A stylish 1967 Maserati Mistral 4.0-Litre Spyder is the leading lot of Bonhams Goodwood Members Meeting Sale, at the forefront of a line up peppered with rarities and one-offs at the Bonhams motor cars UK’s first sale of 2022 at the West Sussex Motor Circuit on 10 April.
The last of the classic 6-cylinder Maseratis, powered by derivatives of the 250F engine which propelled Juan Manual Fangio to the Formula 1 World Championship in 1957, the elegant Mistral was the work of leading Italian car designer Pietro Frua. A two-seater grand tourer, it was built in coupé and convertible (Spyder) variants. Of the latter, only 123 were produced over four years.
This example, a desirable four-litre car, had started life in New York. However, just 14 years later it was acquired as a partly dismantled restoration project by its current UK-based vendor. A past chairman of the Maserati Owners Club and the Mistral’s owner for more than 40 years, he oversaw a comprehensive restoration of the Italian thoroughbred sports car, including an extensive engine rebuild. Returned to its former glory, this rare and sought-after Mistral is offered with an estimate of £300,000 – 400,000.
Mention Aston Martin and most people think of the DB5 as driven by the cinematic spy James Bond. However, rather than 007, Bonhams is offering one of only seven Lagonda Series 1 cars built in period (estimate £200,000 – 300,000), which was the 1975 Earls Court Motor Show display car no less.
The four-door saloon which revived the dormant Lagonda name was said to embody former Aston Martin owner David Brown’s desire to be chauffeured in a car of his own making. Based on the two-door V8, the stretched four-seater was 24% more expensive and the most exclusive model in the Aston Martin fleet. However, the Middle East oil crisis of the era put paid to demand for a luxury, high-speed cruiser and so the model was mothballed.
This 1975 Lagonda has been meticulously rebuilt and upgraded to modern motoring standards by renowned Aston Martin specialist Richard Williams for the previous owner. Most notably its power was increased to 480bhp courtesy of RS Williams’ 7.0-litre V8 conversion, with a contemporary top speed of 170mph. The car will require re-commissioning having been stored over the past 10 years.
Other highlights of the first UK-based Bonhams collectors’ car sale of the year include:
Ace collection of ACs
Surely one of the most comprehensive collections of ACs, this octet spans 70 years of the independent British marque and was amassed over five decades by the vendor – who was an AC enthusiast before he could even drive. Leading the pack is a 1958 Ace Roadster (estimate £140,000 – 180,000).
Also included is a 1963 Greyhound 2.6-Litre Coupé originally built for the company’s managing director Derek Hurlock, estimate £40,000 – 60,000, and another Earls Court motor show model, a 1993 AC Brooklands Ace Roadster, estimate £20,000 – 30,000.
As a nod to the Goodwood Members Meeting, the sale will feature an array of racing and rally cars, led by a 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0-Litre Rally car, which was first campaigned by Polish rally ace Sobislav Zasada in the 30,000 kms 1977 London to Sydney Marathon. The car has taken part in numerous long-distance rallies since then, including the 2005 East African Classic Safari Rally, when its crew was four-time Safari winner Björn Waldegaard and the vendor, receiving the Henry Liddon Memorial Trophy for the team best demonstrating the spirit of the event.
This Carrera is noted for having covered more competitive kilometres than any other Porsche. It has an estimate of £200,000 – 300,000.
Also lining up at the Goodwood Motor Circuit are:
1964 Aston Martin DB5 Sports Saloon, estimate £280,000-350,000.
TBC…This 1964 AM has been cherished by its vendor since 1968, making it arguably one of the longest-standing single-ownership Astons Martins to come to market.
1974 Ferrari 365 BB GT4, estimate £200,000 – 300,000.
One of only 58 right-hand drive, UK-market examples of the Berlinetta Boxer, the first Ferrari to feature a flat-12 engine and the fastest production car of the 1970s. This matching chassis and engine car was recently extensively restored by marque specialists at a cost of £94,000 and has covered circa 500 miles since.
Ex-Joe Siffert 1961 Lotus Formula Junior Monoposto, estimate £70,000 – £90,000.
Campaigned throughout the 1961 season by the late Swiss ace, the Lotus has latterly been rebuilt to ‘as new’ condition and raced successfully in modern historic Formula Junior events.
Tim Schofield, Head of Department, Bonhams Motor Cars UK, said: “Our first UK sale of the year represents the full history of the motor car, offering collectors’ cars from the dawn of motoring to contemporary supercars, some of which are offered with No Reserve.
“We’re delighted to be back at the Spring Goodwood Members Meeting and look forward to supporting the Duke of Richmond and the wider Goodwood team throughout the coming motoring season.”
The Bonhams Goodwood Members Meeting Sale will be staged as a live auction for the first time in three years on Sunday 10 April at 1pm.
The sale will be livestreamed via bonhams.com and goodwood.com and will also be available on the Bonhams App, which provides registered bidders the opportunity to bid in real time online via Bonhams.com while watching the auctioneer and videos of cars on offer. Absentee and telephone bids are also encouraged.
Pre-sale viewing will take place at Goodwood from 9am – 5.30pm on Saturday 9 April and from 9am on the Sunday sale day. Contact ukcars@bonhams.com for further details and to register.
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