Concorso D'Eleganza Vila D'Este

TGR Staff

RM Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles, has announced an outstanding series of new entries for its debut sale at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, to be held 21st May on the shores of Lake Como, Italy.

Continuing the sale’s focus on motor cars of exceptional quality and provenance, recent consignments include a rare and extremely desirable 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta, chassis number 0352 MM / 0239 EU, and an ultra-rare 1965 Ford GT Works Prototype Roadster, chassis number GT/111, one of just five prototype roadsters built.

Carefully hand-selected from around the world by RM’s expert team of car specialists, these latest entries join the previously announced 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta and 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop Coupé as part of an elite group of just 30 automobiles to be offered during the exclusive evening sale.

“In keeping with the theme of the celebrated Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, our upcoming sale in Cernobbio is set to showcase the ‘best of the very best’. Consignments represent a wonderful series of best of category cars from their respective genres - the epitome of motoring luxury, style, and performance,” says Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Europe.

“With an average value per car approaching €1.000.000, the offering represents one of the most superb collections of automobiles assembled for auction in recent years,” adds Girardo.

Building on RM’s reputation as the global leader in the presentation of important and historic Ferraris at auction, the addition of a rare and coveted 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta, chassis number 0352 MM / 0239 EU, to the May sale is expected to garner strong interest among serious Ferraristi. One of just 32 built and one of only 17 examples bodied by Pinin Farina, this coveted competition coupé was delivered new to Mexican collector, Efrain Ruiz Echeverria. A well-known privateer racer, Echeverria immediately entered the car in the grueling 1953 Carrera Panamericana, recording a strong top 10 finish. The result was considered an outstanding achievement by a private owner, as the first six cars were factory-entered Ferraris and Lancias. Today, wonderfully presented and benefiting from a well-known history, which includes a string of prominent Mexican collectors, this example has been displayed at a number of the world’s leading events, including the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. In addition, it returned to competition at the 2004 Monterey Historic Races at Laguna Seca, California, driven by experienced vintage racer, Pablo Gonzalez. (Est. €2.600.000 - €3.200.000).

“We are truly honored to have been entrusted with the sale of this historically important 250 MM at our debut sale in Cernobbio,” adds Girardo. “Combining great performance, a wonderful racing pedigree and fabulous livery, it is truly one of the best 250 MMs available.”

The 1965 Ford GT Works Prototype Roadster, chassis number GT/111, is also expected to attract significant interest. One of only five prototype open GT Roadsters built by Ford Advanced Vehicle Operations in the UK during early 1965, of which just four survive, GT/111 was first tested at the 1965 Le Mans trials, driven by Sir John Whitmore, prior to it being selected as a Works entrant in the Targa Florio. Painted in Linden Green and with Sir John Whitmore joined by American driver Bob Bondurant behind the wheel, the car ran as high as third place in the endurance road race before accident damage sidelined the car. After the race, a decision was made to strip the chassis and discard it, after which its whereabouts remained largely unknown for the next forty years. The chassis was rediscovered in 2006, its authenticity confirmed by the world’s leading authorities on GT40s, and following a painstaking restoration GT/111 reappeared on the race circuit in 2007 at the Goodwood Revival. It has since gone on to race very competitively at some of Europe’s most prestigious events. (Est. €2.400.000 - €2.900.000)

“The Ford GT represents one of the world’s most iconic sports car designs,” notes Girardo. “Joining power with beauty, it is the perfect fit for our debut sale at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. As one of just four surviving examples and one of only three to have been raced by the Works, it presents an extraordinarily rare ownership opportunity for discerning collectors, deserving of close inspection.”

Other notable entries for the 21 May auction include:

- an extraordinary, supercharged 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC, one of only 17 Atalante Coupés built (Est. €3.250.000 - €4.250.000);
- a beautifully-restored, multi-award-winning 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A (Est. €1.250.000 - €1.800.000);
- an exquisite pair of pre-war Figoni et Falaschi Delahayes, including a1938 135 MS Coupé (Est. €950.000 - €1.170.000) and a 1939 135 MS Grand Sport Roadster (Est. €880.000 – €1.025.000);
- a matching-numbers 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta, s/n 09495 (Est. €800.000 - €900.000);
- a rare, unrestored 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Competition Spider by Bertone, one of just three competition spyders built and the only Bertone-bodied Aston with racing history (Est. €725.000 - €825.000);
- a one-off 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Coupé, the last R-Type Continental built and the last car personally designed by Marius Franay (Est. €590.000 - €750.000); and
- a restored, well-documented 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ 1, fresh to the market after 25 years of single-family ownership and with race pedigree that includes Le Mans, Tour de France and Targa Florio (Est. €475.000 – €575.000).