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jcreator
Auction house Bonhams is gearing up for another annual sale held concurrently with the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance held in the tiny Connecticut town which has ten times as many hedge funds as fast food joints, with the sale once again set to take place on the tiny peninsula of Roger Sherman Baldwin park.
Last year's sales topped $8 million, with 93 out of 100 lots finding new homes. The top sale in 2014 was a stunning blue 1975 Lamborghini Countach periscopica that brought $1.21 million, though the biggest surprise of the sale was perhaps the $92,400 realized by the 1973 Volvo 1800ES shooting brake with just 13,000 miles on the clock. Perhaps the most emotional sale of 2014 was the Fitch Phoenix designed, built, owned and driven until very recently by the late John Fitch, who was a frequent visitor to the concours and to Lime Rock Park. The Phoenix brought $253,000, selling to a local car collector, with the sale drawing cheers from bidders who were glad to learn that the car would be staying in the area.
Bonhams' Greenwich sale will take place next Sunday, May 31, with a preview day scheduled for Saturday May 30.
Here are a few lots we'll be keeping an eye on that Sunday:
This Jalpa shows a claimed 500 kilometers on the odometer. Photo by BonhamsThe days of semi-affordable Lamborghini Jalpas offered for sale in the back of car magazines are quickly coming to a close as collectors take note of this oft-overlooked Lambo. Bonhams will offer this 1988 example at the upcoming sale. Powered by a 3,485 cc V8 engine fed by four 2-barrel Weber DCNF carburetors, this particular Jalpa is said to be one of the last examples built out of a total production of just 410 cars. A rarity even in the heyday of Countaches, this Jalpa shows under 500 claimed kilometers on the clock, and is estimated to bring between $70,000 and $100,000 on auction day. Sorted examples are tough to find, and the Jalpa remains a gap in many large collections.
This DeSoto Fireflite Indianapolis Pacesetter is one of about 30 remaining examples. Photo by Bonhams A rare convertible, the DeSoto Fireflite Indianapolis Pacesetter is a car that we see at auctions -- they just don't change hands that often. This 1956 example is stated to have been in single-family ownership since new, and is powered by a Hemi V8 engine connected to a three-speed Powerflite pushbutton automatic transmission. Said to be one of just 400 Indianapolis Pacesetters built and 30 remaining, it's pegged to bring between $60,000 and $80,000. The modest estimate is partially a reflection of the limited market for this model, as the people who want one have to be in the room, on the phone, or on a yacht watching the bidding on an iPad. But this will be the right crowd for this car, even though Arizona in January would have brought it greater publicity.
Car Life Lamborghini Countach LP400 breaks $1 million sale barrier A 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 "Periscopica" sold for $1.21 million at the Bonhams auction held in conjunction with the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, June 1, setting a record for the ...
The interior of this 1963 BMC Technical Support Vehicle features an open floor plan, to use a realty term. Photo by Bonhams This is a 1963 BMC Technical Support Vehicle, used by the company to tour around the U.K. teaching mechanics. Last seen at the 2011 Fairfield County Concours d'Elegance, this BMC bus has also been featured on "Chasing Classic Cars" with Wayne Carini. Around 20 were built and fewer remain, as you would imagine. We had an opportunity to examine this vehicle at length, no pun intended, a few years ago, and were disappointed to find it wasn't configured to hold cars in its interior -- even though the interior is largely empty and can carry at least a couple of Austin Minis. Having said that, it could be be modified to accept a car or two if the "trunk" and rear window were reconfigured to open in a clam-shall manner, which would make it infinitely more useable as a collector vehicle. Bonhams estimates this 6.1-liter Perkins diesel-engined bus to bring between $75,000 and $100,000 at auction. If you own a brace of small British roadsters, this may be the racing support vehicle for you.
This 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Safari Sport Wagon is one of just over a thousand examples made. Photo by Bonhams Interest in classic American station wagons is showing no signs of abating, and Bonhams will offer this 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Safari Sport Wagon at next weekend's sale. This three-door V8-engined wagon is one of just 1,291 produced (which is why you probably haven't seen one at your local cruise-in) and is stated to have received a complete restoration. Bonhams expects this rare wagon to bring between $35,000 and $45,000, and the top estimate may seem like a bargain in a few years.
Car Life Scottsdale auctions blow through last year's totals The Scottsdale, Ariz., collector-car auctions have wrapped up a busy week of sales, and as part of producing an up-to-date price guide for classic cars, Hagerty has released the final totals from all ...
This 1968 Mazda 110S Cosmo Sport Coupe is a rare rotary bird in the States. Photo by Bonhams Japanese classics are attracting more and more interest from North American collectors every year, and Bonhams will offer this 1968 Mazda 110S Cosmo Sport Coupe next weekend. A 982-cc twin-rotor Wankel-engined coupe, the Cosmo looks like something from the Jetsons, and was never been offered in the U.S. even though some examples have found their way here. This example, painted in a very '60s color, is estimated to bring between $150,000 and $200,000 on auction day.
This 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio convertible by Gangloff is estimated to bring between $900,000 and $1.1 million on auction day. Photo by Bonhams The top sale of the auction will likely be this 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio convertible by Gangloff, if it ends up changing hands on auction day. Powered by a supercharged inline-eight engine, this particular example wears original coachwork and remained in France during its early years. This 57C later settled in the collection of Miles Coverdale who kept it for 40 years until his passing in 2002. This car is estimated to bring between $900,000 and $1.1 million on auction day.
Car News Greenwich Concours Europa 2014 surprises with an eclectic mix of cars On Saturday, the crowds of the Greenwich Concours Americana almost rendered the field standing-room only. On Sunday, the thousands of car fans who descended upon the small park in the seaside ...
This 911 RS 2.7 M472 Touring may bring between $550,000 and $700,000 on auction day Photo by Bonhams Porsche 911 Carrera RS values are rocketing upward, and Bonhams will take stock of this model's current value when it offers a 911 RS 2.7 M472 Touring from 1973. Claimed to be a numbers-matching Series 1 RS Touring that was originally delivered to Brazil, of all places, this particular RS is fitted with a number of factory options like a heated rear window and a power antenna, electric sunroof and windows, air conditioning and fog lamps, all which are believed to have been fitted at the factory. Bonhams estimates this restored example to bring between $550,000 and $700,000 on auction day. Yes, it's too late to get in on these -- all that's left to do is watch them jump and touch the rim of the $1 million barrier a couple of years from now.
Visit the auction website to view the full list of lots as well as the schedule for the upcoming sale.
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