RM SOTHEBY´ S – MONACO SALE 2022

RACE WINNING LE MANS CAR, RARE FERRARIS, AND LOUIS CHIRON’S PERSONAL CAR TO BE OFFERED IN MONACO

1973 Ferrari Daytona Spider, 1988 Works Jaguar XJR-9, and 1947 Delahaye 135 MS Sport Coupé to be offered in Monaco alongside other world-class automobiles

• Additional lots added to Monaco sale with most desirable road-going Ferrari and Works Jaguar XJR-9 to cross the block
• 1947 Delahaye 135 MS Sport Coupé built for and owned by renowned Bugatti driver, Louis Chiron, to join Monaco lineup

LONDON, England – RM Sotheby’s Monaco sale, taking place on 14 May with the most desirable Ferrari for its era and Works Jaguar XJR-9 set to go under the hammer.

Without a doubt, the 365 GTS/4 Spider holds a unique cachet among Ferrari’s vintage front-engine V-12 roadsters, combining rarity and beautiful design. Considered by many to be the most desirable road-going Ferrari of its era, and unquestionably one of the greatest Ferrari ‘Spider’ designs, this 1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti is the 90th of the mere 121 spiders built and the 65th example of 96 cars specified for retail in the U.S. It is believed to be one of just 16 examples sold in the U.S. wearing the striking combination of Giallo Fly and upholstered in Nero vaumol leather. Retaining its original engine and gearbox, this Ferrari Classiche certified example will cross the block with an estimate of €2,000,000 – €2,200,000.

Joining the Ferrari is the 1988 Jaguar XJR-9, chassis 388, which won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1990. Poised to cross the auction podium at RM’s highly anticipated Monaco sale, 14 May, chassis no. 388 is the third of just three cars constructed for the 1988 IMSA GT Championship, run by Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), and the only remaining example of just two XJR-9 chassis ever manufactured as purpose-built IMSA-specification cars. Prior to its most famous victory in 1990, chassis 388 enjoyed two highly successful seasons in 1988 and 1989. In 1988, predominantly in the hands of Davy Jones and Jan Lammers, the car achieved four podium finishes and never finished a race outside of the top seven, a superb achievement that helped the Jaguar team secure third place in the IMSA constructor’s championship, stamping its authority in both IMSA and Group C racing. During the 1989 season, chassis 388 was an equally strong contender, achieving three front-row starts including a pole position, four second row starts, and eight overall podium finishes. The ‘89 season saw Price Cobb and John Nielsen join the car’s driver roster, leading it to a remarkable record that saw it finish on the podium for two-thirds of all the races it competed in.

By the start of the 1990 season, chassis 388 was fully developed into XJR-12 specification and went on to famously win the season’s headline event, the 24 Hours of Daytona, in the hands of Davy Jones, Jan Lammers, and Andy Wallace. The victory was an unquestionable high point in Jaguar’s illustrious endurance racing history, especially after having finished second overall with this car at Daytona in 1989. Chassis no. 388 also secured a podium finish at Sebring in 1990 (Estimate: €1,900,000 ­– €2,400,000).

With its slick silhouette and flowing design lines penned by Pininfarina, it could be argued that the Ferrari 456 GT has aged so well that it would hardly look out of place parked alongside much newer cars wearing the Prancing Horse badge. For a Ferrari model to have such a strong connection with Pininfarina, it is fitting that this 1995 Ferrari 456 GT was sold directly by the factory to Sergio Pininfarina. It will go to its new owner with less than 27,000 km, a leather folio containing selected Ferrari manuals, and two pieces of luggage (Estimate: €90,000 – €120,000).

Another notable lot is the 1947 Delahaye 135 MS Sport Coupé by Chapron. Specifically built for and owned by renowned Bugatti driver, Louis Chiron, this elegant post-war example is bodied by Henri Chapron and will cross the block accompanied by correspondence between Chiron and Chapron. Towards the end of the current owner’s five decade ownership, this example was subject to an extensive nut-and-bolt restoration by Delahaye expert Paillet in 2012. The body and chassis were split, and the restoration began from the ground up. The wooden Chapron framework was replaced, and then reassembled, while a new red leather interior was fitted and the car was painted in a dark metallic blue with silver accents. This Delahaye represents an exciting chance to acquire a beautiful French coachbuilt classic with fascinating ownership history and an impressive history file (Estimate: €325,000 – €375,000).

THE LAST OF THE 10 340 MMs BUILT BY FERRARI HEADS TO RM SOTHEBY’S MONACO SALE

Hugely rare opportunity to acquire one of only four surviving 340 MM Vignale Spiders, this is the chassis that brought the Lampredi-powered Ferrari to the attention of the US market.

The stunning 1953 Ferrari 340 MM Spider by Vignale is one of only four surviving 340 MM Vignale Spiders, and the Monaco sale will be the first time such a car has been publicly offered in a decade, making this a tantalisingly rare opportunity for collectors.

For the first 25 years of Ferrari’s life as a car manufacturer, they made a clear distinction for the true racing cars with their chassis numbers. Odd numbers were reserved for road-going or GT cars while even numbers were assigned to Ferrari’s special purpose-built race cars. The even numbered cars have always been the most sought after and collectible Ferraris, a trend which is likely to become more significant in the years to come.

It is among this elite class of Ferrari sports racers that chassis 0350 AM was born. This 1953 Ferrari 340 MM Spider boasts initial ownership by the famed American sportsman and sports car builder Sterling Edwards. Powered by the legendary Lampredi ‘long-block’ V-12 specifically developed for competition-intended Ferraris, the 340 MM is immensely powerful for its era with 300-horsepower at its disposal and is on par with 1950s racing legends such as the Mercedes-Benz SLR and Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa.

This car is one of the ten cars initially built, seven of which were campaigned by Scuderia Ferrari for the FIA’s new Sports Car Manufacturers’ Championship. Chassis 0350 AM was campaigned with great success between 1953 and 1955 in the USA, including overall victory at the 1954 Pebble Beach and Palm Springs Races amongst many other notable race finishes.

Augustin Sabatié-Garat, Head of Sales for Europe, says:

‘This is truly one of the most important and rarest of all 1950s Ferraris. The Vignale 340 MMs are beautiful and historically significant cars and are so rarely available to the market that chassis 0350 AM represents a once in a generation opportunity for any serious collector of important sports racing cars.’

Acquired by the consignor in 2012, the Ferrari was sympathetically freshened in 2013, after which it was presented at Pebble Beach in August 2015 where it won the Phil Hill Cup. Chassis number 0350 AM is currently fitted with what is believed to be the original engine block from chassis 0032MT, a very important 1950 Scuderia Ferrari Works sports racer, and is notably accompanied by its original Lampredi V-12 long-block engine, the same motor that captured Sterling Edwards four victories in eight racing appearances from 1953 to 1954. Boasting well documented provenance from new, including nearly 30 years in the noted Sherman Wolf collection and the last ten years in a prominent American collection, this 340 MM has an estimate of €6,000,000 – €8,000,000.

MONACO SALE BY RM SOTHEBY´ S

Grimaldi Forum, Monaco

14 May 2022 – 17:30 CEST.