-13th Sept - Weekly Car News

Last week it was Bugatti beating the record for the world's fastest production car at 304.77mph and this week VW in their electric ID R have broken yet another record. After Pikes Peak, Goodwood Hillclimb and the Nurbrugring Nordschliefe, VW have taken a red ID R up the Tianman Shan Big Gate Road in China in a new record time of 7 mins 38.5 seconds. With 99 corners and a total distance of 6.776 miles and Romain Dumas again piloting the 670bhp electric beast, the current record set in a Range Rover Sport P400e of 9 mins 51 secs had no chance at all. VW have not indicated what their next test will be, I think getting around the M25 as quickly as possible. Whilst on the topic of electric cars, the Porsche Taycan is currently the fastest production electric car around the Nurburgring with a time of 7 mins 24 secs, but Elon Musk has challenged them to a duel. Next week, a Tesla Model S P100D will attempt a timed lap of the Nurburgring to knock Porsche off of their metatphorical 'high horse'. The Taycan has been revealed in the last few days to have 700bhp so good luck to Tesla beating that. 

The Frankfurt Motor Show is this week and this means there are a lot of new models shown for the first time. The Lamborghini Sian which I talked about last week has received a new name in the Sian FKP 37 which tributes the late Ferdinand K Piech, born in 1937. This name will be on the nameplate of the car, however it will be known as a Sian. BMW have shown to the public for the first time the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe which, like every 8 Series, looks absolutely stunning. It will go on sale in the UK this September with the choice of either a straight six or a V8. Sticking with BMW, to an extent, we have the new Alpina B3 Biturbo Touring which is Alpina’s vision of what would happen if BMW made an M3 estate, fitted with the 6 cylinder engine and adding a twin turbocharged set up to produce 463bhp and Alpina say it will be good for 186mph which would make it one of the fastest estate cars on the market. Alpina will begin taking orders in early 2020. BMW have confirmed that they will be working on making a successor to the now 41-year old BMW M1 as signature designs of the M1 were found in the new M Next Vision concept. The M1 signature double rear shield feature is shown to be in the design as well as the rear engine cover which is similar to the original car. However due to the radical and beautiful design of the concept, BMW will likely never put it into production as they tend not to make the beautiful concepts, more rather they would hide them in their museum. Mercedes, in another collaboration with luxury manufacturer Maybach, have come to the show with a luxury edition of their GLS SUV. At a price of £150,000, it will be produced to rival the Bentley Bentayga, Range Rover Vogue SV Autobiography and the Rolls Royce Cullinan. And at half the price of the Cullinan and all of the luxury, I know my choice. The Frankfurt Motor Show in conclusion provided a lot of interesting, important and unique cars for the future of motoring, some of which I hope to see in the near future.

Porsche have had a habit of taking it's hardest charging models and giving them the prestigious 'RS' badge. RS, standing for RennSport, has been a pinnacle of Porsche since the 2.7 Carrera RS of 1973 first wore the RS badge for road cars. Since then there have been many cars to wear the RS badge, and all of them were 911s. There's been the 993, 996, 997 and 991 generation of GT3 that have worn the badge as well as the 993, 996, 997 and 991 generation of GT2. These have been the only cars that have worn the RS badge, until now. Spotted at the Nürburgring last week was a modified version of the new 718 Cayman GT4 featuring the bonnet air intakes of the 991 GT2 RS, a lowered stance and a strange looking rear wing. Porsche have not yet ruled out an RS version of this generation GT4 and as the Clubsport has already been released so this could be the RS we've been waiting for. If it is, it has been predicted to have 500hp there or thereabouts and with the 4.0 flat 6 from the Porsche 911 GT3, it could be one of the fastest track day cars around. 

30th Aug-5th Sept - Weekly Car News

The main key news this week is due to the sad passing of Anthoine Hubert, a French Formula 2 driver who was killed at the weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. In the feature Formula 2 race after Formula One qualifying on Saturday, all the drivers came to climb the dangerous Eau Rouge/Raidillon corner. The corner itself has been a feature of Spa since its opening in 1926 and is described as one of the most dangerous corners in motorsport. After La Source, the hairpin first corner of the circuit, the drivers accelerate down the shallow incline to be met with an incredibly steep left turn which curves right up the hill only to be met with a second left hander to lead to the Kemmel straight. The speed at which cars can go up Eau Rouge varies as touring cars can go up this corner at maximum 110mph, whereas F1 cars can go up at 185mph due to the increased downforce and grip of the cars. Back to the tragic events of this weekend, the formula two cars were racing up the hill when Hubert pushed too hard causing his car to spin. As it spun, it hit the right side barriers and rolled back out onto the track, where he was hit a second time at 100mph. His car, or what was left of it, dragged upside down along the track only being saved by the carbon fibre halo. After the race was red flagged, Hubert and the other car involved, Correa, were safely taken out of their cars and taken to hospital. Hubert died due to his injuries and Correa is still in intensive care. The news was incredibly hard hitting for the F1 drivers who stopped interviews and sprinted up to the crash location. Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc were most affected due to growing up racing each other. Leclerc went on to win the Formula One race the next day, dedicating the win to his friend. It has been thought that he’d have died on impact if the halo safety precaution wasn’t in place but it stands as a reminder of the dangers these drivers face every single day. Legendary endurance racer Stefan Bellof also was killed at Spa in 1985 after his Porsche 956 came into contact with Jacky Ickx’s 956C at Eau Rouge and speared into a wall. The safety at Spa has always been a concern but given all the similar concerns at other racing circuits, these incidents are always declared as racing incidents. 

Bugatti have always been known for creating some fairly fast cars and some legendary models. Ettore Bugatti created originally the Type 35C to be one of the worlds fastest racing cars with a top speed of 135mph in 1926, which was ridiculous. However due to many financial issues and the sad death of Ettore Bugatti in 1947, Bugatti was no more. Until the 1990s when Bugatti was revived by the late Ferdinand Piech and released the EB110 which became the world’s fastest car in 1991 with a top speed of 218mph, soon to be eclipsed by the McLaren F1’s 240mph in 1994. That record was only broken by the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 in 2005 with a top speed of 253mph. After multiple editions came and went, Bugatti cemented their top speed at 268mph with their SuperSport model. Since then, Koenigsegg set a top speed record in the Agera RS at 278mph which is the current record. However, footage has been released by Bugatti recently which shows a Bugatti Chiron with added aero parts reaching the magical 300mph. This has been the first road legal car to reach this number, in what has been dubbed the Chiron Supersport 300 prototype. 300 miles per hour is a motoring myth that for decades people thought was impossible for a road car. SSC (Shelby Super Cars) had a go in the US in their Ultimate Aero TT but only managed 256mph, Hennessey tried in the Venom GT managed 270mph and the rare 9FF GT9 Vmax with 1400hp managed 272mph. 300mph has always been the target, only achieved once before in a very highly modified Mk2 Ford GT. The Chiron smashed it, maxing out at 304.77mph under the control of Andy Wallace, who set the record with the McLaren F1 and the Jaguar XJ220. Koenigsegg have all eyes on them now as the new Jesko has an estimated top speed of 'above 300mph' and the up and coming Hennessey Venom F5 and SSC Tuatara from the USA, the top speed game is going up a level. In the next week is the Frankfurt Motor Show 2019 which tends to be one of the smaller of the international motor shows in comparison to, say, Geneva, New York and London. However, given the preview of this year's show, it should be classed as one of the big shows. The main event is the debut of the Lamborghini Sian, a new limited series Lamborghini with a revolutionary new feature that could change the way Lamborghini make cars in the future. This new model features the engine from the SVJ but with an upgraded supercapacitor meaning it is slightly hybridised. Although only 63 examples will be made, it is a glimpse into the future of Lamborghini and the future of their V12 engines. Audi will be debuting their new RS6 which will facelift the previous model and feature the very popular 4.0 Twin-Turbo V8 which has just under 600bhp and will rival the new Mercedes AMG E63S and BMW M5. They are also rumoured to be announcing their new RS7 Sportback which will definitely have over 600bhp and will be the new hero car for the Audi RS range. BMW will show their Vision M Next concept which shows a modern interpretation of the 1978 BMW M1 which will most likely not make production like many other BMW concepts but for this one I have hope. A surprise attraction will be Hyundai with the new i30N Project C which has been under cover of camo at the Nürburgring featuring race spec alloy wheels and a suspension drop. Limited to 600 units with none expected to come to the UK unfortunately we will miss out on this exciting project. As mentioned last week, the Land Rover Defender will make an appearance for the first time without a camo wrap which will be a crucial release. Porsche released today the new Taycan. I have seen the Taycan prototype at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed driven by Mark Webber. This model was under camo though so didn't see the proper body shape. However, Porsche have now revealed two trims being the Turbo and Turbo S. The name confuses me as it is a fully electric Porsche, so how can it be turbocharged? Besides this, the car looks absolutely stunning with many cues being taken from the Panamera, 718 Cayman GTS and the Sport Turismo and should be a perfect addition to the Porsche family. The Mercedes AMG GLB has been announced as a rival to the Audi RSQ3 and will pack a punch of 416bhp from a 2.0 turbocharged 4-cylinder engine featured in the A35 AMG. As a small rumour, Ferrari have apparently shown an exclusive look at two new models which will be joining the current range. The Ferrari 812 Spider has been more or less confirmed at this stage with some leaked images and scale models showing the beautiful styling that Ferrari are famous for. The second car goes under the alias of 'V8 Spider'. There are a few options as to what it could be, possibly an update to the Pista Aperta, possibly an F8 Tributo Spider but that would be strange seeing as though there are no customer owned F8s in the world yet. Another option is the SF90 Stradale Aperta which has the same issue as the F8. This 'V8 Spider' may go completely unknown until its launch.

22nd-29th August - Weekly Car News

Starting over the last seven days, I have been compiling a number of different car-related news stories which are major or just interesting in order to increase the journalistic style of my writing.

One of the biggest stories that is circulating the internet a lot recently is the apparent leak of the new Land Rover Defender, a car that has been anticipated for over 2 years. The Land Rover Defender was in production from 1963-2016 and was the pinnacle in 4X4s for all of those years. Since early 2017, Jaguar Land Rover has teased that there will be another version of the Defender to be released in 2020 with snapshots of certain body panels, a camo car rallying through the deserts of Abu Dhabi and even an unofficial debut at this years Goodwood Festival of Speed under its camo wrap with the #best4x4xfar hashtag smeared all over it. However, a few days ago, an image leaked of the Defender appearing to be on the set of the new James Bond film 'No Time to Die'. The image seems to suggest a lot of styling cues from the current Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Discovery, however the leak source is not a reliable one so this may be a render or maybe even if it is the car, certain sections may be edited.

Bugatti have announced today that they will not make any one off special edition cars for clients that pay them enough for it. This comes after the announcement of the £7.4m Centodieci at Monterey Car Week, a Chiron Sport bodied car with styling elements harking back to the first Bugatti hypercar, the EB110. The Centodieci features similar styled side ventilation as the EB110 as well as a bumper that looks fairly similar and a massive carbon rear wing that slightly subverts the EB110 design. The engine is the same 8.0 V16 as the Bugatti Divo and produces a ridiculous 1577bhp which is over 100 horsepower up from the regular Chiron. Only 10 will be produced in another limited series Bugatti car. However they have said they won't go down the same path as Ferrari's Special Project series and will not create bespoke one off models for clients. This means a Kuwaiti billionaire cannot walk into Molsheim, home of Bugatti, with a briefcase full of money and drive out in a Chiron prepped for the Monte Carlo Rally in a Shooting Brake format. Bugatti have a very passionate fanbase and an even more loyal clientele who often buy the special editions of Bugatti cars without driving them or sometimes even seeing them in advance. It is amazing that Bugatti have already sold out of the Centodieci, as all 10 examples were sold before the car's debut. It is thought that the average Bugatti owner has 30 cars, a very exclusive and niche market for their cars yet they all manage to sell. All of the Bugatti Divo's had sold before the debut of it at Geneva which added to the Centodieci numbers is 50 limited series cars sold before public reveal. The only one off that Bugatti has completed was La Voiture Noire, created as an homage to Jean Bugatti's Type 57 and built as a gift to an unknown client, rumoured to be the late Ferdinand Piech or Stephen Winkleman, and was the most expensive new car commissioned at £16.7m. Bugatti has not ruled out special projects such as the Divo and Centodieci as they believe coachbuilding to be a key element in their history, but have ruled out one off models.

Lamborghini has released a press image of what may be the new Aventador model to grace the world ready for a debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The image shows a darkened room with two star shaped head lamps lighting towards to camera. The general body shape of the car seems a lot wider than the standard car and a lot taller than the standard car, with potential relation to the Terzo Millenio EV concept. Due to this relation it is predicted to have a hybrid V12 engine, which does mean the Aventador replacement will still have the traditional Lamborghini V12 scream. The stance of the car also, to me, has some elements of other Lamborghini special editions such as the Veneno, Centenario and the SC18 Alston, which shows that due to the Audi ownership, the Germans will have most likely built the engine, drivetrain and hybrid system with the Italians doing the styling. The car is expected to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show on the 10th of September and finishing on a good note, Lamborghini has confirmed it will remain naturally-aspirated and will not have to fall back on turbocharged engines.

Finally ending with some sad news of the passing of Dr. Ferdinand Piech at the age of 82. The German automotive designer had a large catalogue to his name and leaves a legacy behind with him. Most notably in his career was his lead on the VW group and his racing development that led to some of the greatest cars the world has ever seen. Some of his masterpieces include the Porsche 917 which he designed to win Le Mans and succeeding in creating one of the most overpowered racing cars of all time that forced a rule change to stop its domination in the motoring world. After the 917 he moved to Audi where he pioneered the legendary Audi Quattro and Quattro S1, using four wheel drive systems to beat Lancia in the 1980s World Rally Championships. Then he made the move to the VW group, helping Bugatti out of administration as without him, there would be no Veyron or no Bugatti at all. When Audi took over Lamborghini, everyone thought it would flop and the legends of the Miura and the Countach would sink. However the Gallardo is one of the best, the interesting concepts of the Estoque and Asterion made people wonder and the Murcielago/Aventador was a pinnacle supercar. With Porsche, he helped the creation of the Carrera GT and their rebirth into motorsport with disciplines such as the Porsche Carrera Cup, LMP racing, GT3 racing and WRC. Piech designed cars won 14 of 15 Le Mans 24 Hour races they entered and with the return of Porsche, Audi were allowed to race alongside them before both teams withdrew. He also designed a future with the VW XL1 which found production as an electric VW sports car. His ownership, leadership and design skills led to Piech being a well respected man in the auto industry and a leader who will be sorely missed.

 R.I.P Dr. Ferdinand Piech