A 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Touring Berlinetta and 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Supercharged Gran Sport Spider are among the featured offerings at the 2014 Bonhams Scottsdale Auction, scheduled for Thursday, January 16th at the Westin Kierland Resort in Arizona.
The 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Touring Berlinetta, chassis number 0088 E, is better known as “The Tailor’s Car.” It was delivered new to Italian tailor and racing driver Augusto Caraceni of the eponymous fashion house. Founded in 1913 by Domenico Caraceni, “The Father of Italian Tailoring”, the House of Caraceni made bespoke suits for some of the best dressed and most recognizable men of the 20th century, including Enzo Ferrari, Gianni Agnelli, Gary Cooper, Aristotle Onassis, Prince Rainier of Monaco and even Yves St. Laurent.
Domenico’s son, Augusto Caraceni, steeped in the family business, knew good design when he saw it. So when a car was needed to compete in the 1951 Stella Alpina, it was this sports racing Ferrari clothed in the Berlinetta body by Milanese coachbuilder Touring that was selected.
Just four of these even-numbered competition models were created in Berlinetta form, which was Touring’s first closed racing model built for Ferrari. Using a shorter and more rigid chassis, they received a tuned version of Colombo’s 212 engine featuring a triple carburetor setup, higher compression and dry sump lubrication. The Touring Supperleggera Berlinetta bodies had racing features such as Plexiglas windows and quick-release fuel filler, and an interior stripped of most creature comforts. The result was a car nearly 200 kilograms (440 lbs.) lighter than the road version.
In current ownership since 1969, this even-numbered, competition-built Berlinetta still retains its original Touring coachwork and matching-numbers engine and drivetrain, and has now been restored to the highest and correct standards.
The 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Supercharged Gran Sport Spider is a fifth series model. It retains its original Zagato coachwork in its entirety, as well as all of its original drivetrain components. Delivered new to French gentleman driver and aviator, Baron Philippe de Gunzbourg, this Zagato Spider was used by the Baron as daily transport at the time he and Luigi Chinetti co-drove an Alfa Romeo 8C to a second place finish in the 1933 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Discovered in an original and unrestored state in a French barn in 2007, the Alfa Romeo has undergone a no-expense spared restoration by expert Stephen Babinsky of Automotive Restorations. Reinstated to its historically authentic and accurate state, this pre-war Alfa has participated in the Pebble Beach Concours, Amelia Island Concours, Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, and the 2013 Mille Miglia, which it completed in flawless form.
In addition to the headline Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, additional consignments at the 2014 Bonhams Arizona auction include:
- 1947 Bentley MK VI Coupe, the only Figoni and Falaschi-bodied Bentley built
- 1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Atlas, with coachwork by Carrosserie Guillore, Paris Auto Salon, sole surviving example
- 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe, matching numbers, US-delivered car that has been refreshed throughout, including a complete engine rebuild
- 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, restored, matching-numbers car with its original hard top, Becker Mexico radio and disc brakes
- 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C, Ferrari Classiche Certified, matching numbers, factory 6C and torque-tube example
- 1968 Ferrari 330GTC, David Carte restoration and multiple Platinum Award winning car
- 1932 Marmon V16 Victoria Coupe, Coachwork by LeBaron and in present ownership since 1969
- 1910 Thomas Flyer Model 6-40 Touring, ex-Bill Harrah with just three owners from new
The 3rd annual Bonhams Scottsdale Auction will take place Thursday, January 16th at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale. Admission to the Bonhams Arizona sale comes with purchase of a catalog for $75, which admits two people. Previews for the motorcars and automobilia will take place on Tuesday, January 14th from 9am to 6pm and Wednesday, January 15th from 9:00am – 6:00pm. The automobilia sale begins at 10:30am on Thursday, January 16th with the motorcars to follow at 1:00pm.
For additional information, visit Bonhams.com/Scottsdale.
[Source: Bonhams]
