Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012 – Auction Report

Lot # 249 1956 Lotus Eleven Le Mans Sports Racer; S/N 211; BRGreen/Red; Estimate $211,761 – $274,505; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $211,761 plus commission of 13.11%; Final Price $239,525 – RHD. Silver painted wire wheels, full width wraparound windscreen, 1098cc Coventry Climax engine with dual sidedraft Webers, deDion rear axle, disc brakes. 1956 Lotus factory entry at Le Mans driven by Cliff Allison and Keith Hall, crashed after hitting a dog on the Mulsanne Straight. Factory special Eleven with 8 inch wider frame, covered headlights and driving lights, larger seats and footwells to 1956 regulations. Subsequently raced in the US, restored by Crosthwaite & Gardiner to ’56 Le Mans specs and appearance for Dieter Holterbosch and unused since in pristine condition, probably better than when it was scrutineered for Le Mans. Olav Glasius Collection. Elevens are highly desirable sports racers, even when fitted with a side valve Ford engine and live rear axle. In Le Mans specs with the wider passenger compartment required by the post-1955 disaster regulations and meticulously restored, they are among the most intriguing and potentially competitive historic race cars available. Add in real Le Mans history and this is car that will be welcomed at any event, tour, show or vintage race. The entry ticket alone is a substantial component of this result; the itself car is a good value.

Lot # 251 1962 Lotus-Buick V8 Type 19 ‘Monte Carlo’ Sports Racer; S/N 962; Black, Aluminum sills/Red vinyl; Estimate $235,290 – $313,720; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $219,604 plus commission of 13.07%; Final Price $248,309 – RHD. Black alloy wheels, wraparound windscreen, covered headlights, driver’s rollbar, BOP aluminum V-8 with four sidedraft Webers, Hewland 5-speed transaxle. First owned and raced in the USRRC and SCCA by Rod Carveth. Long term in the Rosso et Bianco collection, retained by Evert Louwman after its dispersal and restored to USRRC condition for Olav Glasius. Fresh and unused, although the pictured ‘Buick’ engine doesn’t have Buick heads. Olav Glasius Collection. The 350 pound 215 cubic inch BOP aluminum V-8 was a powerful, lightweight alternative to Lotus’s favored Coventry Climax FPF and quickly vaulted the Lotus 19 to contention in American road racing. With this car’s history and excellent, fresh restoration it should be a highly satisfying entry in the popular historic USRRC series, especially in its sinister black Rod Carveth livery and at this realistic price. [A Mk IX with the same chassis number was sold by Christie's at Earls Court in 1987 for $45,704 and by The Auction in Las Vegas in 1991 for $54,600.]

Lot # 253 1963 Lotus-BMW Type 23B Sports Racer; S/N 23-S-85; White/Red, Black vinyl; Estimate $133,331 – $196,075; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $141,174 plus commission of 13.67%; Final Price $160,468 – RHD. Black wobbly wheels. 2 liter BMW engine with dual 45DCOE Webers, Peterson dry sump, Hewland transaxle. Apparently (as evidenced by the Lotus ID tag) one of three 23Bs built with the BMW engine. Carries original bodywork with FIA-required spare wheel and tire storage. Formerly owned by Bob Sutherland. Freshly restored in 2011 for Olav Glasius, run at last year’s Goodwood Revival but otherwise hardly used at all and in like new condition. Olav Glasius Collection. Offered by Christie’s at Pebble Beach in 2000 where it no-saled at $48,000, then sold by Bonhams at Quail a year later for $46,000 in tired, used, parlous condition with bodywork by Bondo, this result is what a comprehensive, professional can do. The price it brought is probably less than what the seller had in it

Lot # 254 1963 Lotus-Ford Type 27 Formula Jr.; S/N 27/JM/6; BRGreen, Yellow stripe/Red leather; Estimate $117,645 – $149,017; Competition car, original as-raced, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $139,605 plus commission of 13.69%; Final Price $158,711 – 1-liter engine, yellow wobbly Lotus alloy wheels. One of the first aluminum-skinned monocoque Type 27s, raced from new, later owned by Jan Deken in Holland and eventually by Evert Louwman since 1966 and totally original and as last raced, including the original Lotus sheet metal. ID numbers may be 63/13 or 24-6-63. Olav Glasius Collection. This survivor quality Lotus 27 poses a real quandary for its new owner because preparing it to race safely today will irreparably compromise its originality. The bidders seem to have grappled realistically with the question and come down on the side of paying a serious price for its preservation and originality.

Lot # 255 1967 Lotus-Ford Type 47 Competition Coupe; S/N 47GT48; Red. White/Black; Estimate $109,802 – $141,174; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $101,959 plus commission of 14.31%; Final Price $116,547 – RHD. Lotus-Ford 1594cc engine, Hewland FT200 transaxle, centerlock alloy wheels, Avon racing tires, slide throttle fuel injection. Originally owned by Clive Vandervell (of the bearing family.) Restored in the early 90′s and unused since. The lack of halfshafts makes it easy to roll around. Olav Glasius Collection. Sold by Coys at Silverstone in July 1993 in partially restored condition and completed subsequently. While it looks like a Europa, it isn’t, instead being one of Lotus’s more successful giant killer GT cars. It has all the right original stuff (except those halfshafts) and brought a healthy price from the Goodwood bidders despite the age of its restoration and its need for no small amount of expensive re-commissioning.

Lot # 256 1969 Lotus-Ford Type 61 Formula Ford; S/N 61M-X-F3-219; Red, White, Gold nose/Red, Black fabric; Estimate $23,529 – $31,372; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $21,176 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $24,353 – Restored some time ago with a Scholar FFord engine and unused since restoration. No Reserve. Olav Glasius Collection. The need for thorough checking and updated preparation seems to be fully discounted in this price.

Lot # 257 1961 Ford Thames Replica Lotus Cars Ltd. Van; S/N N400VZ11012011; BRGreen/Green; Estimate $23,529 – $39,215; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $31,372 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $36,078 – RHD. Replica of one of the Ford Thames vans used to tow Lotus team cars. Equipped with a 2.5 liter Ford Zephyr six. Done completely and to high standards throughout including hand lettered livery. Olav Glasius Collection. Said to have cost GBP50,000 to restore and looks like all the money was well spent. The ideal complement to a racing Lotus from the Sixties, even at this price.

Lot # 269 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Liter Supercharged Tourer; S/N NT3131; Engine # NT3131S; BRGreen/Black; Estimate $784,300 – $1,098,020; Modified restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,098,020 plus commission of 12.21%; Final Price $1,232,135 – RHD. Built up from a frame, axles and miscellaneous parts. Restored by Dennis Keen with shortened 9 foot 9 1/2 inch wheelbase, supercharger, new engine, D type gearbox, Vanden Plas style Le Mans tourer body by Metcalfe & Rosedale, etc., etc. Completed in 1990 and toured since. Dual aeroscreens behind a folding windshield, dual sidemounts, luggage trunk, cycle front fenders, dip beam light, headlight stoneguards and enough instruments for Spitfire plus a modern rally computer. Good cosmetics throughout, shows age and use but also superb care and attention. Unusually charismatic and imposing, there is no more appropriate argument for Bentley owners willing acceptance of cars built up from a few bits than NT3131. It’s easy to succumb to the allure of this machine, even if WO Bentley would be chagrined to see the Blower, which he disliked, honored by this much effort. Appropriately patinaed and lovingly maintained, this is a driver’s car and it brought an enthusiastic price.

Lot # 272 1912 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Double Pullman Limousine, Body by Barker; S/N 1907; Engine # 127; Beige, Grey accent/Grey cloth; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $6,588,121 plus commission of 12.04%; Final Price $7,381,048 – RHD. Nickel trim, CAV lighting, etc. Numerous paint cracks on the bodywork. Some scratches on side window glass appear to have been done while sanding window frames for revarnishing. One of the most important Silver Ghosts, not only for its survival with its original body and engine but also because it is recognized by millions as the prototype for the Corgi model car. Wonderfully restored and equipped with lavish accessories and accoutrements including a complete (original) tea service and picnic set housed in the rear compartment footrest. Unique coachwork intended as an owner-driver limousine, without a division and with the front compartment as luxuriously trimmed as the rear. A stunning automobile. The most expensive car of the Richard Solove Collection at Gooding’s Pebble Beach auction in 2007, selling for $2,970,000 to John O’Quinn. This result is almost beyond belief, more than double its price just five years ago, but it is a singular Rolls-Royce, with a famed history and magnificently equipped. A benchmark sale.

Lot # 274 1957 AC Aceca V8 Coupe; S/N BE605; Engine # 9K113610; Red/Black leather; Estimate $86,273 – $109,802; Original, modified for competition or performance, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $86,273 plus commission of 14.73%; Final Price $98,979 – Lefthand drive. Chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, wood dashboard panels. Converted some years ago with a 289 Ford V-8, T10 gearbox and Salisbury differential. Good older paint and interior all showing some age. A sound and usable example of the Cobra coupe AC and Shelby never got around to making. It would probably be worth more with the original Bristol engine, but wouldn’t be nearly as fast. This result is appropriate to its condition, history and potential.

Lot # 283 1968 Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk1 Rally Saloon; S/N BB49HT35069; White, Matte Black hood/Black; Estimate $101,959 – $117,645; Competition car, original as-raced, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $97,253 plus commission of 14.42%; Final Price $111,276 – RHD. The 1969 Circuit of Ireland and Welsh Rally factory team winner, rallied until 1991. Restored in Group VI specification with a new body shell, 1850cc Twin Cam engine, racing gearbox and all equipment to 1969 specs including a Halda Twinmaster. Completed in 2010 with little subsequent use and still in factory racing condition with good cosmetics and sanitary preparation. Historic rally participants are less concerned with minute details of originality. In fact, if this largely newly constructed Escort is any guide, they’re not concerned at all. A successful and traceable history and magnificent preparation are more than sufficient. While this result is under Bonhams low pre-sale estimate, it’s not far below and reflects this car’s pretty much new everything, like George Washington’s axe.