Bonhams Europe has assembled a catalogue of 40 cars for its forthcoming Reims sale. The Aston Martin marque features large, with seven examples entered, including the 1996 ‘Sportsman Estate Car’ estimated at 400,000 - 500,000 euros.

The sale is being held at the annual ‘Week-End de l'Excellence Automobile Reims’ event, based at the still extant ‘Circuit de Gueux en Champagne’ location, with its colourful pit buildings and characteristically flat, public road straights. The auction itself will be held within the pit complex site.

The Aston shooting brake was one of two factory-built cars constructed on standard coupé chassis from September 1996 to December 1997. As a ‘V8’ rather than a ‘Virage’, with its circular rear lights, the whole ensemble is a much more balanced creation. This, and the Newport Pagnell (rather than an independent coachbuilder) connection, helps justify the robust estimate.

1972 Citroën SM Coupé - 20,000 - 30,000 euros

1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Coupé - 22,000 - 28,000 euros

In addition to the estate, there’s also a LHD 1965 DB5 Vantage Coupé (300,000 - 400,000 euros) and a 1957 DB2/4 MKII Drophead Coupé for 140,000 - 180,000 euros. Enthusiasts for more modern Astons will like the 2003 Vanquish, a metallic green/saddle leather car reasonably estimated at 50,000 - 70,000 euros.

Elsewhere in the catalogue, there’s a silver-blue with blue leather 1967 Lamborghini 400GT (150,000 - 180,000 euros), a tasteful (special-order gunmetal grey paint with tan hide) 2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta (125,000 - 175,000 euros) and a Classic Driver office favourite, the 1972 Citroën SM. The latter is a 5-speed manual car, finished in very pale metallic green with restored black leather and reasonably estimated at 20,000 - 30,000 euros.

1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé - 150,000 - 190,000 euros

1967 Lamborghini 400GT 2+2 Coupé - 150,000 - 180,000 euros

Finally, despite the location, purely sporting cars are a rarity. However, two stand out: the historically important, ex-1977 London-Sydney Rally, 1977 Fiat Abarth 131 Diesel (60,000 - 80,000 euros) and the c.1971 Ford Capri RS2600.

If your 250 GT SWB, fresh from its Ferrari Classiche restoration, is just a touch too pristine for the Tour Auto or Tour de España, why not bid on the Capri, a Cologne competitions-department-built car, estimated at 75,000 - 95,000 euros?

c.1971 Ford Capri RS2600 - 75,000 - 95,000 euros

1957 Aston Martin DB2/4 MKII Drophead Coupé - 140,000 - 180,000 euros

To see a full lotlist, please CLICK HERE.

For further information on the ‘Week-End de l'Excellence Automobile Reims’ event, see www.weea-organisation.com.

Text - Steve Wakefield
Photos - Bonhams

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