Bonhams 2024 Goodwood Auction
Bonhams|Cars Goodwood Festival of Speed Auction will take place later this week on July 12, 2024 in Chichester, UK. An assortment of sports cars and supercars will be on offer including a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari, one of just 499 produced, as well as a 1995 Porsche 911 Type 993 GT2 Coupé. That particular Porsche is considered something of the holy grail from the 993-generation. There are many more cars set to cross the block this week so we’re going to take a look at five of them here.
The 1952 Frazer Nash Mille Miglia Sports Roadster embodies the spirit of post-war British automotive ingenuity and racing heritage. Frazer Nash, known for its bespoke and high-performance sports cars, developed the Mille Miglia to compete in the infamous Italian endurance race of the same name. The car was a testament to the marque’s dedication to engineering excellence and lightweight construction, which were crucial for the demanding conditions of the Mille Miglia.
Under the hood, the Mille Miglia Sports Roadster was equipped with a powerful 2.0-liter Bristol six-cylinder engine, capable of producing around 125 horsepower. This engine, derived from the pre-war BMW 328, was renowned for its reliability and performance. The car’s chassis, characterized by its unique chain-drive system, offered exceptional handling and agility. This innovative design allowed the Mille Miglia to reach incredible speeds while retaining impressive cornering abilities, making it a strong competitor in endurance racing.
The car’s design, featuring a sleek and aerodynamic body, combined with its racing pedigree, contributes to its legendary status among sports car enthusiasts and collectors. Its rarity certainly helps with that too, as this example being offered by Bonhams is one of just 11 that were produced. In fact, it’s the last Mark 1 Mille Miglia built by AFN Ltd.
This very car was displayed at the 1952 Turin Motor Show, a proud moment for the manufacturer, seeing it alongside the best designs Italy could muster.
At first glance it seems that the estimate from Bonhams may be a bit strong, but as it is the final one of these produced there may be more to come from bidders than if it was one of the other 10 examples produced. This very car got a high bid of £520,000 in 2022 but it didn’t sell at that, so it will be fascinating to see how the bidding plays out at Bonhams.
Estimate: £400,000 – £450,000
The 1928 Mercedes-Benz 36/220 S-Type Sports Tourer stands as a perfect example of pre-war automotive excellence and engineering ability. Designed by the legendary Ferdinand Porsche, the S-Type was renowned for its combination of luxury, performance, and advanced technology.
Powered by a supercharged 6.8-liter inline-six engine, the S-Type could produce an impressive 180 horsepower, making it one of the fastest and most powerful cars of its era. Its elegant and aerodynamic bodywork, often crafted by renowned coachbuilders such as Sindelfingen and Saoutchik, exuded sophistication and style.
The 36/220 S-Type’s remarkable speed, combined with its luxurious appointments and groundbreaking engineering, made it a favorite among the elite and a dominant force in motorsport, particularly in endurance racing.
The example being offered by Bonhams is a British delivery car and has passed through the collections of many prominent automotive enthusiasts. It’s been in its current ownership since 1991 and is quite possibly the only surviving example with its unique sporting body by Sindelfingen. It’s a matching-numbers example and presents a stunning opportunity for bidders later this week.
Estimate: £1,600,000 – £2,500,000
Mercedes-Benz introduced the 300 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1951 and was envisioned as a competitor for the likes of Rolls Royce. Offered as a large sedan or a four-door cabriolet, the model was capable of driving comfortably at 100 mph.
The 300 Sc was built as a fuel-injected successor to the 300 S when the roadster version of the 300 SL was delayed. Production was extremely limited with just 98 coupes, 49 roadsters, and 49 Cabriolet A versions built. When new it was actually priced above the 300 SL Gullwing, but is notably less costly today.
The example being offered by Bonhams underwent a complete restoration around 1987 and has been maintained well since that time. It’s been owned by the consignor since 2007 and benefits from recommissioning work completed by Jim Stokes Workshops recently.
The estimate from Bonhams seems reasonable for this model so we’ll be surprised if it doesn’t end up selling, though it likely won’t bring more than £400,000.
Estimate: £350,000 – £450,000
This 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ Coupé is one of only 59 examples that were delivered new to the UK and features the ever-desirable knock-off Rudge wheels. It’s a numbers-matching car, as shown in the documentation that accompanies the car.
It was restored by Daimler-Benz from 1989 to 1992 and still presents nicely thanks to the work done by the ultimate experts on the Gullwing. The restoration included replacing or refurbishing everything they could from a cosmetic standpoint, while the engine, gearbox, axles, and other mechanical gear was rebuilt at Stuttgart. It received a fresh silver paint job with its red leather and red carpets completed in the original materials. They went so far as to restore the original speakers!
Bonhams sold this very car in 2011 and since that sale it appears to have covered just 35 kilometers. It’s been undergoing a recommissioning by Jim Stokes Workshops while the fuel-injection pump is currently being completed and tested by specialists in Germany. Since the decommissioning was not completed prior to this auction, Bonhams states that the seller will cover the cost of returning it to JSW and any remaining costs to complete the process.
Compared with other Gullwings that have changed hands recently the estimate from Bonhams seems in-line with the market. It’s not every day that bidders have a chance to own a Gullwing restored by the manufacturer themselves so this should have no problem hitting its reserve.
Estimate: £950,000 – £1,100,000
The 1950 Aston Martin 3.0L DB2 was a significant milestone in the history of the British auto builder. It was the first model from Aston Martin to feature the DB designation, in honor of David Brown who acquired the company in 1947. When it was unveiled at the 1950 New York Auto Show it proved to be a significant change from previous Aston Martins with a sleeker, more aerodynamic design that saw Aston Martin lead the way in performance and style in the post-war era.
Thanks in part to the 3.0L Lagonda straight-six engine, the DB2 was able to place first and second in its class at the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans. Later that same year Briggs Cunningham took his DB2 to second in its class at the first Sebring race meeting in December.
The example being offered by Bonhams is one of the three that were entered at Le Mans in 1950 by the Aston Martin factory. It was the only one not able to start the race due to damage that was sustained while being driven to the circuit. It was used by Aston Martin as a press car for some time before being sold in early 1951 to a private owner.
The car would go on to have a very successful racing career. It was raced by notable drivers including Stirling Moss and Eric Thompson. Eventually the car was outperformed by its newer competition and was sold by its owner in 1955. It spent some time on display at the Le Mans Museum until 1979 when it was purchased by its former driver, Eric Thompson.
It eventually landed in a notable Aston Martin collection along with one of the other cars that left the factory back in 1950 to compete at Le Mans along with VMF 65. Most recently it’s been in the hands of a collector who campaigned it at numerous vintage events and has been carefully maintained as well as kept up-to-date with FIA regulations.
Based on the estimate from Bonhams this has every chance of being a million dollar car by the time the auction ends.
Estimate: £800,000 – £1,200,000