Around the houses, March 2011

News from the main auction houses around the world

– COYS –
Coys had what it called “the best Autosport International sale to date” on January 15 at the NEC. As usual there were plenty of racing cars up for grabs and come the end of the auction most had found new owners. A 1969 Alfa Romeo GTA prepared to pre-66 specification went for £40,000, while a 1968 Bizzarrini 5300GT sold for £190,000, which was £30,000 above its low estimate.
Sadly two headline racers — the ex-Derek Daly/Val Musetti 1981 March 811 and the ex-Le Mans 1974 De Tomaso Pantera (both above, right) — didn’t sell. However, there was plenty of interest in both cars and Coys was optimistic of post-sale deals being made.
Other racing cars that did sell included a 1969 Piper GTR for £66,000, an ex-Colin McRae 2002 WRC Ford Focus (above left) for an impressive £95,000 and a 1971 Escort Mexico rally car for £16,000.
Racers aside, a 1991 Ford R5200 Evo went for £111,000 and Jenson Button’s BMW M5 (which he apparently dropped off for the sale complete with his post and lunch remains still inside) sold for £26,500.
All prices quoted for the Coys sale are hammer prices and don’t include commission.

– ARTCURIAL –
If you’re looking for a race car for the 2011 season, Artcurial has some interesting ones for sale at its auction on February 4.
As well as lots of road-going Aston Martins there’s a 1958 DB MkIII racer that’s expected to fetch between £65-100,000. Look out also for the 1962 Lancia Appia Zagato Sport Type 812.05 (below, £40-50,000), a ’69 Lancia Fulvia Coupe Rallye HF 1.6 (£45-65,000) and the 1960 OSCA 1600 GT Zagato (£115-150,000).
There are of course plenty of road cars for sale too, including a 1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’mat roadster (£210-290,000), a pretty 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/2 (£510-600,000) and a 1968 Citroen DS 21 cabriolet for, wait for it, £130-170,000.

– BONHAMS –
On February 5 Bonhams is selling an astonishing selection of Alfa Romeos, such as the ex-Luigi Scarfiotti and Scuderia Ferrari 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spyder (below, £750,0001m), the ex-Raffaele Cecchini/Giuseppe Campari 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Spyder Supersport (£620-790,000), an ex-Chizzola family 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ Berlinetta prototype (£65-80,000) and, at the other end of the scale, a 1979 Alfa Romeo Hydroplane single-seat racer (£7-10,000), sold as seen.
Alfa Romeos aside, other racing car lots include a 1933 Bugatti Grand Prix Type 51 (£500-670,000), an ex-Alan Hamilton/Richard Hong/Teddy Yip 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera competition coupe (£500-580,000), an ex Kremer Racing 1970 Porsche 914/6 GT (£130160,000) and a rallying 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S that’s expected to go for £16-25,000.
As Motor Sport closed for press H&H had confirmed various racing cars for its Race Retro sale on February 26. As well as some great entrylevel historic racers such as a 1963 MGB roadster with FIA papers (£12-14,000) and a 1965 Porsche 911 (£45-50,000), it’s lined up a 1959 Austin-Healey 3000 ‘Bulldog’ (£200-250,000), a 1951 Allard J2X (£250-325,000) and a 1980 Rover SD1 V85 Group 2 car (£25-30,000).

– BARONS –
Southampton-based Barons has provisionally confirmed a 1971 Ford Escort Mexico historic rally car for its February 8 sale. The car has MSA papers and log book, plus a £20-22,000 estimate.

A full round-up of the US Scottsdale sales will be featured in next month’s magazine.