For its fourth sale of 2008, entitled “Legende et Passion”, London based auctioneer Coys occupied the Espace Fontvielle (an all purpose exhibition venue and home to the Monaco Circus) offering 60 lots of automobilia and 82 cars, whilst a 10 min walk away, Bonhams “Les Grandes Marques” squeezed 87 lots of automobilia and 87 cars into the S.A.S Le Prince du Monaco car collection.

The Coys auction was the first underway at 2.30pm.All prices are in euros and include buyers premium:

• “Top price” of the afternoon, €1,424,882 was the apparently unique 2006 Maserati MC12 Corsa, which I think looked stunning in black and personally far more aesthetically pleasing than the Enzo, the parts bin of which was extensively raided to produce the Maser.

• Sadly a no-sale was the 1972 Ferrari Daytona Competition campaigned by NART, which finished 6th overall at Le Mans in that year driven by Sam Posey and Tony Adamowicz. Well presented, with known history and few owners it was bid to €2.35million…..wouldn’t it have stood a better chance at RM’s all Ferrari sale in Maranello a week later?

• 12 Ferraris were on offer but only two sold - a Daytona Competition upgrade (€340,810) which most recently competed the Pirelli Ferrari formula classic race at Donington in April and from the same stable a 250GTO replica (€249,302) with recent engineering bills for £140k.

• Of the ten unsold, three were very familiar – the unique 330GT and 365GTB/4 shooting brakes have been dragged round many major European events in the recent past, whilst the ex Innes Ireland 330GT/TR replica has been in/out of the UK trade for the last 3 years and was bid to €290k.

• For Lambo enthusiasts there were three Muiras in the sale, only one of which found a new owner at €247,810…a shame as all three cars were in good order.

• Also catching the eye was the Fiat 1100 Abarth van and trailer – a complete unit ready for the Goodwood Revival paddock, bid to €17,000 n/s and a 1959 Vespa TAP complete with rocket launcher and grenade storage. We of the North West Area Group of the FOC GB thought this would be ideal for clearing traffic in Macclesfield but someone outbid us, paying €16,511....

• Elsewhere a UK registered 300SL Mercedes Gullwing was in superb condition making €478,820, whilst the Porsche 550 Spyder which finished 18th overall at the ill fated 1955 Le Mans sold at €708,338 and a worthy post sale was the ex Jean Alesi Tyrrell 019-2 at €180k

With plenty of variety of makes and for every budget, Coys can justifiably be disappointed with their evening. Only 26 cars sold from 82, four cars made 50%+ of the total sale revenue and there was a distinct lack of bidders in the Espace - where was everybody?

After a brief pit stop to admire a rare Lancia Aurelia and a long chassis Alfa Monza (two of the weekends most interesting motors!) and a 30 sec stop at Royal Motors to view two Ferrari 365 “Queen Mary’s” that both have “needs”, Bonhams beckoned.... (all prices are in euros include buyers premium but not local tax).

• Offering an interesting selection of automobilia rather than the usual Steve McQueen posters, racewear previously worn by Rene Arnoux (!) or assorted F1 nose cones Bonhams had some rare automobilia which realised good prices - an F40 “Schedoni” wallet €460, a 275GTB sales brochure €667, a well detailed Ferrari F1 pitstop diaroma €1,610 and a BMW 507 service book €1,725.

• “Top sale” of the evening was the simply stunning 1932 Bugatti T55, one of only 38 built and with Le Mans history it was in need of some remedial attention, but it still rocketed to € 2,097,500

• Of the ten Ferrari’s available five sold; including a good example of one of the rarest of all tipi, the 1969 365GTS which was purchased by a UK dealer on behalf of its new Argentinian owner for €799,500, a mid production dark blue Daytona Coupe (€236,300) complete with wire wheels and a new interior, undoubtedly one of the world’s best restored 250GTEs (€172,000), a well presented 246 Dino (€149,500) and a good “project” 250GTE (€97,500)

• Rarely does a 1947 VW Schwimmwagen amphibious vehicle come to market, even less often with one owner from new. In Fontvielle the bidding was spirited as several major European military collectors tried to secure it - ultimately the price was €149,500, paid by a well known UK collection..... every market has its 250 GTO!

• Elsewhere, the race prepared BMW 328 we previewed has a new owner at €442,000 and is likely a world record price for the model, a half scale Aston Martin DBR1 child’s car made €16,100, a 1985 Audi Quattro Sport was inexplicably expensive at €103,500 and a Bugatti EB110 reached its low estimate to sell at €203,300.

Overall Bonhams sold 54 of the 87 cars consigned and we left with the overwhelming view that those present were there to bid. V12 Ferraris sold well in Monaco if they were rare, in excellent order and had unquestionable provenance and iconic pre war cars such as the Bugatti T55 and BMW328 demonstrate that:

finite production + known history and no issues = increased value

and that won’t change anytime soon.

Bonhams
Well detailed Ferrari F1 pitstop diaroma made €1,610	Astonishingly, early FOC GB mags didn't sell!	."Star lot" was the simply stunning Bugatti T55, a true automotive masterpiece	Even rarer was the '69 365GTS, one of just 20 produced and now en route to its new home in Argentina
Well presented, UK consigned 250 SWB replica was a "no sale"	In need of some TLC was a special equipment 250GTE which realised €97,750	Ready for the forthcoming Classic Le Mans was a pre-war BMW 328 sold at an expensive €442,000	Well constructed half scale Aston Martin DBR1 made €16,100

Thanks to Mitch Clayton and Sydney Brown for their help in the production of this article.

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