Bonhams Goodwood 2024
Bonhams will be holding one of the Goodwood auctions on April 14, 2024 with a preview day occurring on April 13. It’s the Goodwood Members’ Meeting Sale and should have some turnkey cars as well as projects for those seeking to restore a classic. Goodwood is an iconic setting for automotive enthusiasts in the UK and absolutely worth the trek should one get the opportunity. There’s always a wide range of cars on offer whenever Bonhams holds a sale at Goodwood so let’s look at some of the variety here.
This 1959 FIAT-Abarth 750 GT Zagato ‘Double Bubble’ Coupé was imported to the US via Burbank Sports Cars when it was new by Jim “JP” Parkinson, the North American importer for Abarth. Although its earliest history upon leaving Burbank Sports Cars is unknown, the car is documented in The Italian Car Registry by John de Boer.
These cars were built to race and as such they were produced in limited numbers. It’s estimated somewhere around 500 examples were built, but far fewer of them remain today as so many were driven on the track. In 1957 the 750 GT Zagato ‘Double Bubble’ was dominant at the Mille Miglia taking first, second, and third place in its class.
This car eventually made its way to Australia where a restoration was completed between 2007 and 2010, following which it took first place at the Noosa Classic in the European Sports Cars category.
It was acquired by the consignor in 2015 who completed the restoration by restoring much of the car to its factory specs. Since that time it’s covered about 1,700 miles. Although it’s currently equipped with an 843cc engine, it does come with a factory-correct 747cc engine as well as an original toolkit and jack.
Estimate: £80,000 – £100,000
Following its introduction at the Geneva Salon in 1961, the Jaguar E-Type Series I was produced until 1968 and to this day it remains one of the most iconic sports cars ever built. The example set to be offered by Bonhams was delivered new to Italy and spent the next 57 years there.
It’s equipped with a four-speed manual gearbox as well as power four-wheel disc brakes. Its current owner has focused on mechanical restoration since attaining the car in 2019, although more recently the car underwent a paint correction along with an engine bay detailing and thorough cleaning of the fabric roof.
Estimate: £80,000 – £100,000
This is one of only ten examples of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren ‘Crown Edition’ Coupé to be produced. Although we usually think of the 722 Edition or one of the other lower-production versions of the SLR when considering a rare edition of this car, with just ten ever built the Crown Edition is quite possibly a car not many are familiar with.
The Crown Edition is upgraded with parts from the 722-spec SLR that includes the upgraded engine, carbon fiber aerodynamic elements, and alloy wheels. It’s as close to a 722 as any SLR can be without actually being a 722.
The car on offer by Bonhams is a single-owner example that shows less than 50 miles it was new. It spent most of its life, pretty much since the owner took delivery of it, sitting in a static display but it recently underwent a recommissioning and service in preparation for its next home.
Estimate: £200,000 – £300,000
The Renault 5 Turbo 2 is the epitome of the hot hatch as built by the French manufacturer in the 1980s. It’s the successor to the original Renault 5 Turbo that was built to homologate the car for Group B rallying, but it’s no less impressive. In fact, it was less expensive but extremely close in terms of performance compared with the R5 Turbo.
It can run from 0 to 60 mph in under 7 seconds and is powered by a turbocharged 1.4L engine that sits in the rear of the car, in place of the backseat. It’s equipped with a five-speed transaxle that delivers power to its rear wheels.
Renault built 3,576 examples of the R5 Turbo 2 between 1983 and 1986, but the car was never sold in the UK where it is to be auctioned by Bonhams. It was imported from Japan by the consignor and its odometer shows that’s covered roughly 6,500 miles since new.
Estimate: £50,000 – £70,000