Its Goodwood auctions rank with Gstaad, Monaco and Quail Lodge as some of Bonhams’ top motoring sales. Entries for the Festival event are suitably ‘top-drawer’ and include the ‘first off the production line’ 1955 Jaguar D-type, a terrifically important car carrying an estimate of £2,000,000 - 2,500,000.
The black Jaguar, chassis XKD 509, is from the Nigel Moores collection, carries its original 3.4-litre engine and, due to its long-term ownership, has one of the best-documented histories of any 'D'. The latter, of course, is so important with these Jaguars due to their propensity for appearing as two cars, in different corners of the world, carrying the same chassis number. The estimate? Attractive, but I have a feeling this car will sell for a lot more...
 1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible with Factory Hardtop - £18,000 - 22,000 |
 1969 Ferrari 365GTC Coupé - £70,000 - 140,000 |
On the rare, significant British motor racing front, there’s also the 1934 ERA A-Type R1A for £400,000 - 500,000. This is a terrific historic racing car; the very first ERA, a ‘works’ entry for drivers such as Raymond Mays and Richard Seaman, and a sure-fire entry for any historic race at the highest level. Superbly presented, it’s not only a wonderful collectors’ machine, it’s ready to race and, even better – offered Without Reserve.
The Festival sale includes a significant collection from the well-known Italian car aficionado Alexander ‘Chips’ Fyshe. There’s some wonderful machinery here, such as the 1952 SIATA Daina SL Sport Berlinetta (£70,000 - 80,000), the 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta Coupé (£25,000 - 28,000) and the very rare 1970 Monteverdi 375/S High Speed Coupé Series II (above), an elegant ‘concours entry’ for £30,000 - 35,000. The 1969 Ferrari 365GTC Coupé (£70,000 - 140,000) looks almost run-of-the-mill in this company.
 1948 Allard L-Type V8 3,622cc Four Seat Tourer - £18,000 - 22,000 |
 1963 Aston Martin DB5 4.2-Litre Saloon to Vantage Specification - £140,000 - 160,000 |
 1939 Bugatti Type 57 3.3-Litre ‘Atalante’ Coupé - £380,000 - 450,000 |
 1967 Maserati Mistral 4000 Spyder - £120,000 - 140,000 |
There are several attractive pre-War entries, cars such as the 1930 Invicta 4½-Litre S-Type Tourer ‘Scimitar’ for £380,000 - 420,000, the 1935 Dobbs Riley 2.0-Litre Offset Monoposto (£100,000 - 140,000) and one of Bonhams’ headlining entries, the 1937 Lagonda LG45 Rapide Tourer estimated at £350,000 - 400,000.
With items from the Fyshe Collection, Italian cars appear very well represented (there’s also a Miura P400S and several Maseratis) - although Aston Martin enthusiasts will like the 1963 DB5 4.2-Litre Saloon to Vantage Specification for £140,000 - 160,000, and the 1955 DB2/4 Drophead Coupé at £90,000 - 110,000.
 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400S Series II - £220,000 - 250,000 |
 1937 Lagonda LG45 Rapide Tourer - £350,000 - 400,000 |
 1959 AC Ace-Bristol Roadster - £80,000 - 100,000 |
 1957 FIAT-Abarth 750 Record Monza Coupé - £70,000 - 80,000 |
We like to round off a Goodwood Festival preview by listing a car that is quintessentially ‘Goodwood’. Last year I waxed lyrically about the Costin Lister Jaguar and the Leyland ex-Vanwall transporter. For 2008 I will ask you to consider the 1959 AC Ace-Bristol. £80,000 - 100,000 will buy you the perfect car to meander in style down to September's Revival.
Prior to the motor cars, Bonhams will sell over 400 pieces of automobilia, including paintings by F. Gordon Crosby and A four-piece luggage set for the Ferrari 456GT by Schedoni, estimated at £500 - 700.
The sale takes place at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Friday 11 July 2008. Automobilia will start at 10:00, motor cars at 14:00.
Please CLICK HERE to see the full motor car lotlist.
Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Bonhams
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