The group of stellar, performance-driven automobiles is led by a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.8 RSR, a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS, and a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing.
Image: 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.8 RSR: courtesy of Gooding & Company. Image by Mathieu Heurtault.
Global auction house Gooding & Company will return to the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace to conduct its London Auction on 3 September 2022. As the official auction partner for the weekend, the leading firm has brought together an exceptional assortment of the world’s foremost classic cars, including some from the most important names and eras in the development of motor sports history as it is known today. This exceptional grouping features highly significant, historic examples from the greatest automotive marques in Europe and the UK.
“I am thrilled with the selection of prestigious cars we have consigned to our London Auction,” said Gooding & Company European Sales Consultant, Joe Twyman. “This special grouping of historic road going and competition cars presents such a strong variety across both price point and genre, and caters to all manner of tastes and preferences.”
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.8 RSR (Estimate: £1,750,000 – £2,250,000)
Porsche’s dominance in the prototype era and the start of a GT racing program culminated in the early 1970s with the introduction of highly successful models and variants. In 1973, a decade after the 911’s debut, Porsche unveiled the Carrera 2.7 RS, a homologation special that kickstarted a legendary line of race cars. The next evolution of the 2.7 RS was the 2.8 RSR, incorporating a roster of improvements with its full racing-specification engine, revised suspension settings, incredibly effective braking system, and lightened internal components. Visually, the 2.8 RSR distinguished itself with its massive fender flares, central-oil-cooler air intake, and ultra-wide Fuchs wheels.
Striking and historically significant, chassis 0885, was supplied new to the Oldenkott-Tobacco company of Germany. The legendary Kremer Racing team campaigned the RSR for Oldenkott in the 1973 European GT Championship with primary driver Clemens Schickentanz, and 0885 emerged as the victor, winning the competition outright. 0885 would continue its impressive racing career by placing 8th Overall at the 1974 Le Mans Four Hours, in addition to entering the 1974 and 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans. Today, 0885, presented in its famous and distinctive black and orange 1973 livery, is offered at auction with an extensive period history file, and is surely one of the most exciting RSRs to cross the block in a long while.
1965 Ferrari 275 GTS (Estimate: £1,050,000 – £1,250,000)
Debuting at the Paris Salon de l’Automobile in October 1964, Ferrari’s handsome 275 GTS marked a new era, along with the 275 GTB, as the first-ever Ferrari road cars equipped with a fully independent suspension and a rear-mounted five-speed transaxle. Powered by the new tipo 213 engine, the 275 GTS featured clean and crisply tailored Pininfarina bodywork, and was capable of accelerating from rest to 60 mph in as little as 6.6 seconds, with a top speed in excess of 140 mph. In total, just 200 examples were built during a two-year production run, with the majority delivered to the US. The European-specification 275 GTS presented here, chassis 07019, was the 28th 275 GTS built, and came finished in the striking and rarely seen color combination of Bianco (White) over black leather upholstery and red carpets. First delivered to Madrid, Spain, to a private custodian, 07019 remained in its original ownership for 23 years. In the last several decades, this 275 GTS has seen very little use, and in more recent years, has been kept in static storage. Today, it presents in as-found, non-running condition, with just 44,938 miles on the odometer at the time of cataloguing. Offered with a history report by renowned Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, this 275 GTS is an ideal and worthy candidate for a complete, concours-quality restoration or sympathetic mechanical refurbishment.
1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (Estimate: £1,100,000 – £1,300,000)
As the road-going iteration of the racing cars that catapulted Mercedes-Benz to the highest echelons of motor sports during the early 1950s, the 300 SL Gullwing coupe remains a landmark of design and engineering prowess. The exceptional 1956 300 SL Gullwing presented here was sold new on the West Coast of the US, and went on to join the collections of various American owners throughout the years. This gorgeous Gullwing, finished in Elfenbein (DB 608, Ivory) over red, underwent a full body-off restoration in the 1980s and 1990s, which was executed to the highest standard. In more recent years, the Gullwing returned to Europe under its current ownership. Cherished and preserved throughout many decades, this outstanding, late-production 300 SL Gullwing is the perfect choice for an automobile heralded for its purity and unparalleled presence.
1959 Lancia Flaminia Sport (Estimate: £400,000 – £500,000)
The Lancia Flaminia was the successor to the Aurelia, carrying over the unitary chassis, V-6 engine, and four-speed gearbox that was mounted in-unit with the rear De Dion axle. The Flaminia was the first Italian car equipped with disc brakes, as an option at first, and then as a standard feature soon after. In 1959, the Sport was added to the lineup, featuring a lightweight body designed and built by Zagato. The early Pre-Series Flaminia featured covered headlights, the famous Zagato “double bubble” roof, and pop-up door handles. After the first 99 examples were built, a second series of the Sport was introduced with open headlights and a revised dashboard. The example offered here is one of the desirable, early Flaminia Sports, finished in Bruno Tropicale (Tropical Brown) with a tan leather interior. Throughout the years, this example has enjoyed a restoration under the supervision of Lancia specialist Gilberto Clerici, and has also been upgraded to full 3C configuration with three fitted Weber carburetors. It is believed that only around 30 of the 99 Pre-Series Flaminia Sports survive today, making this example an especially rare offering and possibly one of the most desirable of all Lancia Flaminias.
The London Auction will also proudly present a 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA (Estimate: £200,000 – £300,000), a car specially competition prepared for historic racing and eligible for many major events including the Tour Auto and Goodwood Revival. Also offered is a legendary racing 1966 Lotus Cortina Mk I (Estimate: £125,000 – £175,000, Without Reserve), one of only seven works cars ordered by the Ford Competitions Department from Lotus and boasting an impressive resume. These lots are joined by a 1959 Stanguellini Formula Junior (Estimate: £90,000 – £120,000, Without Reserve), ordered new by Briggs Cunningham and presented with an extensive, well-documented US and European racing history. The auction will also include two highly significant competition engines: a Ferrari 246 F1-66 Tipo 228 V-6 Engine (Estimate: £125,000 – £175,000) developed for world champion John Surtees to campaign in the 1965 Tasman Series that went on to lead several Grands Prix, score podiums, and break lap records in 1966. It is being offered from over 40 years in current ownership. Also offered is a Ferrari 250 GT Engine and Gearbox (Estimate: £100,000 – £120,000) that was recently rebuilt to produce 256 bhp at 7,000 rpm.
Interested parties are welcome to bid on lots presented at the London Auction remotely via telephone, online, or absentee bidding, or with Gooding & Company's mobile app.
London Auction
Date: Saturday, 3 September 2022
Location: Hampton Court Palace, UK
Viewing Days: Thursday-Saturday, 1-3 September 2022
Concours of Elegance Ticketing Information: https://concoursofelegance.co.uk/tickets/
Bidder Registration: www.goodingco.com/register
Live Auction Broadcast: www.goodingco.com
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Phone: +1 310.899.1960
