Wednesday 3rd August 2011

RM Auctions, Monterey, 19-20 August

Anybody fancy McQueen's 'Le Mans' 911? Thought so...

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The list of cars on offer by RM at Monterey on the 19th-20th August, the annual auction held concurrently with the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California, is about as good as you're going to find anywhere (they churned through $67 million in sales last year).

Vintage Lagondas, Hispano Suizas, Bugattis and the like rub shoulders as usual with ex-competition cars and the odd modern supercar, making it one of the most mouth-watering car auctions in the world. In fact, there's so much delectable machinery that picking out just a few cars for special mention seems a bit perverse, but here goes...

Browsing through the list of entries, the Maserati Bora looks good, with an upper estimate of $80,000 (£49k), despite being burdened with some irretrievably crude US-spec bumpers. The two Ferrari Boxers, two Daytonas and the Daytona Spyder (lots 107, 125, 124, 222, and 243 respectively) also add nicely to the list of most PHers' Euromillions dream-buys.

The sight of a BMW 3.0 CSL 'Batmobile' offered with an upper estimate of $160,000 (£98k) (but interestingly with no reserve) got the pulse racing a little quicker still, as did the Porsche Carrera GT (again with no reserve) and the outrageous 750bhp 'Greenwood' Corvette ZL-1 with its 'aloominum' big-block V8 and whopping $950,000 (£580k) upper estimate.

However, the sight of the ex-Steve McQueen Porsche 911S - the actual car which he drove at the start of the film Le Mans and subsequently owned as part of his private collection - pretty much instantly decided where the 'star of the auction' accolade was going.

Not surprisingly, RM expects there to be some epic auction-room financial fisticuffs over this one, and the estimate is available only on application.

It's a measure of the fever that surrounds all things McQueen - vehicles especially - that even the inclusion of a Grand Prix-winning ex-Alboreto/Arnoux Ferrari 126C4 (upper estimate $480,000 or £293k) will probably not overshadow the humble Slate Grey 911S.

For fans of moderns there isn't a great deal to bid on, in fact strictly speaking there are only two modern cars on offer (the Shelby GR1 is just a 'concept platform') and they are the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and the Porsche Carrera GT.

The upper estimate for the Merc is $280,000 (approximately £172k), but with just 4000 miles from new I'd be surprised if it didn't push past that on the day. The Carrera GT's high estimate is $400,000 (about £246k) which is surely a long way below what it'll make, especially when you consider that it's covered just 930 kilometres. Whoever buys that hopefully senses a degree of duty to get in it and use the thing.

Mind you there's so much more drool-worthy metal at Monterey than we can glimpse here, so a good look through the catalogue is highly recommended.

What kind of value would you put on the McQueen 911? Personally I'd re-mortgage the house and sell everything I own (twice), but that would probably only be enough to pay the buyer's fee...

 

[iain1970]

The Helms Bakery van is the one for me.

[Blayney]

'93 Jag XJ220
'73 Porsche 911 2.7 Carrera RS T
'65 Mini Cooper S

Very nice.

[PhantomPH]

I'll take the 1935 Bugatti Type 57 "Grand Raid" Roadster, since nobody else wants it....

[dave stew]

I've just been the reading the hyperbole soaked catalogue entry of the Steve McQueen 911! If you know the car, you don't need the amateur copywriter's over the top description...

Great car - top spec too.

[MGZRod]

My birthday is on the 21st, someone buy me the carrera GT please.

Ta muchly.

[V88Dicky]

My name is Wayne Carini and I chase cars.

[fatboy69]

Wierdly i watched Le Mans this morning on my newly installed blue-ray player hence i saw this very 911 on screen just 3 hours ago.

Great car which would, IMO, be the centre piece of any collection. If only i had a spare $500k or whatever astronomical sum this icon is worth.

I'll also take the Ferrari 126C4 as my track day car please..... can you imagine turning up at one of the numerous track days in the UK & unloading this?

If only. All i need is a nice fat EuroMillions win on Friday to book my flight out to Monterey.

[legalknievel]

dave stew said:

I've just been the reading the hyperbole soaked catalogue entry of the Steve McQueen 911! If you know the car, you don't need the amateur copywriter's over the top description...

Great car - top spec too.

Reminds me of the guy in top marques who describes all his ferraris like women in personals ads. Pointless!

[Simbu]

Lot 231

[M666 EVO]

Simbu said:

Lot 231

Looks like a fish. Odd thing.

[hesnotthemessiah]

CSL Batmobile!

Although I guess just being there and witnessing proceedings would be enough for me.

[gforceg]

BMW 507 Roadster
Ferrari 330 GTC
Please.

[Munich]

M666 EVO said:

Simbu said:

Lot 231

Looks like a fish. Odd thing.

Maybe, but it is estimated to sell for $800,000 - $1,200,000!!!!!!!!

Personally, although I like the ex-Steve McQueen 911, I could live without the history and just buy a normal 911 from this period and save myself a load of cash.

[Fetchez la vache]

Munich said:

Personally, although I like the ex-Steve McQueen 911, I could live without the history and just buy a normal 911 from this period and save myself a load of cash.

I agree - thought it looked nice before I read the article to know what it was.

Lovely motor though... 'ere tis in moving picture format

[Hellbound]

You could always buy this and pretend.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3068662.htm

[GreatGranny]

Ooooh, that Greenwood Corvette!

Fan-bloody-tastic.

[TobesH]

That 911 will be well over a $million for sure. The fact that it is a desirable car anyway and with the Steve McQueen provenance and in-movie connection, there will be plenty of wealthy enthusiasts all too keen pay for this type of car. Not really repeatable is it?!

[fatboy69]

I would love to own that 911. Simple, unspoilered, beautiful clean lines. Exactly as a 911 should be.

Anyone got any idea of the expected sale price? In excess of $1 million maybe? For a 911? Outstanding.


After watching the film this morning i would recommend the recently released re-mastered edition of the film which i bought a few weeks ago.

The picture quality through the blue-ray player is phenominal - almost as though the film was made this year & not 40 years ago.

I have got 6 copies of the film on VHS & DVD - the blue ray is far & away the best quality recording i have ever seen.

Edited by fatboy69 on Wednesday 3rd August 17:18

[Munich]

TobesH said:

That 911 will be well over a $million for sure. The fact that it is a desirable car anyway and with the Steve McQueen provenance and in-movie connection, there will be plenty of wealthy enthusiasts all too keen pay for this type of car. Not really repeatable is it?!

But I would also feel that I couldn't use it, which is not why I like cars. Can you imagine if the new owner was to stack it?

Edited by Munich on Wednesday 3rd August 19:11

[AV12]

Good god!! I think I'll run out of >spaff< looking at those!!!