European Motor Sport Historic Racing Cars Go on Sale

Renowned auction house Bonhams has announced that during the “Weekend de L’Excellence Automobile”, held in Reims between September 26-27, it will auction important pieces from the European motor sport history.

The highlight of the inaugural Reims-Gueux Circuit Sale is a 1912 5 litre chain drive Bugatti racing car, created and owned by Ettore Bugatti, who has also successfully raced at Le Mans and the Mont Ventoux Hill Climb between 1912-1914.

The car was subsequently sold to HRH The Duke of Bavaria. Most recently, the car was driven ‘up the hill’ for the second time at the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed where it performed faultlessly and, unsurprisingly, attracted a huge amount of interest.

There are only three of these cars left worldwide. One is showcased at the French National Motor Museum as part of the former Schlumpf Collection, while the other, nicknamed “Black Bess”, was recently sold into a major private collection by Bonhams at Retromobile 2009 for 2,427,500 euros ($3,455,300).

The sale at the “Weekend de L’Excellence Automobile” gives enthusiasts an opportunity to acquire this extremely rare automobile, which is expected to fetch between 1,800,000-2,400,000 euros (approx. $2,560,000-$3,416,000).

The sale also includes a private collection of Mercedes Benz cars, highlighted by a 1937 Mercedes Benz 540K Cab. C, delivered new to the UK, which is estimated at 400,000-600,000 euros (approx. $570,000-$855,000) and a 1955 Mercedes 300SL “Gullwing” estimated at 350,000-450,000 euros ($498,000-$640,000).

Other outstanding vehicles to be sold by Bonhams include two legendary convertible sports cars in a 1968 Ferrari 330 GTS which is estimated at 325,000-425,000 euros (approx. $462,000-$605,000) and a 1970 Aston Martin DB6 MKII Volante which has a pre-sale estimate of 325,000-375,000 euros (approx. $462,000-$534,000).