Christie’s next London Auction will give someone the chance to be one of the very first owners of McLaren Mercedes’ exciting SLR supercar. An April-delivery model is the latest entry at the company’s familiar Jack Barclay showroom sale on March 29th. Further details are also now emerging of their auction at the 2004 Le Mans Classic.

The SLR is a LHD car - like all production - black with black interior and the estimate is £310,000 - 400,000 GBP.

STOP PRESS - ALL CARS CAN NOW BE SEEN ON THE CLASSIC DRIVER CAR DATABASE, PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS.

EXCITING BARN DISCOVERY AT CHRISTIE'S -

Monday 29 March 2004 at 6pm

London - Christie's International Motor Car Department return to London from the annual sale at Rétromobile Paris, for the first motor car sale of 2004 at The Jack Barclay Showroom on 29 March.

One of the highlights of the sale is a wonderful barn-fresh discovery, an Austro-Daimler Sports Tourer dating from 1927. Unused and stored in a barn since the mid 1950s, this unique car has been owned by the same family since 1935. Believed to be the sole surviving team-car of three originally entered in the 1928 Tourist Trophy race on the Ards Circuit in Belfast, it is now expected to fetch £70,000-90,000 when it makes its first appearance for 50 years at Christie's.

Another spectacular lot motoring into Christie's in the spring is an extremely rare example of the 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, one of only 22 delivered in right-hand drive form (estimate: £200,000-240,000).

Supplied new through British Ferrari agent Maranello Concessionaires in 1964, its British Racing Green livery suits the car's understated but supremely elegant design. Today, in only its third ownership since new, the car remains in good original condition, carrying all the correct period features from interior instrumentation to Borrani wire wheels.

The automobilia section of the sale features a fine selection of rare motor racing memorabilia from three Formula 1 Grand Prix World Champions. An original race-worn suit worn by the late Ayrton Senna carries an estimate of £15,000-18,000. This particular suit is the same individual pattern as worn by him during the 1987 Monaco Grand Prix and used at the Detroit Grand Prix, which he won for the Camel-Lotus-Honda Team. It will be offered alongside a helmet as used by Senna during the British Grand Prix the same year [July 1987] where he finished third (estimate: £18,000-£22,000).

Christie's will also offer a group of personal mementoes relating to the double world motor racing champion, the late Jim Clark, including an original Dunlop two-piece racing suit, worn by the driver and given to a family friend during his brilliant career (estimate: £6,000-10,000). Also amongst these effects are his pilot's licence and aircraft log-book, signed photographs and letterheads, Indianapolis memorabilia relating to his amazing victory at the famous 'Brickyard'; together with a deed of trust documentation for his induction as Burgess of the Burgh of Duns. There are also signed photographs and letterheads from his friend Jackie Stewart included in this same group of lots - estimates range from £150 to £500.

Elsewhere, a selection of posters and photographs together with original artworks by the well-known illustrator Bob Freeman, also Michael Wright and F. Gordon Crosby, will be included alongside literature and photographs relating to Rolls Royce and Bentley during the 1920s and 1930s.

CHRISTIE'S EXCEPTIONAL MOTOR CARS AT THE LE MANS CLASSIC -

Friday 23 July 2004

Christie's France - Christie's International Motor Cars Department is delighted to announce an auction of Exceptional Motor Cars in conjunction with the Le Mans Classic retrospective on 23 July 2004. The Christie's auction will signify the start of the Le Mans event and will include competition and historic motor sport cars representative of every generation that has competed at the famous 24 Hour race since 1923.

Following an extremely successful inaugural event in 2002, the Le Mans Classic moves to July enabling longer daylight racing hours and an even greater expected attendance. This unique event re-creates the atmosphere of the famed Grand Prix d'Endurance with competitors racing cars from vintage Bugattis to Porsche 917s.

Rupert Banner, Head of Christie's International Motor Cars said: 'We are delighted to be involved with Patrick Peter's evocative Le Mans Historic weekend. This strategic move by Christie's International Motor Cars provides a perfect second venue in Europe complementing the existing auction at the Rétromobile exhibition in Paris and offers our vendors the finest calendar of selling sites on the Continent. Christie's team in Europe, led by Brussels-based Philip Kantor and supported by Christie's France will be responsible for consignments to this sale which will be accepted until 1 May.'

Christie's International Motor Cars Ltd The Jack Barclay Showroom 2-4 Ponton Rd Nine Elms London SW8 5BA Tel: + 44(0)20 7389 2851 Fax: + 44(0)20 7627 8917 [email protected]

Photos - Christies, main photo by arrangement with Daimler Chrysler AG/ TC Gruppe