Tag Archives: classic cars

Alpine M64

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1964 Alpine M64

Offered by RM Auctions | Monaco | May 10, 2014

Photo - RM Auctions

Photo – RM Auctions

Here’s a rare car from a rare, but long-lived French manufacturer. Jean Redele’s Alpines first began appearing in 1955 and by 1970, Renault had a majority stake in the company. Models carrying the Alpine name continued to roll off the line through 1995.

But in the early days, Alpine stood for racing success. The M64 was an updated version of the M63 and both were aimed at conquering the sports car circuit. The M64 uses a 115 horsepower 1.2-liter straight-four. The competition history for this car includes:

  • 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans – 17th, 1st in class (with Henry Morrogh and Roger Delageneste)
  • 1964 12 Hours of Reims – 18th, 1st in class (with Morrogh and Delageneste)
  • 1964 1000km Paris – 20th, 2nd in class (with Morrogh and Delageneste)
  • 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans – 28th, DNF (with Roger Masson and Guy Verrier)
  • 1965 12 Hours of Reims – 12th (with Verrier and Jacques Cheinisse)

This car left the active racing circuit after 1965 and was used by Alpine in the development of their A210 race car. The current owner bought the car in 1977 and has had the car restored, even though it still has the longtail from the A210 development period. It is one of only three M64s built and easily the most successful on track. It is being sold as “ready-to-race” and you can go racing for a cost between $200,000-$275,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM’s Monaco sale.

Update: Sold $431,545.

Update II: Sold, Artcurial Paris, October 2016, $408,575.

Ford M20 Military

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1943 Ford M20

Offered by Auctions America | Portola Valley, California | July 11-12, 2014

Photo - Auctions America

Photo – Auctions America

The Ford M8 Greyhound was an armored car built during World War II. The M20 was a version of the M8 – but instead of a turret, it had an open top with a mount for an anti-aircraft gun. It was used as a scout car and command vehicle. Between 1943 and 1945, Ford built 3,791 of these and this one has been well-restored. It’s powered by a 110 horsepower 6-cylinder engine and should sell for between $50,000-$60,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this really cool sale.

Update: Sold $80,500.

Porsche 959 Prototype

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1985 Porsche 959 Prototype

Offered by RM Auctions | Monaco | May 10, 2014

Photo - RM Auctions

Photo – RM Auctions

As supercars go, the Porsche 959 was the pinnacle of them when it debuted for public sale in 1987. It was the first of its kind in many ways, utilizing technology over pure power and force. Its advanced all-wheel drive system would set the tone for 4WD supercars to come. And its composite body was a benchmark for lightness and strength.

The engine is a 450 horsepower 2.9-liter twin-turbo flat-6. This car is actually one of 37 pre-production cars (prototypes included) built. This was one of seven prototypes used for ABS development (it’s crazy that they built seven cars just to test anti-lock brakes – and that we know which of those were which). It was sold to a private owner in 1989. It spent most of its life in collections in Japan before coming stateside a few years back.

This is one of about 10 surviving 959 Prototypes and it still wears its original tires. Only 337 of these cars were producing in total, so they’re rare to begin with and adding the fact that this is a Porsche-factory tester only makes it more special. It can be yours for between $600,000-$700,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM in Monaco.

Update: Sold $655,024.

Ansaldo Tipo 14

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1928 Ansaldo Tipo 14 Sports

Offered by Bonhams | Hendon, U.K. | April 28, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Ansaldo was an Italian car manufacturer that existed as a spin-off of a very old Italian engineering company known for armaments and railway components. When they were absorbed in 1993, they were one of Italy’s oldest companies. The car manufacturing period only lasted from 1919 through 1936.

The company built a few different models over its short life, with the Tipo 14 being new for 1928 (and not lasting long thereafter). It uses a 1.8-liter straight-four making 36 horsepower.

In 1932, Ansaldo cars was absorbed by OM and they ran out production of Ansaldos through 1936. The car offered here could be the only one like it left. The Tipo 14 was not the most popular model and Ansaldo only built between 1,000-2,000 cars per year. So Ansaldos in general are extremely rare. This one should bring between $75,000-$92,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Bonhams.

Update: Not sold.

Alloy-bodied Bizzarrini

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1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada Alloy

Offered by RM Auctions | Monaco | May 10, 2014

Photo - RM Auctions

Photo – RM Auctions

Bizzarrinis are stunning cars to see in person – especially when they’ve been restored to such magnificence. Giotto Bizzarrini was an engineer at Ferrari where he was responsible for the 250 Testa Rossa and the 250 GTO – two of the most sought-after Ferraris in history. He then moved to ATS and then on to ISO. When he left ISO in 1964, he formed the company that bore his own name.

In 1966, the company began marketing a street-legal version of its race car. This new road car was the 5300 GT Strada. The car here is an aluminium-bodied example and they use a 5.3-liter V-8 (from a Corvette) that makes 355 horsepower. It was – and is – a race car for the road. Top speed eclipsed 160 mph and approached 180, for those daring enough.

Bizzarrini didn’t build many examples of the 5300, but there are a number of them still out there. They have become a very collectible Italian exotic from the 1960s. Bizzarrini ended production in 1969. This car should bring between $625,000-$750,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM in Monaco.

Update: Sold $755,204.

Bianchi Roadster

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1918 Bianchi Tipo 12 Roadster

Offered by Bonhams | Hendon, U.K. | April 28, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Edoardo Bianchi founded his bicycle company in 1885. Automobiles came in 1899 and early cars were luxurious. The factory was destroyed during WWII, and post-war, his name (and company) became most famous as part of Autobianchi.

By the second decade of the twentieth century, Bianchi was the second largest Italian automobile manufacturer. The Tipo 12 came about near the end of WWI. It uses a 1.7-liter straight-four making about 25 horsepower. As sporty as this early racer looks, it’s only good for about 50 mph.

This car has been in a private collection for the last decade and is really quite rare. It’s small and has the bodywork of an early competition car. It can be yours for between $66,000-$83,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Bonhams.

Update: Not sold.

Update II: Sold, Historics at Brooklands, March 2017, $21,347 (and listed as a Tipo 16)

Ferrari F1-89

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1989 Ferrari F1-89

Offered by RM Auctions | Monaco | May 10, 2014

Photo - RM Auctions

Photo – RM Auctions

For 1989, Ferrari’s F1 car was the F1-89 – also known as the Ferrari 640. It was the first Ferrari F1 car for the new, non-turbo era. The engine is a 600 horsepower 3.5-liter V-12. and it was Gerhard Berger’s ride for part of the 1989 season. Unfortunately, F1-89 was plagued with reliability issues and this car DNF’d every race it was in. Which isn’t really a ringing endorsement – but then again, this is a Ferrari Formula One car you can own – and it will cost you between $825,000-$1,250,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $847,678.

Hesketh 308

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1974 Hesketh 308

Offered by RM Auctions | Monaco | May 10, 2014

Photo - RM Auctions

Photo – RM Auctions

The recent film Rush really put the spotlight back on James Hunt – one of F1s legendary personalities. It also shined a light on the Hesketh team – the coolest team in F1 history. The Hesketh 308 was the team’s first car designed in-house. And this is the first (of three) examples built.

If you were to believe the movie, this car was designed in a barn by Harvey Postlewaite (it was actually desienged by Postlewaite, location unconfirmed). The engine is a 3.0-liter Ford-Cosworth V-8 making 485 horsepower. This car was quick from the outset – shocking Hesketh’s rivals. This car was entered in two non-F1 races before the team moved to another car. It was driven in period by James Hunt and Alan Jones. This is an incredible opportunity to acquire a race car from one of the most storied F1 teams in history. It should sell for between $480,000-$890,000. Yes, that’s a big range. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $385,308.

Renault RE30B

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1982 Renault RE30B

Offered by RM Auctions | Monaco | May 10, 2014

Photo - RM Auctions

Photo – RM Auctions

The RE30B was an updated version of – you guessed it – the RE30. The RE30 won three races with Alain Prost in 1981 and the RE30B combined for four wins between Prost and Rene Arnoux in 1982. This was Arnoux’s car for eight races in 1982 – including three pole runs – Monaco, Imola, and Zandvoort. It was a great qualifier but never raced all that well. Its best finish was 10th at the 1982 Detroit Grand Prix. The engine in this car was a 560 horsepower twin-turbocharged 1.5-liter V-6. It is a relative bargain between $175,000-$220,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM’s Monaco sale.

Update: Sold $315,953.

1980 Tyrrell

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1980 Tyrrell 010

Offered by RM Auctions | Monaco | May 10, 2014

Photo - RM Auctions

Photo – RM Auctions

Ken Tyrrell’s Tyrrell Racing was active in Formula One from 1968 through 1998. That’s a pretty solid run, lined with streaks of fame, including the much-loved, six-wheeled P34. This car isn’t quite as exciting.

Candy Team Tyrrell ran cars for Jean-Pierre Jarier and Derek Daly for the complete 1980 season. The 010 debuted at the 1980 South African Grand Prix. This car, chassis 003 was first used by Daly at the 1980 Monaco Grand Prix. The engine is a 475 horsepower 3.0-liter Ford-Cosworth V-8.

This car competed in 17 races over two seasons and was driven by Daly, Jarier, Eddie Cheever, and Michele Alboreto. Its top finish was 5th (four times). It should sell for between $295,000-$390,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $246,597.