Monaco’s glittering Grand Prix week auction has traditionally proved to be one of Bonhams Europe’s most successful events and for 2004 Simon Kidston has announced two early entries to the sale - both with Le Mans history. The Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari 275GTB/C that finished 10th in 1966, and one of the works 1998 AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK LMs, estimated at EUR1,000,000 - 1,100,000.
As part of AMG’s sports car team in 1998, chassis 001.98 was mainly driven by veteran German sports and saloon exponent Klaus Ludwig, coupled with some-time F1 driver Ricardo Zonta of Brazil. It chalked up overall wins at Budapest, Homestead and Laguna Seca, finishing second at Suzuka, Donington and the A 1 - Ring, and fourth at Hockenheim. At Le Mans the car, this time driven by Zonta teamed with Jean Marc Gounon and Christophe Bouchut, retired with engine failure (like their sister-car) after 3 hours racing. In 2003, at the same event, Bonhams sold a 1999 CLK GTR road-car for EUR808,800 (plus taxes) to a Swiss collector bidding by telephone.
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Bonhams Europe S.A.
7 Av. Pictet-de-Rochemont 1207 Geneva Switzerland Tel: 0041 22 300 31 60 Fax: 0041 22 300 30 35 |
Text - Steve Wakefield
Photos - Bonhams COPYRIGHT