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The Cream of Chantilly at Bonhams June Motor Car Sale


1952 Gordini Type 15S Barquette s_n 018 Est. €700,000 - €1,000,000

1952 Gordini Type 15S Barquette s_n 018 Est. €700,000 - €1,000,000

 

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).
  •  
  • 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).
  •  
  • 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).
  •  
  • 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

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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