The ex-Christophe Ferrari 512 BB, two Porsche 911 RSRs, a royal Facel Vega and the 300 SL Roadster discovered in Cuba will all appear in the remarkable Monaco 2021 sale to be held by Artcurial Motorcars on 19 July 2021 in Monaco.
With a few of the exceptional cars in the Monaco sale already announced, such as the Aston Martin DB5, same owner since 1978, and the Lamborghini Miura previously owned by Peugeot Design Chief Paul Bouvot, Artcurial Motorcars now lifts the curtain on the full line- up of automobiles in next month’s prestigious auction. Following the successful « Parisienne 2021 » sale that realised nearly 18 M€ earlier this year, the Artcurial
Monaco 2021 sale to be held by Artcurial Motorcars on 19 July 2021 in Monaco
Motorcars team have assembled a selection to satisfy the Monegasque passion for automobiles. On offer will be 121 cars, 4 motorcycles and 15 lots of rare automobilia, each with their own fascinating story, to attract the attention of enthusiasts from around the world. The sale will take place on Monday 19 July 2021 at the Hôtel Hermitage de Monaco.
In search of the forgotten Mercedes 300 SL Roadster
The splendid Mercedes 300 SL Roadster on offer left the factory in 1957 and was delivered new to Cuba, in the midst of a revolution! Before the revolution, it was common for cars to be imported into Cuba and there were many organised race events there. It was not until the 1980s that Colin Crabbe discovered two Mercedes 300 SLs that had remained in Cuba, forgotten for decades. He took them to England and the subsequent owner of the more complete of the pair, the car on offer, set about a long and ambitious restoration of the car during the 1990s. According to a specialist of the model, the number of Roadsters built with factory-fitted Rudge wheels, like our example, was between 19 and 25, making this very rare. This magnificent Mercedes 300 SL Roadster still has some secrets to reveal. There are parts of its early life that remain a mystery still to be solved….with a rumour that the car once belonged to Raul Castro.
« Quand ta flèche rouge fait battre le coeur »
Christophe’s Ferrari 512 BBi turns heads. «Quand ta flèche rouge fait battre le coeur» (When your red arrow makes hearts beat faster) These are lyrics taken from the song “Enzo”, a passionate homage to Enzo Ferrari written in 1996 by French singer/songwriter Daniel Bevilacqua, better known as Christophe.
Christophe was passionate about motorsport. Of Italian origin, he loved sports cars, in particular Lamborghini and Ferrari. He acquired this 512 BBi in 1983 and enjoyed driving it for over ten years. Restored in 2014, the car has retained its original and distinctive interior designed by Ermenegildo Zegna, in black Connolly leather and grey wool. Presented in its original colour scheme, a magnificent two-tone rosso chiaro with satin black, the intoxicating sound of this car’s flat-12 “boxer’ engine will not leave music lovers unmoved.
Her Majesty the Facel II
Who could resist the charm and sophistication of a Facel Vega? Very few apparently, which is why Ringo Starr, Ava Gardner and Tony Curtis were amongst the many celebrities spotted driving around in one.
Certain royal figures were also drawn to the ultimate in post-war French luxury motoring. Norodom Sihanouk, the King of Cambodia, acquired this splendid Facel II new in 1964. One of just 183 examples built, the car was driven around the streets of Phnom Penh, and appeared in the opening scenes of the film “Aspara”, written and directed by the King himself in 1965 – 1967. Our Facel II then returned to France around 1967 where it was used in Paris by a young cousin of the King. In 1998, it was bought by a member of the Amicale Facel Vega, who treated the car to a full and high-quality restoration carried out in the Lecoq workshops. With its Royal provenance and unusual history, this rare Facel II is a wonderful tribute to the best in French luxury.
A Porsche 2.5L ST that has competed in the Targa Florio, a Porsche 2.8 RSR, one of just two delivered in black, and one of three Kremer Porsche 911 3.0 RSRs.
Over the years, Porsche has been responsible for some truly exceptional models suitable for both road and track. Highlights in the sale illustrating this include a 1973 Porsche 911 2.7 RS, one of just 15 delivered in aubergine, along with some rare and desirable competition Porsche.
Coming from a major Italian collection is a lovely Porsche 911 2.5 ST, modified and race-prepared in 1972 from a 1969 2-litre 911S. The car has great racing provenance, having taken part in period in the Targa Florio and the Giro d’Italia Automobilistico. It comes with full history and has been meticulously restored, to original specification and 911 ST and 911 Carrera RS/RSR FIA homologation.
The RSR is an exceptional race car that can be enjoyed on both road or track. The 1973 Porsche 2.8L RSR in the sale, one of 49 examples of which just two were delivered in black, was sold new to the US. The same year it finished an impressive 6th place at Lime Rock driven by endurance and F1 driver Peter Revson. This very rare 2.8 RSR is fully restored and presented in its factory configuration.
Another exceptional competition car to star in the Monaco sale will be the 1975 Kremer Porsche 911 3.0L RSR. This stunning machine is one of four RSR chassis that remained with the factory once production of the model had ceased, three of which Porsche gave to Kremer Racing. In the hands of champion driver Cees Siewertsen, it competed successfully in the DRM and GT German championships in the mid-1970s, clocking up two victories at Diepholz and Hockenheim. It is presented in superb condition, in original « Wallys Jeans Lucky Star » livery. It offers a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most desirable racing Porsche on the market.
Two passions, two exceptional collections and more !
A remarkable collection in the sale includes a very rare 1937 Frazer Nash BMW 328. It was built in England under BMW licence to the exact specification of the German models that dominated hillclimb events towards the end of the 1930s. This ex-Earl Howe Frazer Nash BMW 328, chassis #85037, was completely restored in 2013, benefitting from nearly 200 000 € of work carried out by BMW Classic, making it one of the best examples of around 200 BMW 328s in existence today.
Another highlight in the Monaco 2021 sale is a collection of six British cars owned by a gentleman farmer, featuring a Bentley Speed Six Le Mans Tourer. All the lots on offer can be viewed between Saturday 17 and Monday 19 July 2021 at one of two sites, the Collection de Voitures de S. A.S le Prince de Monaco and the Chapiteau de l’Espace Fontvieille. More information
« Sun, sea, casino, palm trees, we promise to take you on a festive Monegasque motoring journey, full of the passion that unites us all! In the midst of an active and dynamic market, we are delighted to present 125 rare and historic vehicles, with attractive estimates, a third of which have no reserve price! » Matthieu Lamoure – Managing Director, Artcurial Motorcars
