1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 'Gullwing' - £350,000 - 400,000
Breaking with its traditional London Olympia venue, Bonhams will hold its final motoring sale of 2010 at Mercedes-Benz World, Weybridge.
As befits the location, not only are there nine Mercedes-Benz motor cars in the stylishly presented catalogue but, with the Brooklands banking visible as a backdrop to the venue, there are many pre-War entries too.
The headlining feature, however, is a more exotic beast: the 'Refer Dept.' 2000 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Zagato. A continuation run of just three ‘Barchetta’ (literally ‘little boat’, a historic expression for open Italian sports cars) Zagato-bodied Ferraris was made after the initial success of the six, Ferrari 575 Maranello-based coupés. The open car was built on a 550 Barchetta chassis and the example Bonhams will sell is RHD, has covered just 900 miles from new, and is the last produced.
2000 Ferrari 550 Barchetta by Zagato - 'Refer Dept.'
They don’t make them like that any more? They clearly do, and this special-bodied Ferrari is proof that it’s still possible to buy a hand-made, super-exclusive GT in the old, atelier tradition. It doesn’t look bad, either.
 1964 AC Cobra 'Mark II' Roadster - £250,000 - 300,000 |
 1963 Aston Martin Lagonda Rapide - £30,000 - 50,000 |
Looking at the Mercedes entries, there is, naturally, a 1955 300SL 'Gullwing' (£350,000 - 400,000) and a couple of ‘Pagodas’. Bonhams has also enticed an ex-Elvis Presley 1970 600 Saloon (£150,000 - 200,000) out of UK ownership, bringing a little bit of Memphis magic to the Surrey commuter belt.
Of the pre-War entries, the 1924 Bentley 3 Litre Speed Model Tourer, at £100,000 - 120,000, has a nice usable feel about it, while the 1923 Bentley 3 Litre 'Blue Label' Tourer (£170,000 - 220,000) is catalogued as being in “mint condition” and photographs wonderfully. There is also a 1937 SS100 Jaguar 2½-Litre Roadster (£210,000 - 230,000) and the ex-Bidwell Topham, Nick Mason 1934 Lagonda M45 Tourer for £110,000 - 140,000.
 Ex-Elvis Presley, 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 Saloon - £150,000 - 200,000 |
 1924 Bentley 3 Litre Speed Model Tourer - £100,000 - 120,000 |
 1932 Lagonda 2-Litre Supercharged Low Chassis T3 Tourer - £60,000 - 80,000 |
 1964 Maserati 3500GTI Coupé - £65,000 - 75,000 |
Towards the end of the sale, a collection of seven Aston Martin and Lagonda motor cars adds to the already high number of the marque in the catalogue. Aston aficionados can choose from a 1996 DB7 Volante at £20,000 - 22,000, right up to a £200,000 - 300,000 1967 DB6 Mk I Volante. Likewise, Lagondas listed include pre-War models, a ‘wedge’ and the modish 1963 Rapide, a car from the collection estimated at £30,000 - 50,000.
Other entries which would grace a holly and mistletoe-bedecked Classic Driver garage include the 1949 Delahaye 135M Coupé (£55,000 - 65,000) and the 1964 Maserati 3500 GTI, once owned by marque expert Bill McGrath, estimated at £65,000 - 75,000.
Prior to the motor cars, Bonhams will sell 425 items of automobilia, including the registration plate '1 CAR' estimated at £50,000 - 60,000
The 2010 Bonhams December Sale will take place at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 0SL on Monday, 6 December. Automobilia will start at 10:00 with motor cars commencing at 15:00.
To see the complete lotlist please click HERE.
Text - Steve Wakefield
Photos - Bonhams
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