The first Monterey catalogue to thud onto the mat this year is from Bonhams. As usual the entry is a varied selection of high-end exotic machinery from all ages of motoring, but for 2007 there seems to be a significant increase in American ‘muscle’, aided no doubt by the inclusion of motor cars from a private Oregonian collection – all to be offered ‘without reserve’.
You’ve got to know the lingo here – it’s all ‘cross ram’, ‘dual quad’, ‘Z/28’, ‘JL8’, ‘RPO’ and ‘COPO’. These are the rare matching numbers cars that’s prices just keep on rising by virtue of their relatively small runs in relation to the vast US mass automobile production of the times.
The orange car you can see here is from the collection, and is a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Sport Coupé. Its estimate of $225,000 - 275,000 reflects the fact that only 56 cars of this ‘ultimate-spec’ small-block Camaro were delivered with all-round disc brakes from the Corvette. It’s ex-Otis Chandler and is catalogued as ‘one of the most rare, unusual and desirable Chevrolet Camaros ever built’.
 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 Fastback - $150,000 - 200,000 |
 1955 Facel Vega FV1 Coupé - $75,000 - 100,000 |
Moving back from the Sixties to the late Twenties, another car that fits that description is the 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan. The car of choice of Hollywood stars and moguls like Randolph Hearst and Howard Hughes, these cars always sell well at the Monterey week, being just made for Pebble Beach. $850,000 - 950,000 will buy you a possible entry for 2008.
Also on the pre-War or Pebble Beach front there’s a very elegant 1935 Bentley 3 1/2 Litre 'Aerodynamic' Saloon at $120,000 - 170,000, and a 1948 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Figoni et Falaschi for $250,000 - 300,000.
 1950 Jaguar XK120 ‘Alloy’ Competition Roadster - $220,000 - 250,000 |
 1961 Cooper-Climax Type 61 ‘Monaco’ - $300,000 - 340,000 |
So we’ve done the muscle cars and the Pebble cars… vintage race-eligible cars next perhaps? The car on the cover of the catalogue is the 1952 Allard-Chrysler/Cadillac J2X that raced at Le Mans that year in the hands of Sydney Allard himself and ‘Jolly Jack’ Fairman. The car’s estimate of $850,000 - 950,000 reflects its rarity, the marque's tremendous popularity in the US, and its potential competitiveness in historic racing where it should lay waste to anything else of the era.
There are also several Cooper Monacos, a very nice 1950 Jaguar XK120 ‘Alloy’ Competition Roadster for $220,000 - 250,000, a 1968 Lotus-Ford 47 GT Group 4 Competition Coupé, $100,000 - 130,000, and the ex-Regazzoni/Beltoise/Gethin ‘Yardley’ 1973-74 BRM P160 V12 Formula 1 car for $500,000 - 600,000.
 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO 9561 Two-Door Hardtop - $250,000 - 300,000 |
 The Pebble Beach Award Winning,1935 Bentley 3 1/2 Liter 'Aerodynamic' Saloon - $120,000 - 170,000 |
Finally, a quick look at the road cars reveals all the usual classics: 1967 Ferrari 330GTC Berlinetta - $250,000 - 275,000, 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Touring - $225,000 - 250,000, 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series 2 - $150,000 - 200,000, and 1963 Jaguar XKE 3.8-Liter Series I Roadster - $100,000 - 120,000.
The Sale will be held at the Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club, Carmel, California, on 17th August 2007 with Motor Cars starting at 15.30 pm. The Sale commences with over 300 lots of Collectors' Automobilia, Fine Jewelry & Watches at 11.00 am.
Please click HERE to see a full Motor Cars lotlist.
For more information, visit www.bonhams.com.
Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Bonhams & Butterfields / The Phil Hill Photographic Collection
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