Auction: Cars for millions under the hammer
WHERE THEY MEET The big six internationally active auction houses for valuable automobiles have a lot planned for the mid-August auction in California, when predominantly particularly noble cars come under the hammer. Traditionally, the Monterey Car Week, one of the largest and probably the most renowned spectacle in the USA for classic, young and new cars, is considered a record event [...]
Traditionally, the Monterey Car Week, one of the largest and probably the most renowned spectacle in the USA for classic, young and new cars, is considered a record event for the auction of the most expensive sheet metal. And since last year's event fell victim to the pandemic, there's a lot of catching up to do in 2021.
1500 cars waiting for solvent buyer
Thus, Bonhams, Gooding & Company, Mecum, RM Sotheby's, Russo and Steele and Worldwide Auctioneers have prepared accordingly. Together, they are trying to find solvent buyers for around 1500 cars.
Insiders suggest that more than 20 of them have what it takes to break the one-million-dollar barrier by at least a factor of five.
At least 15 million for the McLaren F1
The front-runner could be a 1995 street-legal McLaren F1, which will go under the hammer at Gooding & Company on Friday, Aug. 13, at the exclusive Pebble Beach Golf Course near Monterey.
Auctioneers estimate its minimum price at $15 million, but it is likely to go much higher. Image gallery top left.
Porsche 917 K from the action movie "Le Mans
Close behind is a thoroughbred sports car, a 1970 Porsche 917 K. David Hobbs and Mike Hailwood competed in the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans in it, and a year later the car starred in the action film "Le Mans" with Steve McQueen at the wheel.
Now RM Sotheby's hopes to get rid of the sports car to a wealthy bidder for up to $18.5 million. Image gallery top center.
Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato in third place
Third place among the million-sellers could go to a 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato with an estimated price of up to $14 million. RM Sotheby's also plans to auction this car.
The car was previously in the collection of businessman Paul Andrews, who died in March and amassed a billion-dollar fortune producing electronic components and also made a name for himself as a generous donor to charity. Image gallery top right.
Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR road version
Ranking behind the Aston Martin, with presumed top prices between eight million and twelve million dollars, are a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster (Mecum), a 1998 Mercedes-AMG CLK GTR in street version (Gooding & Company), and two Ferraris (RMSotheby's) and a Ford (Gooding & Company).
On offer are also eight rare Ferraris
The fact that there are a total of eight Ferraris among the 21 used cars, each of which is said to be worth more than five million dollars, is not unusual at an auction as exclusive as the one held during Monterey Car Week.
A Ferrari 166 MM Spider Series II from 1953 is mentioned as being particularly good value. The bargain costs between four million and five million dollars at RM Sotheby's.
You can get a Ferrari 340 America at a similar price at Mecum and a Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Convertible at Gooding & Company. Gallery below from left to right.
