1952 Gordini Type 15S Barquette s_n 018 Est. €700,000 - €1,000,000 |
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London, 14 June, 2019
An ultra-rare 1952 Gordini Type 15S Barquette (Sport Barchetta), will be the cream of Chantilly as one of the top lots in Bonhams Chantilly Sale (estimate €700,000 - €1,000,000), casting its spell upon the town’s fairy tale chateau, also home to the Aga Khan, where the auction will be staged on Sunday 30 June.
The Gordini 15S, (chassis number 18), is one of just two four-cylinder engine barchettas in the world built by the sports car manufacturer – and the only one available for the discerning collector to purchase, with the other, chassis number 20, belonging to the renowned Schlumpf Collection in France’s national motor museum in Mulhouse, which makes its unlikely to be offered for sale in the forseeable future.
However, this motor car is not just remarkable for its rarity value, but also for its fascinating history of competing in two top motorsport series – firstly as one of only five ‘Type 11’ single-seater ‘monopostos’ built in 1947 by legendary sports car manufacturer Amédée Gordini, AKA ‘the sorcerer’, for his Grand Prix racing team and driven, among others, by the great Juan-Manuel Fangio, Jen Behra, Robert Manzon and Aldo Gordini.
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In 1952 the car was transformed, by Gordini himself, into a two-seat barchetta, known as ‘15S’, an ‘Équipe Gordini’ challenger in the legendary Le Mans 24 hours and leading sports car series. Following an extensive restoration in the early 2000s, as a patriotic act by collector and former director of Renault Formula 1, Jean Sage, the 15S competed in the Mille Miglia, Monaco Historic and Le Mans Classic races, until 2009. For the past ten years, the 15S has been displayed in several concours. With the passing of its most recent and similarly patriotic French owner, the barchetta is ready for a new appreciative custodian to keep the magic alive.
The Gordini will be joined on the Bonhams rostrum by a beautifully-restored example of one of the world’s most desirable automotive designs, the BMW 507 Series II Roadster, a grand tourer powered by a 3.2 litre engine. This Bavarian Belle, costing twice the price of a Jaguar XK120, was owned by the clichéd rich and famous including Elvis Presley, former Formula 1 world champion and four-time 500cc motorcycle grand prix world champion John Surtees, actors Alain Delon and Ursual Andress, Prince Rainier of Monaco and the Aga Khan.
Fittingly, the first owner of this 1959 Series II example was believed to be Baroness von Thyssen. The car spent its early life in Switzerland and then Germany, undergoing a comprehensive restoration in 1982. One of only 232 produced, the 507 is now rarer and arguably more desirable than its Stuttgart rival, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL. Estimate €1,800,000 – 2,200,000.
2001 BMW Z8 Roadster
Nearly 40 years after the launch of the 507, BMW unveiled the 507’s spiritual successor, the Z07 concept. This caused such a sensation at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show, that it was put into production as the Z8 Roadster. This model will be joining its ancestor at Chantilly in the form of an original and unrestored 2001 example finished in Topaz Blue, which is offered by its original owner, having covered just over 21,000kms from new. Estimate €180,000 – 240,000.
The sale, set in the grounds of the historic Chateau de Chantilly, will offer a fine selection of 40 collectors motor cars, largely representing the finest continental marques, including:
1966 Shelby Cobra 427 One of the all-time greats of classic sports fusing European chassis engineering and the ultimate expression of American V8 power, created by the legendary Carroll Shelby. This example, powered by the desirable 427ci ‘side oiler’ engine, is featured in the official Shelby registry and has continuous ownership history. Estimate €850,000 – 950,000
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Part of Alfa Romeo’s first all-new post-war offering, the 1900 series, the attractive three window Sprint Coupé was designed by Carrozeria Touring, with the Super Sprint featuring a 1,975cc engine. Only 200 examples of the original 600 built are believed to survive today, including this beautifully-restored example offered in its stunning original two-tone coachwork of ‘Azzuro Verde Oceano with dark green roof and matching interior. Estimate €200,000 – 300,000
1954 Arnolt-Bristol DeLuxe Roadster A product of a joint venture between the British manufacturer and US industrialist ‘Wacky’ Arnolt and styled by Italian design house Bertone, the DeLuxe Roadster was a successful challenger at Le Mans and Sebring. This survivor of a production run of just 130 has competed in and is eligible for the Mille Miglia Retrospective. Estimate 290,000 – 330,000
Other highlights include: - 1962 Citroën DS Décapotable, rare and highly-desirable ‘ashtray’ model (€170,000 – 200,000).
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- 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190SL cabriolet, very early chassis number 65, possibly the earliest remaining example, with desirable bucket seats as featured in the very first cars (€90,000 – 140,000).
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- 1965 Fiat 500 Elégance Beach Car, built by Carrozzeria Savio and displayed at the 1965 Turin Motor Show, a one-off which is a must-have for any beach car collection (€75,000 – 105,000).
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- 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SS Coupé, designed by Bertone and ordered new by one of the Bertone family ladies, with the noteworthy feature of Bertone Giulia GT door handles (which are more forgiving to nail polish!). This example is offered in stunning condition (€70,000 – 100,000).
Related Material
. Lot List
Lot | Description | S/N | Estimates (€) | Resault | 01 | 1989 Citroën 2CV6 Charleston | VF7AZKA00KA 326827 | €25,000 - 35,000 (NR) | | 02 | 1956 Volkswagen Type 2 Combi Van | 20138061 | €30,000 - 50,000 (NR) | | 03 | 1954 MG Midget TF Roadster | TF2280 | €40,000 - 60,000 | | 04 | 1955 Austin-Healey 100M Roadster | BN2-L/228308 | €110,000 - 150,000 | | 05 | 1960 Lancia Flaminia GT Cabriolet | 82 404 1176 | €120,000 - 160,000 | | 06 | 2001 BMW Z8 Roadster | WBAEJ11041A F79478 | €180,000 - 240,000 | | 07 | 1962 Citroën DS19 Décapotable | 4200446 | €170,000 - 200,000 | | 08 | 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint | AR1900C 10481 | €200,000 - 300,000 | | 09 | 1959 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider | AR1020401128 | €100,000 - 150,000 | | 10 | 1932 Invicta 12/45 4½-Litre Tourer | L66 | €300,000 - 400,000 | | 11 | 1954 Salmson 2300 Sport Coupé | 85126 | €50,000 - 70,000 | | 12 | 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Cabriolet | 121.042-55. 00065 | €90,000 - 140,000 | | 14 | 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 litre coupé | 115.2392 | €160,000 - 220,000 | | 15 | 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB Vetroresina | 18889 | €150,000 - 200,000 | | 16 | 1947 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Cabriolet 'Extralusso' | 915335 | €250,000 - 300,000 | | 17 | 1954 Arnolt-Bristol DeLuxe Roadster | 404/X/3097 | €290,000 - 330,000 | | 18 | 1913 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp London-Edinburgh Silver Ghost | 2371 | €650,000 - 750,000 | | 19 | 1956 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupé | 819165 | €75,000 - 95,000 | | 20 | 1965 FIAT 500 Élégance Beach Car | 872263 | €75,000 - 105,000 | | 21 | 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster | CSX3276 | €850,000 - 950,000 | | 22 | 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider | AR169591 | €60,000 - 80,000 | | 23 | 1963 Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Cabriolet | 111.023.12. 040134 | €75,000 - 95,000 | | 24 | 1935 Bentley 3½-Litre Drophead Coupé | B65BN | €150,000 - 200,000 | | 25 | 1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Drophead Coupé | 3AZ72 | €150,000 - 250,000 (NR) | | 26 | 1952 Gordini Type 15S | 18 | €700,000 - 1,000,000 | | 28 | 1962 Porsche 356B T6 Super 90 Coupé | 211 549 | €60,000 - 90,000 (NR) | | 29 | 1960 Porsche 356B T5 Super Cabriolet | 154385 | €130,000 - 160,000 | | 30 | 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SS Coupé | AR101 2000551 | €70,000 - 100,000 | | 31 | 1991 Porsche 964 Carrera RS | WP0ZZZ96ZNS 490908 | €140,000 - 180,000 | | 32 | 1995 Porsche 993 Carrera RS | WP0ZZZ99ZTS 390135 | €230,000 - 300,000 | | 33 | 1959 BMW 507 3.2-Litre Series II Roadster | 70223 | €1,800,000 - 2,200,000 | | 34 | 1973 Intermeccanica Indra Fastback Coupé | 100025414 | €60,000 - 90,000 (NR) | | 35 | 1983 Ferrari 308 GTSi Quattrovalvole | 45673 | €65,000 - 85,000 | | 36 | 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Convertible | 113.042.10. 006621 | €90,000 - 120,000 | | 37 | 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 'Mark I' 2.6-Litre Sports Saloon | LML/526 | €190,000 - 240,000 | | 38 | 1936 Peugeot 402 Eclipse E4 Coupé Cabriolet Project | 601504 | €100,000 - 150,000 | | 39 | 1964 Maserati Sebring Series I Coupé | 101.01975 | €60,000 - 90,000 (NR) | | 40 | 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 S 'Ponton' Cabriolet | 180.030.10.95. 09259 | €80,000 - 120,000 | | 41 | 1965 Volkswagen Type 2/T1 Samba 21-Window Microbus | 245 122 891 | €100,000 - 130,000 | |
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