The Harburg Collection of competition cars will be featured at the inaugural RM Auctions Paris sale, scheduled for 4-5 February 2014 in Paris during the week of Retromobile.
Peter Harburg is an Australian enthusiast and historic race driver who built a collection boasting a number of significant Porsche models, including a 1973 ex-Works 917/30 Can-Am Spyder, a 1982 ex-Works 956 956 Group C Sports-Prototype, a 1964 904 Carrera GTS, a 1959 356 A Carrera 1500 GT Speedster and a 1987 959.
The 1982 956 Group C Sports-Prototype, chassis 004, was completed on the 14 June 1982 and was shaken down for the first time that very day, before departing immediately for Le Mans. It competed in the 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans as one of the three Works cars. It was driven by Hurley Haywood, Al Holbert and Jurgen Barth and went on to finish 3rd overall, completing a historic 1-2-3 finish for the Porsche Works team that year. During the same season, 004 achieved a respectable 2nd place in the Spa 1000 kms, in the hands of Derek Bell and Vern Schuppan, and it enjoyed appearances at Fuji and Kayalami. It continued as a Works entry into 1983 and 1984, and amongst other notable outings, it finished 2nd at the Spa 1000 kms, in the hands of Stefan Bellof and Bell. The 956, presented in correct Rothmans livery, is expected to sell for more than €2,200,000.
The Porsche 917/30 was the ultimate version from the famed 917 line-up, with a turbocharged flat-12 engine producing at least 1,100 horsepower in race trim. Developed exclusively to win the 1973 North American Can-Am series in the hands of Mark Donohue, only six chassis were built for 1973, and of those, only three were completed for racing. The example on offer, chassis 005, is one of the completed chassis that never saw action in period. It is offered in original condition and is finished in its Sunoco racing livery (Estimate: In excess of €2,200,000).
The 1964 904 Carrera GTS, chassis 045, on offer was imported into the UK by AFN Ltd, before being purchased by privateer racer and Works Frazer Nash driver Dickie Stoop. Stoop competed extensively in the car, enjoying success in the UK and on the continent. His finest moment in the 904 was his performance in the Snetterton 100 mile race, during which he, claimed the two-and-half-litre lap record, won the class, and finished 5th overall (Estimate: In excess of €1,100,000).
Additional Porsches at the 2014 RM Retromobile auction include a 1959 Porsche 356 A Carrera 1500 GT Speedster, one of only 35 built (Estimate: €740,000–€1.110,000) and a 1987 Porsche 959 (Estimate: €330,000–€380,000)
Away from the Porsche marque, the Harburg Collection also includes a 1955 Jaguar D-Type, a 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider, the ex-Briggs Cunningham 1950 Aston Martin DB2, a 1969 Lola T70 and the ex-John Coombs 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona.
The 1955 Jaguar D-Type on offer, chassis XKD 520, features an extensive early racing history and well-documented provenance. XKD 520 was the seventh production D-Type made, and it was sold new to Australian Bob Stillwell, who raced the car with success in the 1956 and 1957 seasons. Highlights included contesting the 1956 Bathurst 500, where he set the fastest sports car speed ever, before securing a number of other high-profile victories, including the Bathurst Road Racing Championship. Chassis XKD 520 continued to be raced successfully by a number of subsequent, well-known owner/drivers in Australia and the UK (Estimate: In excess of €4,100,000).
The 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider, chassis 0498 M, was sold new to Luigi Chinetti Motors in the United States. The car finished 5th overall at the 1955 12 Hours of Sebring, with Piero Taruffi and co-driver Harry Schell behind the wheel. It was then sold to George Tilp, who entered the car in a number of races, where it was campaigned successfully by Phil Hill, and it also achieved a 2nd place in Caracas, Venezuela, in the hands of Alfonso De Portago. Chassis 0498 M continued to be raced extensively in North America right through to the end of the 1960s. After a long period in storage, 0498 M re-emerged in 1994, before being sold to Australia in November 1998. Restoration of the vehicle began in 2004, before it came into the hands of Peter Harburg, who completed the work. Chassis 0498 is expected to fetch in excess of €1,800,000 when it crosses RM’s Paris auction podium.
Additional highlights of the Harburg Collection include a 1959 Porsche 356 A Carrera 1500 GT Speedster, one of only 35 built (Estimate: €740.000–€1.110.000); the 1950 ex-Briggs Cunningham/Sebring Aston Martin DB2 (Estimate: €277.000–€350.000); a 1987 Porsche 959 (Estimate: €330.000–€380.000); a 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, ordered new by Jaguar aficionado John Coombs (Estimate: €295.000–€333.000); and a 1969 Lola T70 (Estimate: €295.000–€355.000).
The debut RM Auctions Paris sale will be staged at Les Invalides – Place Vauban immediately after the International Automobile Festival, which will be held 29 January to 2 February 2014. The Festival will gather a display of concept cars and pay tribute to car designers from around the world.
For more information, visit www.rmauctions.com or call RM’s London office at +44 (0) 20 7851 7070.
[Source: RM Auctions]
