Jaguar XJR-12

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1991 Jaguar XJR-12

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Le Mans, France | June 9, 2023

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Jaguar got into Group C early, and by 1990, they were on the XJR-12, which when fielded by the factory, wore Silk Cut liveries. The cars were introduced in 1990 and some competed in 1991 and 1992 before being supplanted by the XJR-14.

This chassis was built new for 1991. While the 1990 cars were powered by 7.0-liter V12s, the 1991 cars were powered by 7.4-liter V12s, which presumably made more power than the 730-horsepower, 7.0-liter units. The XJR-12 won the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans. The competition history for this chassis, J12C-891, includes:

  • 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans – 4th (with Derek Warwick, John Nielsen, and Andy Wallace)
  • 1992 24 Hours of Daytona – 2nd (with David Brabham, Scott Pruett, Scott Goodyear, and Davy Jones)
  • 1992 12 Hours of Sebring – 4th (with Brabham and Jones)

…a fairly successful run. This car remained with Tom Walkinshaw Racing until being purchased by its current owner in 2017. It’s been used at the Le Mans Classic and is ready to go. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

Fiat 501

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1920 Fiat 501 Tourer

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Cernobbio, Italy | May 20, 2023

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Fiat was founded by a whole bunch of Italian dudes in 1899. Their first 24 cars rolled out in 1900. By the 1920s, their range had expanded significantly, and the 501 would be their “small car” for the immediate post-WWI era.

The 501 was sold from 1919 through 1926, with about 47,000 produced. Available body styles included a four-door sedan and cabriolets with either two or four doors. Power is provided by a 1.5-liter inline-four rated at 23 horsepower. Both S and SS trims brought power increases, but this is the base model.

Basic transportation for Italy at the time it was built, this tourer has been re-done in the past but is described as a “candidate for a comprehensive restoration.” It has a pre-sale estimate of $11,000-$16,500. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $18,287.

Alvis Speed 20

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1936 Alvis Speed 20 SD Sunshine Coupe by Vanden Plas

Offered by H&H Classics | Duxford, U.K. | June 14, 2023

Photo – H&H Classics

The first Alvis cars were sold in 1920, and a series of models were churned out over the course of that decade. In 1932, they introduced the Speed 20, which would be offered in four different series through 1936.

The final of these series was the SD, which was sold for 1936 only before the Speed 20 was replaced by the 3.5-Litre. The SD was only slightly revised from the earlier SC – the bodywork was a bit wider, and the fuel tank was larger. The SC had brought changes over the SB including a 2.8-liter inline-six and chassis revisions.

Only 149 examples of the SD were built, and just 12 of those were bodied as a “four-light” two-door sedan by Vanden Plas. Only two are known to exist, and this one was restored in the 1990s. The estimate is $100,000-$115,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

Citroen CX GTi

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1979 Citroen CX 2400 GTi

Offered by Historics Auctioneers | Ascot Racecourse, U.K. | May 27, 2023

Photo – Historics Auctioneers

The CX was Citroen’s replacement for the pretty-hard-to-top DS. It featured styling that was definitely evolutionary, and the thing remained on sale from 1975 through 1991. They built over 1.1 million units in that span.

Various engines were offered across a variety of trim levels. Most were four-door fastback sedans (some with a long-wheelbase chassis), while station wagons were also available. The 2400 GTi debuted in 1977 with power from a fuel-injected 2.4-liter inline-four that made about 125 horsepower. Don’t let the GTi name fool you. This was not a hot hatch.

But it did have hydro-pneumatic self-leveling suspension along with a very weird interior design (single-spoke steering wheel, no steering column stalks). This car has 36,000 miles as well as an estimate of $29,000-$35,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold, but Historics is being LAME and won’t tell anyone for how much.

BRA P-Type

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1984 BRA P-Type

Offered by Historics Auctioneers | Ascot Racecourse, U.K. | May 27, 2023

Photo – Historics Auctioneers

BRA (or Beribo Replica Automobiles) was founded by John Berry and Peter Ibbotson sometime around 1980. Their first product was this, the P-Type. They would later go on to build Cobra replicas and the Leighton, which was a Morgan 3-Wheeler replica. They are currently not active.

The P-Type was based around the MGB. This one uses the running gear from a 1964 model, including the 1.8-liter inline-four. The body work is very un-MGB, and is sort of vaguely immediate-post-war British in design.

This particular example was produced sometime around 1984, and in all, about 400 P-Types and Cobra replicas were built by the company before the end of that decade. This one has been in the same ownership for 17 years and has been used little in that time. It will now sell at no reserve. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $3,153.

Sierra RS Cosworth

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1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

Offered by Silverstone Auctions | Northampton, England | May 20, 2023

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

The Sierra was kind of a remarkable car for Ford of Europe. It was the sort of new-age family car for Europe, much like the Taurus would be in the U.S. But instead of the hotted-up SHO models, Europe got the Cosworth-powered RS.

The Sierra RS debuted at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show and was intended to homologate the Sierra for Group A Touring Car racing. The road cars featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that made 201 horsepower. The Cosworth engine was only available in two-door Sierras that had some body tweaks, including that high-mount rear spoiler.

In all 5,545 were sold, including 500 of the RS500 version. This example remained with a French owner for over three decades and has under 50,000 miles. It has an estimate of $70,000-$82,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

Aston DB2/4

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1954 Aston Martin DB2/4

Offered by Bonhams | Brussels, Belgium | May 13, 2023

Photo – Bonhams

The DB2 was the first post-war Aston produced in significant numbers. A two-seater, it was replaced in 1953 by a 2+2 coupe. Called the DB2/4, the new car would be on sale through 1957 and would also be offered as a two-seat drophead coupe and a two-seat fixed-head coupe.

Power is provided by 2.6-liter inline-six that was rated at 125 horsepower. Later, a 2.9-liter unit would be available. Just 764 examples of the DB2/4 would be built, 565 of which were Mark I examples like this. The Mark II went on sale in 1955 with more power.

This car was sold new in Switzerland and was restored about 25 years ago. Still, it is said to require further work before being declared roadworthy. It carries a pre-sale estimate of $90,000-$155,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $146,300.

300ZX V8 IMSA

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1994 Nissan 300ZX V8 IMSA GTS

Offered by Bring a Trailer Auctions | May 2023

Photo – Bring a Trailer Auctions

So this may be a purely purpose-built, tube-frame race car with composite bodywork, but it does have your standard Z32 road car tail panel, which is excellent. Nissan was around for the Group C era, and they eventually transitioned to the GTS class in IMSA.

Initially, they started campaigning second-generation 300ZX race cars with their twin-turbocharged V6s. But those became a little too dominant for IMSA’s liking (in 1994, a 300ZX won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring outright before winning their class at Le Mans). So for 1995, IMSA outlawed the twin-turbo V6.

And Nissan said “okay, we’ll raise you two cylinders.” The next season’s cars, including this one, were powered by a 4.5-liter V8. Two such chassis were so equipped, and the racing history for this one, #008, includes:

  • 1995 24 Hours of Daytona – 21st (with Steve Millen, Johnny O’Connell, and John Morton)
  • 1995 12 Hours of Sebring – 5th, 1st in class (with Millen, O’Connell, and Morton)

This is a pretty serious machine that I suspect would be terrifyingly fast at 50%. You can read more about it here.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $156,000.

Rondeau M482

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1983 Rondeau-Cosworth M482

Offered by Bonhams | Brussels, Belgium | May 13, 2023

Photo – Bonhams

Jean Rondeau raced at Le Mans a few times before he decided he could do better designing, building, and competing in his own cars. The first Rondeau cars arrived at Le Sarthe in 1976, although they were branded as Inalteras due to their sponsorship with the wallpaper company.

The Rondeau M378 was the first Rondeau-branded car at the race, and the last would be this: the 1983 M482. It had power in-period from a 3.9-liter Cosworth V8. There is currently no engine installed, but a Cosworth DFV V8 accompanies the car. The competition history for this chassis, #003, includes:

  • 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans – 48th, DNF (with Jean-Pierre Jaussaud and Philippe Streiff)
  • 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans – 46th, DNF (with Christian Bussi, Jack Griffin, and Marion L. Speer)

Only three M482s were built. And they did not do well at Le Mans in 1983. So bad, in fact, that Rondeau has to file for bankruptcy, which is how this car ended up in the hands of a privateer in 1985. Successful or not, the car carries a pre-sale estimate of $275,000-$390,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold, though Bonhams is being LAME and not telling anyone how much.

Alfa Brera Spider

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2007 Alfa Romeo Brera Spider

Offered by Brightwells | Leominster, U.K. | May 6, 2023

Photo – Brightwells

Kind of a newer car, yes. But it’s so attractive. Alfa Romeo revived the Spider nameplate for the droptop version of the Brera. The Brera coupe went one sale in 2005, with the Spider following the year after. Both exited production after 2010.

Various trim levels and powerplants were offered. This 2.2 JTS model was the larger of the four-cylinder, gasoline-powered cars. There was also a V6, a smaller four-banger, and four different diesels. Output for this car’s 2.2-liter inline-four was rated at 182 horsepower. This one has a six-speed gearbox as well.

It’s likely that the car’s looks exceed its reliability, as has been the case with 20-year-old Italian cars since the dawn of time. Only 12,363 Brera Spiders were produced, and this one looks pretty good. It has an estimate of $5,500-$7,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $5,483.