We showed you what RM Sotheby’s has to offer at Pebble Beach Monterey. Now lets have a look at what Bonhams will be selling.

Rather than only choose multi- million dollar cars (as we did with our RM Sotheby’s post), we are going to do it a little different this time. We choose two million dollar cars (just above a million) together with two other cars, that in my opinion are being ignored by the market, even though both are brand names and sought after by collectors. First up two cars that will sell around the million dollar mark. (All picture credits go to Bonhams).

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1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

We start with one of the most beautifully designed cars ever made. By Pininfarina.

If there ever any doubt that the king of design in the 1950s and 1960s was Pininfarina – this car should quiet down the doubters. The B24 spider is one of the most elegant cars to come out of the Pininfarina house. What makes this even more interesting is the fact that the original colors are nicer than the car shown in red. Imagine the car in pale green outside and dark green inside? Can you picture how beautiful the car would look? I can.

This car has said to have only five owners from new and went through a thorough restoration sometime after 1980. Presumably the car needs to be restored again as it has been over 30 years since the last one. A good chance for the new owner to restore the car back to the original colors. The car additionally comes with the original tool book, instruction manual. What is nice about this particular car is that all the owners can be traced back to 1971.

There is no mention of the gearbox and engine being not original so I have to assume it is. Also for the asking estimate price of $1.2 -1.5m I strongly assume it is. A perfect Aurelia B24 S is worth the estimate that Bonhams carries. This car has last been restored 30 years ago. I advise a buyer to try and secure the car below the low estimate. Everything else would be overpaying in my view. More information on the car can be found here. 

The cars profile is a dream from any angle. From the side especially beautiful (above) and from the front below.

The car is also stunning from this angle below (also wondering how they positioned that car – not much room for error).

The last picture shows the car from above. It is sculpture and perhaps one of Pininfarina’s best designs.

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1956 Porsche 356 A Carrera GS Speedster

The next car is one of my all time favourites. I love Porsche and this has to be in my view one of the coolest, rarest and just most desirable cars to come out of Porsche.

Ever.

The 356 Speedster is a dream car to begin with even though they are many and it was meant as a car for the masses relatively speaking. But once you see a speedster with a carrera GS sign – well then you know you are talking about a serious collectors car. According to Bonhams only 151 of these carrera GS speedsters were made. They are very rare.

The main attraction is of course the Fuhrman Engine 4 cam which delivered an outstanding 135bhp (remember that 356 Porsches carry a weight of a feather) and the engine can happily rev above 7000rpm. This car received its last restoration in 1994 where it was repainted black over red interior. Yes the car looks attractive in these colors but the car was born better! The original colors are aquamarine blue over beige leather – for me the most attractive combination for a 356 (for a picture of one see here)!

The only minor drawback is the car does NOT carry the original engine nor the original gearbox. Yes that is a negative BUT it carries a correct period 547/2 engine mainly used for the 550 spyders and one of the earliest Fuhrman engines built. Also the rudge wheels are not original to the car and were added later on.

I think the correct type engine and not original one, together with non original colors are reflected adequately in the estimate of the $800-1.1m. For comparison a perfect Carrera GS Speedster owned by Seinfeld sold for $1.56m (see listing here). I would especially be interested in this car towards the lower end of the estimate. 

More information on this car can be found here.

Lets take a look at some pictures (all credit goes to Bonhams).

We start off with a top down view that is simply superb. Simple. Functional. Just perfect.

The car is equally attractive from the side. Don’t you think?

The main feature that separates this speedster from all others is the Fuhrmann engine, a 4 cam version that puts out 135hp

One last side view. 

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The next two cars are still being undervalued by the market.

We are talking about a Porsche 911 2.4 S version and a Maserati Mexico. Both cars are sought after by collectors and are brand names but for some reason still command reasonable prices in my opinion. Especially the Maserati is still completely undervalued. What is even more interesting is that both lots below are offered without reserve. If the buyer is lucky and there is little interest – both cars could be had for an attractive price (provided the buyer does his due diligence properly).

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1973 Porsche 911 S 2.4

This 1973 F series 911 is among the most collectible Porsche’s ever made.

With the stronger engine at 2.4 L (they made 2.0 and 2.2) the S version is the most powerful motor that Porsche offered to its customers at the time in terms of normal road cars. Only 1400+ cars had the 2.4 S engine (coupe – so not including the Targa) and thus it is relatively speaking a rare car (they built more or less the same amount of 300SL Gullwing as a reference point).

This particular version has many strong points that will please a Porsche collector. 1) it has a matching numbers engine 2) it comes with the beautiful original Tangerine color 3) the rarity factor with only 1400 models built.

The price expectations for this car are $180 -220’000. Yes prices for all early 911 have gone up considerably over the past five years. But consider that this car is extremely versatile. Easy to drive. Has a fantastic engine. Is very rare. Yet it costs the price of a new Porsche with many options and you start to realize that something does not make sense.

Think of it this way. They made more Carrera RS the most desirable version (1590)* than they did the 2.4S and yet still the Carrera RS commands a 4-500% premium over the standard 2.4 S.  I know comparing cars like this is silly because the market is what it is but nonetheless it should give the aspiring Porsche collector food for thought.

In my room these early 2.4 S cars have more room to run. Lots more.

*(credit numbers info to: Paternie and Bodensteiner and my friend Jetcetter).

More information on this car can be found here.

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1967 Maserati Mexico 4.7L V8

This next car is perhaps the most undervalued Italian 1960s sports car on this planet. I mean this seriously. 

What if I were to tell you the following: There is a car that was bodied by the master coachbuilder Vignale. Only 480 examples were made. The car is elegant and typical of the 1960s design. It has a 4.7 L V8 engine that puts out almost 300bhp and has the wonderful four-weber carburettor engine set up. Has a five-speed gearbox. It has disc brakes. Room for four people but is a two-door car. And is made by one of the most elegant Italian brands. Maserati. 

Surely we are talking about a million dollar plus car right? No.

The Mexico Maserati for some reason is still not expensive as it should be. If there was ever a car that offered an extreme amount of performance and elegance for your money – it is this one. And its a Maserati from the 1960s. Bodied by Vignale. You can buy this car at no reserve and estimate is $150-200’000! With four weber carbs and almost 300hp!? Absolutely absurd in my view.

Bonham makes no mention of the engine and gearbox are original (except to state that chassis and engine have identical numbers – so we must assume so) and I urge the buyer to do his homework on this car.

But I think the Maserati Mexico is one of the most undervalued beautiful cars out there. 

More information on this Maserati Mexico can be found here.

(NB: All picture credits in this entire post goes to Bonhams).