The enduring appeal of BMW’s flagship 1950s sportscar, the 507, proved irresistible at the Scottsdale auction in Arizona. The 1959 Series II roadster, one of just 253 of the elegant Von Goertz-designed cars made, sold for $1,809,000 (£1.4m).
Meanwhile it was Ferrari that was flavour of the month at Goodwood in July for the Bonhams Festival of Speed sale. Three of Maranello’s finest took the top three spots, headed up by a Ferrari Dino 246/60 Formula 1 single-seater recreation, selling for £967,000. That was closely followed by an F40 (£883,000 ) and a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT berlinetta, one of 50 bodied by Carrozzeria Ellena, which made £514,167.
A the Goodwood Revival in September it was Jaguars that ruled. As well as setting a new auction mark for XJ220 values, Bonhams sold the well known historic racing D-type of Revival racer Valentine Lindsay for £799,000, the top lot of the day. The British theme continued with a brace of Bentleys: a 1955 R-Type Continental which made £642,200, and a 1931 4/8.0-Litre two-seater, achieving £603,000.
Great British sportscars made the headlines at Bonhams’ last sale of the year, in Bond St in December. Top price went to a 1965 “concours condition” Aston Martin DB5, (£582,000), followed by a 1955 Austin Healey 100S (£575,000), another well-known Revival racer and one of 55 100Ss that A-H made to celebrate the model’s success at Sebring in the 1950s.
*All prices include buyers’ premium; exchange rates $1=76p; 1 euro=85p
Images courtesy of Bonhams.