Broad Arrow Villa d'Este
Broad Arrow Auctions held their first ever European auction over the past weekend at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shore of Lake Como. The sale spanned two days with the first day devoted to BMW and the second day featuring other marques. Sales totaled €31,172,625 and the auction house achieved a 78% sell-through rate.
The top BMW sale was a 1980 BMW M1 that sold for €602,500, which also closed out the top ten most expensive lots of the entire weekend. On the second day of the auction two new world records for auction prices were set.
The 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa holds a significant place in the history of automobiles, marking one of Ferrari’s initial and impactful race cars. During its early years as a company, Ferrari developed this vehicle based on the 166 S platform. It was among the first Ferraris to capture Enzo Ferrari’s ambition to create high-performance machines primarily designed for racing.
Under the hood, it featured a 2.0L V12 engine crafted by Gioachino Colombo, delivering approximately 110 horsepower—a notable output given its lightweight and open-top design. The name “166” signifies that each cylinder had a displacement of 166 cubic centimeters.
In 1948, the Spyder Corsa demonstrated its capabilities on the racetrack with impressive results. It participated in numerous European races and achieved noteworthy victories, such as at the Circuito di Pescara, helping to build Ferrari’s reputation in motorsport. These successes contributed significantly to Ferrari’s rising prominence in Italian road racing competitions during that era.
The body of the cars were constructed by renowned Italian coachbuilders like Carrozzeria Touring, though in the case of this specific example from Broad Arrow at their Villa d’Este sale it was bodied by Ansaloni.
This was very well-sold for €7,543,750 at the high-end of Broad Arrow’s estimate and a new auction record price for the Ferrari 166.
The 2003 Honda NSX-R, also referred to as the NSX Type R, is considered the ultimate version of Honda’s renowned NSX series and was offered for sale by Broad Arrow at their Villa d’Este auction. This lightweight and track-oriented iteration evolved from the original supercar that revolutionized performance and handling in the 1990s.
Developed based on the facelifted second-generation NSX introduced in 2002, the NSX-R was a model exclusive to Japan, crafted by Honda’s racing division to maximize performance for both road and race conditions. While it utilized the same 3.2-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine (C32B) found in the standard NSX—delivering approximately 290 horsepower—the real allure of the NSX-R stemmed from its precise tuning and significant weight reduction efforts.
Additionally, the NSX-R included a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission, a limited-slip differential, and finely-tuned suspension, all contributing to exceptional handling and superior driver feedback. Its aerodynamic improvements, such as a vented hood and an enlarged rear wing, enhanced stability at high speeds.
Despite not having exceptionally high horsepower numbers compared to some European competitors of its time, the 2003 Honda NSX-R garnered widespread admiration for its well-balanced chassis, mid-engine design, and focus on delivering a pure driving experience. It achieved notable lap times at circuits like Suzuka and even competed with much more expensive supercars.
This was well-sold for €934,375, setting another auction record price.