It was a weekend where prospective classic car buyers were spoilt for choice, but one lot stood head and shoulders above the rest: a stunning 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, with a race record that takes in Le Mans, Goodwood and Montlhéry.
Featuring coachwork by Scaglietti and a history that includes just two private owners, the car exceeded its already high – but not unprecedented – reserve at Gooding & Company’s London Auction last weekend.
Held at the Hampton Court Palace Concours of Elegance, the sale raised more than £22m, with seven cars going for over £1m.
As well as one of Maranello’s finest, also included was a legendary Porsche 550 Spyder – a chassis which had braved the banks of both Monza and AVUS no less – a pristine Mercedes SL Gullwing and the last ever Bentley produced under eponymous founder WO, the 1932 Eight Litre Sports Saloon.
On what was a sensational few days for vintage cars, owners and enthusiasts alike, we pick out the best machinery from the 39 lots to go under the hammer.
As headliners go, it doesn’t get much better, and it’s no surprise to see why it came out on top.
The 250 GT Short-Wheelbase Berlinetta was unveiled at the end of 1959, designed by legendary engineers Giotto Bizzarrini, Carlo Chiti, and Mauro Foghieri, as well as featuring coachwork penned by Pininfarina and constructed by Scaglietti.
In 1960, 46 lightweight and race-ready ‘Comp/60’ versions with aluminium bodies were made, of which this, Chassis 2021, is one.
A more refined front grille and side windows, prominent external fuel filler, and a cockpit air vent at the top of the rear window mark this version out from of 150 GTs.
It was born as Chassis 1931 in May 1960, designed for immediate entry in that years 24 Hours of Le Mans.
1931, featuring Maranello’s newest, tipo 168B outside-plug V-12 engine, was sold to legendary US Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti to used as part of his NART squad at Le Mans.
Driven by Americans George Arents and Alan Connell Jr, the car finished fifth overall and second in class, one of four Berlinettas to come home in the top 10.
Following a refit over the summer of 1960, 1931 was rechristened 2021 and sold to French racing driver Pierre Dumay who raced it at that year’s Goodwood Tourist Trophy.
The car then changed hands – and colour – several times until it was sold to L’Oréal executive and noted historic car collector Lindsay Owen-Jones in 1984.
After being restored for racing, the car was campaigned at many historic events by Mr Owen-Jones before being sold on in 2000.
The current owner restored the car to its 1960 spec in 2013, complete with yellow livery, also fitting it with an original 250 GT engine, gearbox and differential.
Porsche 550 Spyder had barely seen the light of day since the 1970s
Gooding & Co
Few cars are as mythical as the 550 Spyder, the car in which impatient Hollywood star and amateur racer James Dean bought whilst waiting for delivery of a Lotus Mark X.
Dean’s fatal accident in his Porsche only added to the allure of the high-performance 550, of which only 90 were ever made.
This version, which sold for just over £2m, was a classic ‘garage find’ having been hidden away for the last three decades.
Built in late ’55, chassis 550-0079 was equipped with a four type 547 four-cam engine and sold to Swiss racer Heinz Schiller in 1956.
Also a former powerboat champion, Schiller raced the car at AVUS and in several hillclimbs, though its first competition appearance came with Werner Brändli at Monza.
After changing hands and being raced at classic car events throughout the ’70s and ’80s, 0079 has been under lock and key since 1989.
Only seeing the light of day recently since then, the Spyder has not been restored and nor updated since the ’70s.
Having been painted red by Porsche – of which flecks of paint can still be seen on the body – this 550 still has its original brakes, steering box, pedal box, fuel pumps, and gauges.
Original chassis, engine, body and colour took the sale price of this Gullwing to £1.125m
Gooding & Co
The ‘Ulenhaut’ example of the SL’s cousin, the SLR, might have become the world’s most expensive car at €135m, but Gullwings still hold their own certain allure.
This cream model – complete with the catchy chassis No of 198.040.6500278 – really does underline that point.
A Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR 'Uhlenhaut' Coupe has become the most expensive car ever known to be sold after fetching €135m in an exclusive private auction. The price for the 1955…
By
Dominic Tobin
Based on the successful W194 competition sports car, the SL made use of mechanical direct fuel injection, boosting its 3-litre engine to 220bhp with a top speed of over 160mph, and was popular both in Europe and in the US market.
This car retains its original ‘Elfenbein’ colours, as well as factory-delivered chassis, engine and body.
It began life on the West coast of the US in 1956, before changing hands several times and gradually making its way across the States to Minnesota, before being exported to Germany, where it underwent a restoration, at one point winning first place at the Ludwigsburg Concours d’Elegance.
This beautiful Gullwing remains in pristine, full-working condition – no wonder it sold for over £1m last weekend.
1932 Bentley Eight Litre Sports Tourer
Estimate: £750,000 – £1,000,000 | Sold: £759,375
1932 Bentley Eight Litre Sports Tourer (left) was part of ‘The Timeless Collection’ of four vintage Bentleys
Gooding & Co
This monster is seen by many as company founder WO Bentley’s greatest achievement, and it’s not difficult to see why.
The Sports Tourer was introduced to capitalise commercially on the marque’s four consecutive Le Mans victories between ’26-30.
Though comfort and safety were emphasised in the car’s publicity, its incredible performance was undoubtedly the car’s greatest attribute.
The gigantic engine made sure as much, thought the 13-foot chassis formed the basis for what Bentley wanted to be a “dead silent 100mph car”.
Arthur RB Owen purchased this car, YM5036, from the Jack Barclay dealership in London, before it was sold to Bentley enthusiast Nora Hardy MacCaw.
It then passed through several other owners’ hands, including collector HL Good, who shortened the chassis to 12-foot, removed the original open two-seater Wylder body and attached drophead coupe coachwork from a Hotchkiss on the chassis.
Changing hands again in 1991 after a long period in storage, the car was fitted with Le Mans-style tourer coachwork and a windscreen to make it more amenable to modern roads.
In 1960, 46 lightweight and race-ready ‘Comp/60’ versions with aluminium bodies were made, of which this, Chassis 2021, is one.
