Coys at the Royal Horticultural Halls, London SW1 Oct 2nd 2003 - Preview
Coys have assembled nearly 50 car lots at their next London sale. Following a full selection of automobilia, toys and models, the cars include a 1952 Allard J2X Historic Competition Car at £75,000 – 85,000, an ex-Scuderia Centro Sud F1 Cooper-Maserati T51, £110,000 – 130,000 and a rare RHD 1975 Alfa Romeo Montreal for £5,000 – 7,000.
Delivered new to the US in February 1952, the 5,400 cc Cadillac-engined J2X remained in the States until the mid 1970s when it was re-imported to England. Originally a British Racing Green car, it is now finished in red with black interior and has that all-important FIVA passport.
The 1931 Invicta Low Chassis S Type offered by Coys has spent three decades in the custody of Lt. Colonel J.R.Buckley, a respected expert on the marque and author of a number of publications on the subject. In what appears to be very good condition, the car is ready for historic rallying and racing and has, indeed, covered five Mille Miglia retrospectives. Of elegant lines and prodigious performance, this British thoroughbred is a very good alternative to the equivalent pre-war Alfa – at a reduction in price, but still at a high one. ‘Refer Department’ to see.
 1975 Alfa Romeo Montreal £5,000 - 7,000 |
 1931 Invica Low Chassis S-Type 'Refer Dept' |
On a different price structure altogether the 1975 Alfa Romeo Montreal, £5,000-7,000 is a good chance to buy a genuinely exotic, red Italian thoroughbred for pocket money. Fitted with the small capacity V8 derived from the T33 sports-racer the car was capable of 137mph in its prime and RHD adds to its rarity. Another Italian exotic is the ‘real deal’ from Maranello. A Ferrari Owners Club Concours winner in 2003, the red/tan 1969 Ferrari 365GT 2+2 is estimated at £30,000 – 35,000, and is said to have benefited from a major restoration in the early 1990s.
AC’s lithe Ace model, in Ford or Bristol engined versions, is growing in popularity and many examples are now commanding big money. Coys have a 1957 AC Ace Bristol for £55,000 – 60,000 in the auction. The subject of what is understood to have been a $100,000 restoration in the USA, this LHD car looks in superb condition with its red paintwork and black interior.
 1969 Ferrari 365GT 2+2 £30,000 - 35,000 |
 1957 AC Ace-Bristol £55,000 - 65,000 |
Finally on the car front one cannot help commenting on the 1936 Bentley 4 ¼ litre Drophead Coupe by Park Ward, £50,000-60,000. The 1936 Motor Show car, it was acquired by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands in 1941 and later is believed to have spent some time in the hands of ‘Monty’ – Britain’s most famous WW2 commander, Field Marshall Sir Bernard Law Montgomery. As H&H have Douglas Bader’s Alvis up for auction in their October sale perhaps this Bentley would be an opportunity for a serious WW2 collector to pick up cars owned by two of the most celebrated British figures of the period.
The Motor Cars sale is preceded by the sale of an extensive selection of Automobilia and Toys and Models, the latter section we have previewed before, but suffice it to say Coys excellent catalogue shows many models of cars and boats, including scale model engines that will be of great interest to collectors of the genre.
For a full listing, see the Provisional Auction Lotlist
The Automobilia Sale (including Toys and Models) starts at 3pm on Thursday 2nd October, the Motor Cars starting at 7.00pm. The Sale is located at the Royal Horticultural Halls, Vincent Square, Westminster, London SW1. Admission by catalogue - admits two.
