The 2016 RM Sotheby’s Monaco auction will be staged 14 May at Le Sporting in Monaco during the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique weekend. RM’s biennial Monaco sale will feature roughly 100 collector cars.
A headline offering at RM’s 2016 Monaco auction will be a 1951 Ferrari 340 America Touring Barchetta, chassis 0116/A.
One of eight Touring-bodied 340 Americas, 0116/A retains its original engine and is recognised as one of the first big block V-12 racing Ferraris. This 340 America was sold new in 1951 to World War II hero and businessman Pierre Louis-Dreyfus, who immediately entered it in the Le Mans 24 Hours, where it was run by Ferrari’s North American Racing Team founder, Luigi Chinetti. Driven by Dreyfus and Louis Chiron, the car enjoyed a race duel with another 340 that so engrossed Chiron that he missed his pit window and 25-lap signal. The car ran dry on circuit and was rescued by the team’s mechanic who illegally refueled the car, causing them to be black-flagged and disqualified.
0116/A returned to Le Mans a year later with Chinetti, Louis-Dreyfus and a new team-mate Rene Dreyfus, but it retired with a clutch issue in the fifth hour of the race. Throughout the years, it has passed through the hands of a number of collectors, including Pierre Bardinon, who enjoyed the car in numerous historic race meetings such as the Mille Miglia, as well as showcasing it at a number of Concours. It comes to auction eligible for almost any international event (Estimate available upon request).
The Ferrari will be joined at the one-day, May sale by a racing car of a different era: the 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution, chassis GT1 993-117. The only known road-registered example, GT1 993-117 is one of 14 GT1 race cars in private hands and has never been offered for sale publicly. With over 13 wins to its name from 31 starts, this 993-based GT1 Evolution won the Canadian GT Championship three times (1999-2001) and participated in the Daytona 24 Hours. Chassis GT1 993-117 is believed to be the only ex-race car with road registration (Estimate: €2.700.000 – €3.000.000).
RM will also present the first car that three-time World Champion Niki Lauda drove in Formula One. One of the most distinctive Grand Prix cars of the era, the 1971 March 711 was driven by Lauda at the Austrian Grand Prix, although the car was originally built for Ronnie Peterson, who took podium finishes in ‘711-02’ at both the Monaco and Hockenheim Grand Prix. Offered out of single-ownership since 1973, it is estimated to sell for €550.000 – €650.000.
A World Rally Championship and Group B icon will also be offered at RM Sotheby’s 2016 Monaco sale. Driven by Ari Vatanen, the featured 1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Evolution 1 Group B is one of the most successful Group B rally cars of its era. Winning both the 1985 Monte Carlo and Swedish rallies, chassis C11 was one of three Works cars entered into the WRC by Peugeot Talbot Sport, from a total of 20 Works Evolution 1 rally cars ever made; its two victories helped propel Peugeot to claim the world championship that year. Vatanen also used the car to race the Tour de Corse and Acropolis rallies later in the year, before its final outing with Bruno Saby at the San Remo rally. It is offered in Monaco having had two previous private owners (Est. €600.000 – €800.000).
Away from the competition cars, RM’s upcoming Monaco auction will also feature pre-war grand touring cars, including the 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A, chassis 130941. One of 33 of this body style, 130941 is one of a handful equipped with the 5.4-litre engine (Est. €2.700.000 – €3.300.000). Just as Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union battled for honours in Grand Prix racing, Horch was Mercedes’ great road-going rival during the same period. The 1932 Horch 670 Cabriolet on offer, chassis 67045, is one of five known to exist. Of the small known group of these V-12 Horch 670s, four of the five are in institutional ownership, with this being the only example in private hands. The featured example boasts known UK history prior to being imported to the United States in the late 1950s (Estimate: €2.700.000 – €3.600.000).
A 1948 Tucker 48 will also cross the block at the 2016 RM Sotheby’s Monaco auction. A total of 51 Tucker 48s were built, with two remaining in Europe, of which chassis 1049 is one. The late production example slated for RM’s Monaco podium has long-term provenance with enthusiast ownership to its name, including Nick Jenin, Gene Zimmerman and Bob Bahre. Presented in period-correct Waltz Blue paintwork and offered fresh from a restoration by its current owner, it’s estimated to fetch €1.350.000 – €1.850.000.
Held at the Le Sporting, RM Sotheby’s biennial Monaco event will lift the gavel on approximately 100 collector cars. For more information or to view an updated list of entries, visit www.rmsothebys.com or call RM’s London office at +44 (0) 20 7851 7070.
[Source: RM Sotheby’s]
