Two pre-War delights spearheaded the £15.4m sale, earning two World Record results in the process. The Lagonda LG45R Rapide – billed by Bonhams as “arguably the most visibly recognisable pre-War sports-racing car” – fetched a bang-on-estimate £1,569,500, while the fabulous, Mille Miglia class-winning OM 665 SS MM Superba realised an impressive £1,255,900 (estimate: £800,000-950,000).
Other lots to exceed their estimates by a considerable margin included a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (estimate: £450,000-550,000), which achieved £657,100, and a beautiful Lynx Jaguar XKSS Recreation (estimate: £225,000-275,000), fetching £384,540. This was no doubt helped along by the sensational collection of D-types and XKSSs assembled at the circuit to mark the car’s 60th anniversary.
Some notable cars failed to meet their reserves, however, such as the barn-find Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II Drophead (which would perhaps have been more suited to Bonhams’ Aston Martin Works sale earlier this year) and a Ferrari 275 GTB. Funnily enough, a Girard-Perregaux Ferrari 275 GTB Edition watch more than doubled its estimate, though, selling for £14,375. Changing fashions? We doubt it.
The highly anticipated Maranello Rosso Collection of 10 Abarths (and another 10 Ferraris) sold well – in particular the striking Abarth 1300OT Periscopica Coupé, which made £214,300 – and a brace of significant Maserati voiturettes, a 4CM and a 6CM, achieved £427,100 and £606,300, respectively. With both cars’ prestigious Goodwood eligibility, is it fair to assume that their new owners intend to be more than just spectators at next year’s Revival?
Photos: Chip Riegel/Joe Breeze