Top-selling car at this year’s Bonhams Monaco auction was the 1990 Ferrari F40 LM Competition. The 850bhp GT, capable of 228mph, sold for 964,500 euros.
This particular car is the rarest-of-the-rare: a Charles Pozzi F40 LM, one of only two built for serious, top-flight racing. The driver line-up for this near-unique chassis during its international racing career is stellar: Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Jean-Louis Schlesser, Olivier Grouillard, Jacques Lafitte, Hurley Haywood, and Michel Ferté.
In addition to the F40 LM, Bonhams also sold an ex-Works, ex-Fabio Babini/Philip Peter Estoril-winning, 2003 Ferrari 575 GTC Competizione for 370,500 euros.
 1973 Maserati Bora 4.7-litre Coupé - Sold for 66,700 euros |
 1966 Porsche 906 - Sold for 579,500 euros |
Overall, Bonhams grossed 4.7m euros with a ‘sell rate’ of 65 per cent. Clearly, UK buyers were in trouble with the currency and, as was proved the day before at Maranello: it’s not easy out there. The buyers are there but the sellers need to be more realistic.
Picking some ‘Classic Driver’ cars from the results, we can report that the 1980 BMW M1 Coupé sold for 138,000 euros, the 1958 Lancia Aurelia B20GT Series VI Coupé for 59,800 euros, and the 1971 Citroën DS 21 Cabriolet for 63,853 euros.
 2003 Ferrari 575 GTC Competizione - Sold for 370,500 euros |
 1961 Facel Vega HK500 Coupe - Sold for 105,800 euros |
 1969 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 Berlinetta - Sold for 66,700 euros |
 1959 Fiat 600 Jolly Beach Car - 28,000 - 32,000 euros |
The ex-Mike de Udy/Peter de Klerk/Colin Davis, 1966 Porsche 906 sold for 579,500 euros
James Knight, International managing Director for Collectors’ Cars at Bonhams said after the sale:
“On the whole, we were pleased with our sell rate of 65% for the entire sale. This is down on the 85%+ average we’ve achieved this year to date and, if a lesson need be learned, it is to be more diligent with vendors’ expectations. In today’s market it is important to offer motor cars at attractive levels.
“We demonstrated that each time we did that, the depth of bidding was good, and healthy prices were achieved. As a motor car auction house operating – and selling – on three continents in multi currencies, it is a tremendously exciting time.”
To see the complete results please click HERE.
Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Bonhams
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