Tag Archives: classic cars

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.

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.

Ferrari 312 PB

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1972 Ferrari 312 PB

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

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Big-time Ferrari prototype sports racers don’t change hands very often. At least not publicly. The 312 PB was a Group 6 prototype race car built and campaigned between 1971 and 1973. Fun fact, this car was technically called the 312 P, but Ferrari also had an older 312 P, so it’s been retroactively dubbed “PB.”

Another fun fact is that these cars took so much focus from Ferrari that their Formula One program had begun to suffer. So after the 1973 sports car season, they walked away from prototype racers to focus on F1 again. So this was sort of the last of the line for a while.

The car is powered by a 3.0-liter flat-12 that made 460 horsepower. It’s unclear how many were produced, but the catalog says this chassis, 0886, is one of six used as works racers during the 1972 season. Its competition history includes:

  • 1972 1,000km of Buenos Aires – 1st (with Ronnie Peterson and Tim Schenken)
  • 1972 12 Hours of Sebring – 2nd (with Peterson and Schenken)
  • 1972 1,000km of Monza – 3rd (with Peterson and Schenken)
  • 1972 1,000km Nurburgring – 1st (with Peterson and Schenken)

This car was then present at the Monterey Historics as early as 1975. Ferrari won the sports car manufacturer’s championship in ’72, with a huge helping hand from this chassis. It now carries a massive estimate of $15,500,000-$19,750,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $12,766,856.

Peugeot 190S

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1928 Peugeot 190S Convertible

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

Photo – Brightwells

The 190 was Peugeot’s smallest car while it was sold between 1928 and 1931. Okay, so maybe it was the second-smallest, as the 5CV was sold alongside it, and some 5CVs had a 50cc smaller engine.

The 190 was powered by a 695cc inline-four that made 14 horsepower. Compared to the 5CV, which was based on an early ’20s design, the 190 was much more modern. It was available as a two-door sedan or a convertible. It was one of the last Peugeots to feature a wood-framed body.

No history is listed in the catalog, but if this car runs, it could be a good deal for someone. Having a little runabout like this for an estimated $5,000-$6,000 could be quite fun. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $5,621.

Merak SS

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1980 Maserati Merak SS

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

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

The Merak was sort of like the Bora’s baby brother. In fact, the whole front section (just about everything forward of the doors) is lifted directly from the Bora. The Merak has twin chrome bumpers up front if you want visual cues. It also has a vertical rear window, flying buttress C-pillars, and a vented engine cover.

But, perhaps, the biggest difference between the two cars is the cylinder count. Unlike the V8-powered Bora, the Merak is powered by a 3.0-liter V6, that in SS specification, made 217 horsepower.

They made about 1,000 SS cars between 1975 and 1983. Quite a few are in basket case territory today, but this one has had a “recent” mechanical overhaul and a cosmetic refresh. It has an estimate of $50,000-$55,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $48,194.

Tyrrell 020B

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1991 Tyrrell 020B

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

Photo – Bonhams

Ken Tyrrell’s Formula One racing team had been around since the 1960s and entered the 1990s already struggling. The 1971 constructor’s champion was a far cry from the peak. Their 020 chassis was designed by Harvey Postlethwaite and George Ryton and debuted for the 1991 season.

For that year, the car had a Honda V10 powerplant. For 1992, they upgraded the 020 (including this chassis, 020-6), to 020B spec, which meant that it now used 3.5-liter Ilmor V10 that made 680 horsepower. The competition history for this car includes:

  • 1991 Canadian Grand Prix – 10th (with Satoru Nakajima)
  • 1991 Mexican Grand Prix – 12th (with Nakajima)
  • 1991 French Grand Prix – 22nd, DNF (with Nakajima)
  • 1991 British Grand Prix – 8th (with Nakajima)
  • 1991 German Grand Prix – 18th, DNF (with Nakajima)
  • 1991 Hungarian Grand Prix – 15th (with Nakajima)
  • 1991 Belgian Grand Prix – 23rd, DNF (with Nakajima)
  • 1991 Italian Grand Prix – 19th, DNF (with Stefano Modena)
  • 1991 Portuguese Grand Prix – 18th, DNF (with Modena)
  • 1991 Spanish Grand Prix – 16th (with Modena)
  • 1991 Japanese Grand Prix – 16th, DNF (with Nakajima)
  • 1991 Australian Grand Prix – 26th, DNF (with Nakajima)

For 1992, it was used as a spare car for seven races. It later entered private ownership – sans V10 – and is offered as a roller out its current collection, where it’s been since 2003. The estimate is $55,000-$77,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $67,054.