Building on 2007’s super-successful ‘Ecclestone Sale’, Ontario-based auctioneer RM has announced some of the early-entry feature lots of this year’s event.

The ex-Scuderia Sant’Ambroeus 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, a class winner at the 1965 Targa Florio, is estimated at £2,250,000 - £2,750,000. The car had been acquired in 1975 by Wayne Sparling, Luigi Chinetti’s former N.A.R.T. crew chief, who personally maintained and serviced the car for the next 25 years. The estimate is a realistic one, given the collecting world’s current climate.

RM sold a 1964 Ferrari 250LM for 4,510,000 euros at this year’s all-Ferrari Maranello sale. That’s around £3.5m at today’s exchange rate.



The sale also includes two stunning 1930s supercars: the 1938 Horch 853 Special Roadster and 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante. The elegant Horch, a rival in period to Mercedes’ 540K models, carries bodywork by Erdmann & Rossi – and an estimate of £1,500,000 - £2,000,000.

The 1924 Bentley 3/8 Litre was acquired as a 3 Litre in 1928 by noted Bentley aficionado John 'Jumbo' Goddard. It remained in his ownership for over 60 years and was continually modified until 1972 when, fitted with an 8-litre 500-horsepower Garrett-turbocharged engine, it recorded 158mph over the flying kilometre at Ghent - at that time the highest speed ever registered by a Bentley.



A fantastic machine, it carries an estimate of £600,000 - £700,000.

Needless to say, the sale will also feature entries from Les Grandes Marques, cars such as the 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Third Series Turismo (£230,000 - £260,000) and the 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS (£300,000 - £400,000).

The 2008 Automobiles of London sale will take place at the Battersea Evolution event arena, London, on October 29th. For further information, see www.rmauctions.com.

Text - Steve Wakefield
Photos - RM Auctions