The doyen of Monterey auctions, Rob Myers and the rest of the RM team are presenting what they describe as a ‘$40 million auction’ - their biggest so far. One of the entries is the 1964 NHRA Street Stock Championship finalist drag-racing Shelby 289 Cobra, estimated at $350,000 - $500,000.

The bulk of RM’s catalogue mixes Old World and New, with the 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato estimated at $2,900,000 - $3,200,000 rubbing shoulders with the ex-Bob Grossman 1959 Ferrari 250 GT "Tour de France" Berlinetta, $1,400,000 - $1,700,000, the 1964 Ford GT40 Prototype, $2,200,000 - $2,600,000, and many American cars including several other Shelby Cobras in addition to the drag-racer, such as the 1966 Shelby 427 at $450,000 - $550,000.

The 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C Lago Speciale Teardrop Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi ($3,000,000 - $4,000,000), merits its own sub-catalogue in the beautifully presented slip-case. And for those of you thinking these cars were a little ‘Best in Show’, there are plenty of photos of chassis 90034 racing in-period at the Spa 24 Hours piloted by suitably tough-looking European racing drivers.

Not a Boston Terrier in site.



Even those of us in Europe will be familiar now with the stratospheric prices paid for American big-block muscle ars with ‘matching numbers’ and arcane original specification. Cars such as the two Plymouth Hemi 'Cudas, both estimated at $300,000 - $400,000. Or the 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Baldwin Motion Phase III $250,000 - $350,000, a rare 600bhp, 482 c.i. special edition prepared by fast-Chevy experts Motion Performance from Long Island, NY.

RM have a knack of extracting the most out of relatively ‘normal’ entries. Take the 1949 Jaguar XK 120 Alloy Roadster, a rare and desirable example of the marvellous XK in its purest form. But it’s not just any old ‘120; it’s the earliest surviving XK120 in existence, and the one of ‘The Most Historically Significant Jaguars in the World’. The estimate reflects this rarity: $550,000 - $750,000.



Please click HERE to see a full lotlist.

For more information, visit www.rmauctions.com.

Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: RM Auctions - Strictly Copyright