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| 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO - £350,000-400,000 |
Bonhams’ upcoming RAF Museum sale is highlighted by a multi-Ferrari entry, which includes examples of F40, F50 and 288 GTO supercars.
The level of interest from the Ferrari collecting community in these three models has grown considerably in recent years – with a corresponding increase in values. The 1999 F50 is estimated at £350,000-400,000, the 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO £350,000-400,000, and the 1990 F40 £300,000-350,000.
There’s also an example of the highly rated Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale, a 2003 car for £75,000-85,000, and a 1978 512BB Berlinetta Boxer currently owned by past F1 World Champion Jenson Button, no less, estimated at £90,000-110,000.
And for those with restricted budgets, there’s the £20,000-25,000 1979 Ferrari 308 GTB, a good ‘starter Ferrari’.
Also on the Italian exotica front, Bonhams will offer two Lamborghini Espadas. The 1975 Series III (£18,000-22,000) has benefited from a “six-year 'rolling restoration'” while the similarly priced (£17,000-20,000) c.1976 Espada Series III looks attractive in its pale metallic blue paintwork.
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| 1989 Porsche 911 3.2-Litre Carrera Sport Targa - £18,000-22,000 | LHD 2003 Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale - £75,000-85,000 |
As befits the RAF Museum location there are, however, many solid British entries to counter this Italian influx. Cars such as the 1963 Bentley S3 Continental 'Flying Spur' Saloon, at £55,000-65,000, the 1958 Austin-Healey 100/6 BN4 (£22,000-26,000) and the 1998 Aston Martin Vantage V600, an awful lot of car for £50,000-60,000.
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| 1998 Aston Martin Vantage V600 - £50,000-60,000 | c.1976 Lamborghini Espada Series III - £17,000-20,000 |
There hasn’t been much fuss about it (ahem), so some of you might not have realised the Jaguar E-type was celebrating its fiftieth this year. Well, goodness me. There are two ‘E’s in the sale, a 1963 Series I 3.8-Litre Roadster for £58,000-62,000 and, pricewise, an altogether more accessible 1969 4.2-Litre Series 2 Coupé (£25,000-30,000).
Other Jaguars to offer at Hendon include a rather regal 1961 Mk IX (£18,000-22,000), a 1950 XK120 Roadster (£50,000-55,000) and a 1951 Mk V 3½-Litre Saloon for £15,000-20,000.
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| 1960 Bentley S2 Continental Drophead Coupé - £60,000-80,000 |
Of the older, pre-War cars, the 1933 Delage D8 Foursome Drophead Coupé (£70,000-100,000) is a stand-out entry, while pre-WW1 enthusiasts (of the cars, rather than just rather elderly collectors – or maybe both) will appreciate the 1904 Swift 7hp Four Seater (£40,000-50,000) and the 1901 De Dion Bouton 4 1/2hp Vis-à-vis, the latter carrying an estimate of £60,000-70,000.
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| 1954 Allard Palm Beach MkI 'Red Ram' Roadster - £18,000-22,000 | 1933 Delage D8 Foursome Drophead Coupé - £70,000-100,000 |
Finally, let’s offer you ‘one to buy’. Our money goes on the 1954 Allard Palm Beach Mk I 'Red Ram' Roadster. It’s just come out of Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum in Calne, Wiltshire, so will need extensive re-commissioning. But, for £18,000-22,000, what else could you buy with a ‘proper’ (Le Mans history plus much more) badge on the bonnet and an eminently tunable 4.0-litre Dodge 'Red Ram' V8 engine under the bonnet?
Prior to the motor cars, Bonhams will auction over 270 items of automobilia, including a signed copy of ‘The Cars in My Life’ by W O Bentley, estimated at £200.
To see the complete lotlisting of the Bonhams 11 April Hendon sale, please click HERE.
Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Bonhams
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