A regular pre-Christmas event, Bonhams' 2007 Olympia sale has over 100 motor car entries, and one of the headlining lots is the 1959 BRM Type 25 Grand Prix car.
The story of BRM was often one of frustration, but by the late 1950s the Bourne-based company had produced a genuine winner in the shape of the Type 25. In the colourful Franco-American Harry Schell's hands, chassis 258 made its racing debut brand-new in 1958, in the Grand Prix de l’ACF at Reims-Gueux, France.
A retirement followed, but the beautifully engineered and finished car, driven by Jo Bonnier, scored the British marque's historic maiden Grande Epreuve victory at Zandvoort the following year. Well known on the British historic scene in the 1980s when driven by the late Hon. Amschel Rothschild, it was an entry at the Goodwood Revival in 2003.
A unique part of British motor racing history, and a potentially potent entry at Goodwood, Monaco and Monterey, a 'phone call to Bonhams will reveal its likely price.
You will have to give them a call on another entry: the 1930 Bentley 4½-Litre Supercharged Tourer. Just 50 production supercharged 4½-Litre Bentleys were built to support the homologation of five Birkin team cars, chassis SM3914 shown here being the 14th such motor car. Despite the plethora of reproductions (themselves very valuable), an original 'blower' Bentley is rare indeed and will, no doubt, carry an estimate as imposing as its on-road presence.
Also on the pre-War front there is a 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6B 37.2hp 6.6-litre Coupé de Ville, estimated at £250,000 - 300,000. The catalogue describes the car as representing "...engineering finesse and the coachbuilder's art ‘par excellence’", and with its Jaeger clock and fine 'tool room' finish few would argue with that.
 ex-Sir Alan Sugar, Sir Elton John 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Sports Saloon - £70,000 - 100,000 |
 1932 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom II Continental Sports Saloon - £90,000 - 120,000 |
Moving ahead to the 1950s and '60s, there's an abundance of classy machinery for the 'Classic Driver'. Six Astons are catalogued, including a 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Auto Coupe for £63,000 - 70,000, while Ferraris don't come much more exclusive than that 'Car of Kings', the 1960s 500 Superfast. The RHD 1966 example in the sale was originally sold to stockbroker Jack Durlacher, later a sponsor of privateer Rob Walker’s Formula 1 team, and is estimated at £240,000 - 280,000.
There's also a 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Coupé (£32,000 - 36,000) and a 1989 Ferrari 412GT Coupé (£18,000 - 22,000, you know we like these...).
 1938 Lagonda V12 4,480cc Short Chassis Sports Saloon - £60,000 - 80,000 |
 1966 Aston Martin DB6 Saloon - £35,000 - 45,000 |
 2005 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupé - £50,000 - 60,000 |
 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Coupé - £32,000 - 36,000 |
A couple of British rarities enliven the catalogue; the 1948 Allard L-Type Tourer is estimated at £20,000 - 25,000, while the pretty 1954 Arnolt-MG Bertone Coupe is a rare, attractive small GT for £32,000 - 36,000.
 1922 Bentley 3-litre Sports Two-Seater with Dickey - £65,000 - 85,000 |
 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 2-Door Hardtop - £20,000 - 25,000 |
Finally, we came in on one British motor racing legend and we'll leave on another – the ex-Team Lotus, Jim Clark/John Whitmore/Jack Sears 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina MkI Saloon. The car is estimated at £60,000 - 80,000 and if previous 'Clark cars' are anything to go by, may well be one of the stars of the night.
Prior to the motor cars, Bonhams will sell nearly 500 pieces of automobilia including a sales brochure for the Lamborghini Miura, estimated at £180 - 240, and a glassfibre Esso forecourt figure Mr Drip, estimated at £300 - 350.
The Sale takes place at London Olympia on Monday 3rd of December 2007, with Automobilia starting at 10.30, Motor Cars at 15.00.
Please CLICK HERE to see the full Motor Car lotlist.
You can also browse the catalogue in full by visiting the Bonhams website.
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Bonhams Motor Cars Dept.
101 New Bond Street London W1S 1SR UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7468 5801 Fax: +44 (0)20 7468 5802 Email: [email protected] |
Text - Steve Wakefield
Photos - Bonhams
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