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Coys at Essen Techno Classica 2 April 2011: Preview

1996 Ferrari F50 - Ferrari Classiche Certified - 400,000 - 450,000 euros

For many years now an important part of Techno Classica, Coys will once again offer a carefully selected catalogue to visitors at Europe’s largest classic car exhibition.

The mix is one of classic British sportscars from Austin-Healey, Jaguar, MG and Aston Martin, together with collectible ‘home grown’ entries from Mercedes and Porsche, and true exotics from Ferrari, such as the Ferrari Classiche-certified 1996 F50, estimated at 400,000 - 450,000 euros.

Also from the great Maranello marque comes a nice selection of V12-powered GTs. Take the 1968 365 GT 2+2 (58,000 - 75,000 euros), for example. Now, you wouldn’t have this car - delivered new to Monaco in 1968 - in red, would you, but how about ‘Dino Brown’? I rather like it; it goes well with the tan interior and has a nice period feel to it. And the same goes for the white/red hide, 85,000 - 100,000 euros 1964 330 GT 2+2.

1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster - 'Refer Dept.' 1955 Porsche 356 Pre A Speedster - 130,000 - 150,000 euros

That said, it’s all very well hankering after an exotically painted 60s or 70s GT car, but when it come to Vintage Bentleys there really are only two or three colours acceptable in the Mess: black, navy or, best of all, British Racing Green. The magnificent 1930 Bentley 4.5 Litre Le Mans Tourer (ex well-known British enthusiast for the marque Hugh Harben, 'Refer Dept.' for price) is the latter shade and is a quite superb specimen, complete with ‘big clocks’, a cord-bound steering wheel, stone-guards and a Le Mans-style filler.

Yes, and large Union Flags on each door. It makes you feel proud to be British, sir.

1972 De Tomaso Pantera Group 4 - 'Refer Dept.' 1965 Lancia Flaminia Zagato Super Sport - 110,000 - 125,000 euros

Other pre-War cars from the Land of Hope and Glory include a keenly priced (200,000 - 250,000 euros) 1937 Jaguar SS100 2.5 Litre and a 1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Three Position Drophead by Mulliner for 80,000 - 110,000 euros.

Moving confidently ‘into Europe’, in addition to the Ferraris, the selection on offer at Coys’ Essen sale includes another well-priced (110,000 - 125,000 euros) car, the 1965 Lancia Flaminia Zagato Super Sport which features the specification of ‘double-bubble’ roof and faired-in headlamp covers. Also from Italy come the ‘No Reserve’ 1967 Iso Grifo GL 300 and the interesting 1967 Iso Rivolta ‘Breadvan GTO Competition’ ('Refer Dept.').

1930 Bentley 4.5 Litre Le Mans Tourer - 'Refer Dept.'

We'd better not leave the French out, so let’s give a big bienvenue! to the 1949 Talbot Lago T26 Record 4.5 Litre Cabriolet. I like these big, early post-War grand routiers; 95,000 - 140,000 euros is the estimate, if you do too.

Some of the highlights of the sale are of German manufacture, though, and feature two 300 SL Mercedes (a 1956, ex-John Surtees ‘Gullwing’ for 400,000 - 450,000 euros and a beautiful, silver-blue 1958 Roadster which will need a call to Coys for its estimate), and several Porsches.

1987 Porsche 959 - Ex-Spanish Royal Family - 180,000 - 210,000 euros 1968 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 - 58,000 - 75,000 euros

Speedsters are always good fun, and Coys' white with red leather interior example does look a good one. It was originally exported to the USA in 1955 and has spent 40 years in the States prior to a European return and subsequent ‘ground up restoration’, as the catalogue says. 130,000 - 150,000 euros is the estimate – and not an optimistic one, we’d say.

Finally, near the back of the catalogue sits one of the more intriguing lots: the 1956 Austin-Healey 100/6 'California'. This is believed to be an American, mid-60s era conversion of a BN6 (two-seat) Austin-Healey, clothing it in attractive, ‘Mako Shark’ type bodywork. If the Warwick company had actually produced exciting cars such as this in the 60s, the future of the British car industry might well have been different.

And the price for this one-off? Just 35,000 - 45,000 euros - and the car has also benefited from a recent ‘nut and bolt’ restoration by marque expert John Chatham. Well worth waiting for the end of the sale to see what it goes for.

1956 Austin-Healey 100/6 'California' - 35,000 - 45,000 euros

Coys Auction at Techno Classica, Essen,
Saturday 2 April 2011
Motor Cars at 15:00

Admission by catalogue only - admits two to auction.

To see the complete lotlisting of the Coys Techno Classica sale, please click HERE, or you can see all the cars in the Classic Driver car database.

To find out more about Coys auctions and showroom sales, please read the Classic Driver Profile.

Coys
Manor Court
237 - 241 Lower Mortlake Road
Richmond
London TW9 2LL
UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 8614 7888
Fax: +44 (0)20 8614 7889
Mail: [email protected]


Text - Steve Wakefield
Photos - Coys



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