Maserati MC12 Corse fetches £3.2m: auction results

2006 Maserati MC12 Corse

Sold by Bonhams, £3.2m

This was one of just a dozen Corse versions of the already rare Maserati MC12 homologation special, 50 of which were built to enable the car to compete in the 2005 FIA GT Championship (which it won). The Corse model was a shamelessly indulgent version built purely for track fun, and since it wasn’t subject to any competition restrictions it was even more powerful than the full-blown racer, producing 755bhp from its 6-litre, V12 engine. But the owner of this one clearly hadn’t explored the outer limits of its performance – in fact, he never drove it. The car had clocked just 123 delivery miles from new.

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1966 Shelby Group II Mustang

Sold by Barrett-Jackson, £640,000

One of just 16 Shelby Group II Mustangs built in 1966, this example was intended for the use of racing driver Ken Miles. Before he had a chance to take the wheel he was killed testing Ford’s J-car.

 

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1986 Pulse Autocycle

Sold by Mecum, £32,000

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It could been the latter but it was, in fact, 177 of 350 Autocycles produced by US designer Jim Bede. Based on a 400cc, four-cylinder Yamaha motorcycle, it offered seating for two.

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1975 Porsche 911 IROC recreation

Sold by RM Sotheby’s, £89,200

Roger Penske built 15 identical 911s to contest the IROC series of the ’70s. This tribute was created in 2017 using a 1975 Carrera 3-litre. With 310bhp on tap, it’s now a potent competitor in its own right.

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2012 Lexus LFA

Sold by RM Sotheby’s, £560,000

There was disbelief in ’09 when Lexus announced its LFA supercar would cost £343,000 – but it turned out to be a bargain, as evinced by the price of this pristine example of the 202mph rocket.

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1931 Bugatti Type 35C Grand Sport

Sold by Artcurial, £2m

This patinated racer was said to have remained unmodified since 1931 – just two years after it was raced to fourth at the inaugural Monaco Grand Prix by ‘Georges Philippe’ aka Baron de Rothschild.

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1970 Ferves Ranger 4×4

Sold by RM Sotheby’s, £25,600

If you believe small is beautiful, this will be right up your street, byway or other unadopted route. One of 50 survivors of 400 built, the Fiat-based special combines 600 suspension with a 500 engine.

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1894 Hildebrand & WolfmÜller

Sold by Bonhams, £174,000

Yes, that’s the correct date – in fact, this was believed to have been the oldest surviving example of the world’s first series production motorcycle. Frame number 619, it was the jewel in the crown of a collection of pioneer machines owned by German enthusiasts Peter and Ulrike Bühner.

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Forthcoming sale highlights

• Bonhams, Goodwood, April 16
  The Goodwood Members’ Meeting is now as well attended as the Revival was in its early days – and therefore provides official auction house Bonhams with a lucrative captive audience. Set to be a blockbuster sale, it will include the 1999 Prodrive Subaru Impreza piloted by the late, great Richard Burns in both the Monte Carlo and Sanremo rallies. Fancy it? Bring about half-a-million quid.
• Mecum, Indianapolis, US, May 12-20
  It might be a couple of months away, but Mecum’s Indy sale has already caused excitement due to the consignment of the legendary ‘Black Ghost’, a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T which became an enigmatic street racing legend after out-dragging all comers on Detroit’s Woodward Avenue with an unknown driver at the wheel – who was eventually revealed to have been local traffic cop the late Godfrey Qualls.
• RM Sotheby’s, Villa Erba, Italy, May 20
  After a post-Covid move to the autumn, the Villa d’Este Concours returns to its familiar spring spot on the calendar, bringing with it the RM Sotheby’s sale just along the lake at Villa Erba. Already consigned is the Black on Black collection of five Ferrari Testarossa/512 cars from 1986-96, all from the same owner and all finished in moody nero paintwork with matching nero interiors.
• Artcurial, Le Mans, France, July 1
  The highlight of this summer’s historic motor sport calendar will undoubtedly be the Le Mans Classic, at which the centenary of the legendary 24-hour race will be celebrated. Auction house specialists will be seeking to consign some of the most important Le Mans racers in existence to mark the occasion – with official Le Mans Classic auction house Artcurial being likely to unearth some particular endurance racing gems.