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08/10/2009
RM Auctions - Automobiles of London 28 October 2009 - Preview

2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupé - £390,000 - 450,000
Over 80 cars will be sold in this, RM’s third London sale. The catalogue lists much sporting machinery (from Aston Martin, ATS, Chaparral and Cobra), as well as many desirable road cars such as the only RHD 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupé, estimated at £390,000 - 450,000.

The one-of-a-kind AMG Mercedes coupé (a car that rivalled the McLaren F1 at the time) is paired with a RHD 2006 CLK GTR Roadster (£430,000 - 500,000) and one of the special AMG-built 300SL ‘Gullwings’ based on the original chassis but with modern engine and running gear.

Originally commissioned by the Brunei Royal Family, these extraordinary coupés were built to individual customer orders and specifications and number just 11 in total. The 1954 car is estimated at £390,000 - £450,000.

1962 Chaparral 1 Chassis 004 - £245,000 - 345,000	1963 ATS 2500 GT 3.0-litre Coupé - £600,000 - 1,000,000
1938 Lagonda LG 6 Drophead Coupé - £150,000 - 180,000	1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Zagato - £120,000 - 180,000

We’ll be covering two of the headlining lots next week in a special feature on Classic Driver, but 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Competition (£600,000 - 790,000) and 1963 ATS 2500 GT 3.0-litre Coupé (£600,000 - 1,000,000) apart, there are several other racing, or semi-race cars, to appeal to the Historic Racing enthusiast.

Shelby Myers of RM reports “a lot of interest already” on the 1950 Aston Martin DB2 'VMF 64' Team Car (£250,000 - 450,000) – not surprising, given its eligibility for the Goodwood Revival, the Le Mans Classic and Tour Auto, among others – while the 1959 Elva MK5 (£50,000 - 60,000) and 1962 Chaparral 1 Chassis 004 (£245,000 - 345,000) are seminal sports-racing two-seaters from the early '60s USA track scene.

There’s also a rather special 1961 Aston Martin DB4 'Lightweight Racer' that I will leave till last...

1965 AC Cobra Shelby 427 Competition - £600,000 - 790,000
Enthusiasts can debate the correctness of ‘Shelby Cobra’ vs. ‘AC Cobra’, but, in addition to the fabulous white and black 7.0-litre 1966 Ilford Films 500, Brands Hatch-winning car, there are many more ACs, going right back to a 1912 AC Auto Carrier Box Van, for £18,000 - 30,000. The 1956 AC Aceca, at £50,000 - 70,000, is a Classic Driver favourite and good value compared with an Ace (or equivalent Aston, or even XK nowadays), while the big Frua-designed 428s have their followers. RM’s 1973 Coupé is estimated at £48,000 - 60,000 and appears to be in non-concours, but very usable condition.

Other Veterans catalogued include the 1900 Clement-Panhard Type VCP Voiture Légère Two-seater (£40,000 - 60,000), a 1903 Crestmobile Model D Two Passenger Runabout (£25,000 - 40,000) and a highly desirable ‘Brighton Run’ 1905 Sunbeam 12/14 Five-Passenger Side-entrance Tonneau for £175,000 - 225,000.

1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Torpedo '17 EX' - £500,000 - 800,000
Pride of the inter-war section is the superb 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Torpedo '17 EX'. Estimated at £500,000 - 800,000, the car was one of a handful built in the late '20s to prove that it was not only Bentley that could supply sporting cars for the more press-on peer of the realm or maharaja. In fact, after touring the world, chassis 17 EX was sold to Maharaja Hari Singh Bahadur in late 1928. More recently, it won the Trofeo Rolls-Royce as the Most Elegant Rolls-Royce at Villa d’Este in 2006.

I was able to see the car at close-hand today – it is beautifully finished and its lines and close-set, twin headlamps shout “Speed!” as well as any car designed by ‘W.O’.

1973 AC Frua Coupé 428 - £48,000 - 60,000

1956 AC Aceca - £50,000 - 70,000

Speaking of which, there are seven Bentleys in the sale including, for £35,000 - 45,000, the 1935 Bentley 3-Litre Sports Saloon first owned by 'Bentley Boy' Bernard Rubin, the 1928 Le Mans winner. A sponsor of Tim Birkin, the wealthy Rubin died young, just six months after taking delivery of the car he christened ‘Blotto’. A very nice, ‘No Reserve’ Derby Bentley with tremendous history that deserves to do well.

Or, if your pre-War tastes are more Milan than the Midlands, why not consider the 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS for £500,000 - 570,000?

1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Gullwing ' AMG - £390,000 - 450,000
In addition to the ultra-rare AMG Mercedes, the sale has some more (relatively) commonplace cars from the Stuttgart manufacturer. The total-restoration project 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet (£40,000 - 60,000) will keep someone with a very large garage out of trouble over the winter months, while those who prefer their ‘Gullwings' unadulterated will like the original 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL at £325,000 - 385,000.

Ferrari – always an RM strongpoint – is represented by several cars including the 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC designed by Zagato (£120,000 - 180,000) and two faithful replica racing cars, the 1963 250 GTO Recreation (£280,000 - 340,000) and the LHD 1967 Ferrari 250 LM Replica (£300,000 - 350,000).

1950 Aston Martin DB2 'VMF 64' Team Car - 250,000 - 450,000	1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Boat-Tail Skiff - £450,000 - 600,000
1952 Lancia Aurelia B53 Coupé by Allemano - £65,000 - 100,000	1935 Bentley 3 Litre Sports Saloon - £35,000 - 45,000

Finally, back to the racing Aston Martin DB4. For many years this was the mount of your Editor at British and European race tracks. Seeing pictures of ‘247 YWC’ again brings it all back. The green car is estimated at £100,000 - 140,000 – but what value can you put on nostalgia?

1961 Aston Martin DB4 'Lightweight Racer' - £100,000 - 140,000
Prior to the motor cars, RM will sell 37 items of memorabilia, including a 1978 Ferrari 312 T3 Formula 1 Bronze Model by Renzo Jarno Vandi estimated at £12,500 - £15,000.

To see a full lotlisting of entries to the 28 October 'Automobiles of London' auction please CLICK HERE.

To see all the entries to the 28 October 'Automobiles of London' auction in the Classic Driver car database please CLICK HERE.

Timetable:

SALE:
October 28, 2009
3:00 PM - 10:00 PM

PREVIEW:
October 27, 2009
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
October 28, 2009
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

APERITIVO:
October 27, 2008
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM GMT
Strictly by invitation only.

ADMISSION:
Admission to this event requires the purchase of an official auction catalogue available for £70.00. The catalogue admits two and must be presented at the entrance to the sale to be granted entry.

AUCTION LOCATION
Battersea Evolution
Chelsea Bridge Entrance
Battersea Park
London, SW11 4NJ UK

RM Auctions in association with Sotheby's
46a Carnaby Street
London
W1F 9PS
UK

UK Telephone: +44 (0)20 7851 7070
Fax: +44 (0)20 7851 7079

North America Telephone: +1 519 352 45 75

Website: www.rmauctions.com

Email: mgirardo@rmauctions.com.

Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: RM Auctions / Author's own

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