Tag Archives: 1974

BMW 3.0 CSL

Posted on by
Reply

1974 BMW 3.0 CSL

Offered by Bring a Trailer | September 2023

Photo – Bring a Trailer

BMW’s E9 series of cars started with the 2800 CS but eventually grew in displacement to become the 3.0 CS. Regardless of engine, these pillarless coupes are cars that have aged extremely well. BMW wanted to take the 3.0 CS/CSi racing in the 1970s and therefore needed to homologate it for European touring car competition.

And thus the 3.0 CSL was born. Just 1,265 were built and were initially powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six that grew to 3.2 liters in 1973. Output was then rated at 203 horsepower. An aerodynamic kit was also offered that year and is known as the “Batmobile.” This car has said kit and is finished in Polaris Silver with BMW Motorsport stripes.

E9s are cars that you’d probably prefer to buy “already done” and not have to fight any of the issues they’ve developed over time. This appears to be one of those, plus it’s got all of the best bits of the entire line (big engine, big aero). With five days to go as of this writing, the bidding is already over $150,000, which marks this as one of the most collectible big-dollar BMWs. Click here to read more.

365 GT4 BB

Posted on by
1

1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB

Offered by Silverstone Auctions | Sywell Aerodrome, U.K. | June 4, 2022

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

“Berlinetta Boxer” describes a series of Ferrari near-supercars produced from the early 1970s through the early 1980s. It was the first mid-engined Ferrari-branded road car, and it used a why-the-hell-not flat-12 engine. There were essentially three models over the run: the famed and loved 512 BB, its injected twin the 512 BBi, and this, the sort of odd duck 365 GT4.

The 365 GT4 was the first of the series and was replacement for the 365 GTB/4 Daytona. Manufactured from 1973 through 1976, it is the rarest of the BBs, with just 387 examples produced. Power is provided by a 4.4-liter flat-12 that made 375 horsepower. The engine would get bigger for the 512 – though less powerful.

This car is one of 88 right-hand-drive examples, and it has a replacement drivetrain. The pre-sale estimate is $215,000-$285,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

Rover P6 3500S

Posted on by
Reply

1974 Rover P6 3500S

Offered by H&H | Duxford, U.K. | November 17, 2021

Photo – H&H

The Rover P6 was produced between 1963 and 1977 in a range of different models. They were all four-door sedans, save for some aftermarket wagons. The later cars, especially the top trim, big engine models, were quite good looking. This one especially.

The 3500 went on sale in 1968 and remained in production through the end of the P6 in 1977. It features a 3.5-liter Buick-based V8 rated at 150 horsepower when new. The “S” models featured a four-speed manual transmission and went on sale in 1971. Top speed was 123 mph.

This car is a five-owned example with just under 55,000 miles on the clock. It carries a pre-sale estimate of $16,000-$19,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $15,116.

Tatra 603 II

Posted on by
Reply

1974 Tatra 603 II

Offered by Historics Auctioneers | Ascot Racecourse, U.K. | September 25, 2021

Photo – Historics Auctioneers

The Tatra 603 was introduced in 1956 as a more modern take on the company’s streamlined cars of earlier decades. That car was supplanted by the 2-603 in 1962, and the second generation of that car, the 603 II arrived in 1968. It lasted through 1975.

It’s powered by a rear-mounted, air-cooled 2.5-liter V8. Other updates for this model included four-wheel disc brakes and a seating re-arrangement to hold five people. Most of these were sold to officials in countries friendly with Czechoslovakia. You know, all of the ones the U.S. didn’t get along with.

Production totals are unclear, but this car was once owned by Nick Mason of Pink Floyd. It was rebuilt by the Tatra factory in the 1990s and is now expected to sell for between $38,000-$52,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Withdrawn from sale.

Bentley Corniche

Posted on by
Reply

1974 Bentley Corniche Coupe

Offered by Bonhams | Chichester, U.K. | July 9, 2021

Photo – Bonhams

The Rolls-Royce Corniche, as a model, was around from 1971 through 1995. The name reappeared in 2000 for a few years as well. The convertible versions made from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s are the epitome of South Florida old lady-ness in my mind.

But what we have here is from the first generation of Corniche production, which lasted from 1971-1987. And it’s not a Rolls-Royce. No, this is an example of some high-end badge engineering. The Bentley Corniche was produced as a coupe and convertible, and the coupe was discontinued alongside the Roller coupe in 1981.

Somehow, in 10 years, there were only 69 Bentley Corniche two-door sedans built. The Bentley convertible version lasted until 1984, and only 77 of those were made. They are extremely rare, even when compared to the Rolls-Royce version (which totaled over 4,000 in the same period). The car is powered by a 6.75-liter V8 making 237 horsepower. Top speed was about 118 mph.

So why did they sell so few? Well, Bentley was kind of faltering at the time, and it was just considered a “cheaper” version of the Rolls. Not so much anymore. The rarity factor makes these sought after, and this one carries an estimate of $55,000-$69,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $56,948.

Dino 246 GTS

Posted on by
Reply

1974 Dino 246 GTS

Offered by Silverstone Auctions | Sywell Park, U.K. | June 5, 2021

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

So, technically, Dino was a separate marque from Ferrari. This car does not have any Ferrari badging. Instead, that little yellow rectangle up front says “Dino” – which was the name of Enzo Ferrari‘s son who died in 1956. Three road cars were produced under the Dino marque, including the 206 GT/S, the 246 GT/S, and the 308 GT4. Even still, they are still generally referred to as “Ferrari Dino”s.

The 246 looked very similar to the 206 it replaced when it launched in 1969. It was the first “Ferrari” produced in massive numbers – 3,761 were made between the GT coupe and the GTS targa. Power is from a mid-mounted 2.4-liter V6 rated at 192 horsepower when new (in Europe… U.S.-spec cars had less power).

The GTS was sold between 1971 and 1974, and 1,274 were made. This right-hand-drive example is one of 72 finished from the factory in Nocciola Metallizzato. Two rare, sought-after options included Daytona-style seats (“chairs”) and Group 4-style fender flares (“flares”). This one has the standard seats, but it does have the flares. The pre-sale estimate (or “guide price” in Silverstone-speak) is $530,000-$600,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $536,485.

2002 Turbo

Posted on by
Reply

1974 BMW 2002 Turbo

Offered by Mecum | Glendale, Arizona | March 18-20, 2021

Photo – Mecum

This site doesn’t feature too many post-war German cars, but people love BMW’s 2002. The name was a little short-sighted, but I guess they never imagined having to try and Google “BMW 2002” only to get a ton of results for 2002 325Cis.

The 2002 was mixed in with a number of other visually similar but mechanically different models, including the 1602, 1802, 1502, 1600, and 1800. The 2002 went on sale for the 1968 model year and would be offered in base, cabriolet, ti, and tii forms through 1976. There was one model that topped all of those, and it was the Turbo, which was sold between 1973 and 1975. Only 1,672 examples were produced.

It was BMW’s first turbocharged production car and features a turbocharged, fuel-injected 2.0-liter M10 inline-four rated at 168 horsepower. Top speed was 130 mph. The Turbo is easily the most sought-after 2002 variant, with prices that can easily climb into the six figures. Check out more on this one here, and see more from Mecum here.

Update: Sold $154,000.

Two Three-Wheelers

Posted on by
Reply

1974 Meister K6

Offered by Dorotheum | Vosendorf, Austria | July 10, 2020

Photo – Dorotheum

Fahrzeugbau Ing. Hans Meister was a car company that operated in Austria between 1962 and 1979. They built a few models over the years, including the GN roadster, the K5, and this, the K6, which was offered between 1969 and 1974.

Power is from a Puch-sourced 49cc two-stroke single rated at 3.5 horsepower. Only 205 examples were built, and it features a fixed roof, two doors, and two seats. Meister only built about 700 cars in total, all of them with three wheels.

You can read more about this one here.

Update: Sold $3,680.

1970 Megu Mopetta

Offered by Dorotheum | Vosendorf, Austria | July 10, 2020

Photo – Dorotheum

Megu, whose official company name began “Megu Metall,” which is kind of awesome, was an Austrian company that started out producing cast metal goods. It was later acquired by Ragnar Mathey who had experience selling scooters, something he would apply to Megu’s future products.

From there, things get kind of cloudy. Production of vehicles is thought to have started in Vienna around 1966 and maybe wrapped up in 1974. The company hung around for decades though, not officially dissolving until 2005. I have no idea what they did for the last 30 years.

The Mopetta was one of a few models offered on Megu’s three-wheeled layout. Power is from a 49cc Puch single good for 3.5 horsepower. You sort of rode it like a moped, steering with handlebars, but it has a windshield, roof, a mirror, and a luggage rack! You can see more about this three-wheeler here and more from this sale here.

Update: Sold $2,365.

Two Prototype Racers

Posted on by
Reply

Two Prototype Racers

Offered by Artcurial | Paris, France | February 7, 2020

1974 ToJ SS02

Photo – Artcurial

ToJ was a racing team founded by driver Jorg Obermosser. They were most famous for their prototype sports cars and Formula Two/Three single-seaters. This sale features three of their sports racers from the 1970s. The team was in existence between 1974 and 1990.

This was the team’s first sports prototype, and it was developed using Obermosser’s previous GRD-BMW S73 prototype as a launching point. This car is powered by a 2.0-liter BMW inline-four. It never made it to Le Mans, but it did contest the European 2-Litre Championship. It’s the only survivor of two built and should bring between $300,000-$315,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

1967 Serenissima 3000SP Prototipo

Photo – Artcurial

Last year at this sale, Artcurial sold three extremely rare Serenissima cars, including a race car. And this year they are featuring another of Giovanni Volpi’s rarities. This is one of two other Serenissima cars that still exist.

It was built in 1967 using a McLaren chassis and 3.0-liter V8. Originally featuring a closed-cockpit fiberglass body, the car was reworked for the 1969 season and fitted with the steel body you see here. Unfortunately, this new look proved unstable at high speed.

It was restored two years ago by Volpi’s original chief mechanic and should now sell for between $1,100,000-$1,500,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $990,226.

Ligier JS2

Posted on by
Reply

1974 Ligier JS2

Offered by Artcurial | Paris, France | November 4, 2018

Photo – Artcurial

Guy Ligier was a semi-professional rugby player and later raced at Le Mans and in Formula One. Who said racing drivers aren’t athletes? Not only did he race some cars, but he also built them too! Equipe Ligier was an F1 team between 1976 to 1996. They also built cars for Le Mans, and sports cars and microcars for the street.

The JS2 was a mid-engined sports car built between 1972 and 1975. The company’s first road car, the JS2 is powered by a 3.0-liter Maserati Merak V6 that made 191 horsepower. Smaller V6s from the Citroen SM were used on earlier cars.

Production figures vary widely depending on where you look. Numbers as high as 250 are quoted, and Artcurial says that only about 40 of the 81 built still exist. The fact that it entered production at all was enough that Ligier was allowed to race the JS2, which was the whole point of building a road car anyway. This example was acquired by the owner in 2009 after being parked for almost 15 years. Mechanically renewed, this car is expected to bring between $80,000-$105,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $91,897.