Peter F Baumberger, the Swiss gentleman driver and car collector who passed away last year, amassed an impressive array of top-end motor cars during his life. On 20 August 2010, at the Gstaad Palace Hotel, Bonhams will be putting 19 of these cars up for sale – with all cars to be auctioned to the highest bidder, without reserve.

Bonhams has been appointed to sell the cars by Simon Kidston of Kidston SA, the Baumberger family’s agent. “Peter was a good friend and a generous host,” says Kidston. “Although it’s sad to see his collection dispersed, he loved sharing his passion and would have wanted his cars to continue to give pleasure to others.”

And they most certainly will, starting with perhaps the most desirable of the collection, the 1962 Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadster. This was one of the final 209 cars built, featuring the aluminium engine and originally sold new to Kuwait in blue-grey paintwork with a cream trim. The car carries a pre-sale estimate of CHF 400,000 – 600,000.

Among the other highlights are a classic 1973 Porsche 911 RS 2.7 Carrera (estimate CHF 100,000 – 140,000), a 2009 Ferrari California (CHF 220,000 – 250,000) and a 1996 Bentley Continental T (CHF 80,000 – 100,000).

Baumberger began motor racing in 1955 with a Porsche 1600, and went on to race a Jaguar XK120, a Lotus (six of which he ordered from Colin Chapman in 1958), and a Lancia Appia Zagato. In 1966, he bought three new Ferrari 275GTB/4s for himself and his two stepsons to race and, in 1972, he became a founding member of the Swiss Ferrari club. In more recent times, Baumberger was a familiar figure at the Tour Auto and Tour du Maroc.

For further details on the collection, see www.bonhams.com/cars.

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: Bonhams Europe