Hispano-Suiza comfortably exceeds reserve at Monterey
The 1935 Hispano-Suiza K6 cabriolet that we featured last week was amongst the star lots at this year’s RM Auctions Monterey sale. Against a $1.5 million to $2 million reserve, it achieved $2,255,000. (more…)
A restored 1935 Hispano-Suiza K6 cabriolet to be sold at RM Auctions Monterey sale
Hispano-Suiza, literally meaning ‘Spanish-Swiss’, was a Barcelona based automotive firm that was founded in 1904 and which operated until 1968. In their 16th and 17th August sale, RM Auctions will sell a fine example of their creations, a restored 1935 Hispano-Suiza K6 cabriolet at Monterey, California’s Portola Hotel. (more…)
There will be no Chelsea Autolegends 2013
Chelsea Autolegends, the creation of Michael Scott, debuted in September 2010 at the Royal Hospital in SW3. Today, though, it was confirmed that the show has ceased trading. (more…)
The sale of a 40-year old Range Rover Classic
Just as Land Rover Jaguar have launched their fourth generation Range Rover L405, South Kensington garage Hexagon Classics are selling a much earlier example, a Range Rover Classic from 1973.
£1.8 million Alfa Romeo to be auctioned at the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed sale
The Bonhams auction that coincides with the Goodwood Festival of Speed always features rare and impressive vehicles, but a 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 ‘Le Mans’ tourer that will be sold there is truly spectacular.
An auction of 78 of the last Saabs to be made
Jeremy Clarkson once commented: “Buying a Saab is like turning down Cindy Crawford for a Labrador” and in turn as consumers followed his lead, the company went bust in 2011.
The collapse of this Swedish company attracted much press attention as it was considered by many to be one of the “strangest and most unique car companies that ever engaged in mass production”. Now, with an auction of 78 of the last Saabs built by the firm, Saab lovers can cast a final die for one of these vehicles “born from jets”.
The launch of the 2014 Range Rover Sport
Tomorrow, 26th March 2013 at 7.30pm EDT, the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport will be unveiled at the 113th New York Motor Show. In a departure from the traditional way in which cars are launched, Land Rover have drafted in James Bond star Daniel Craig to star in a video advertising campaign that will accompany this. It will conclude with a live-stream movie shot in “secret locations” around Manhattan.
A five times winner at Le Mans, this British racing icon also won the Daytona 24 three times and the World Sportscar Championship twice. Described as “one of the most liked drivers of his generation”, Bell suffered minor burns whilst working with Steve McQueen on the 1971 film Le Mans and is now a global ambassador for Bentley. He is rightly lauded as: “The greatest Englishman ever to compete in endurance racing”.
The sale of a gadget laden James Bond-mobile
“I never joke about my work” stated Q when James Bond enquires about the ejector seat in his new Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger.
In October 2010, RM Auctions in association with Sotheby’s sold one of the four world famous 1964 Aston Martin DB5’s made for the film to an Ohio based property tycoon named Harry Yeaggy on behalf of Jerry Lee, a broadcaster and philanthropist. The car, which was used by Sean Connery in Goldfinger and Thunderball, achieved a price of £2,600,000 against an estimate of £3,500,000.
Now Cobham based Aston Martin heritage specialist Richard Stewart Williams is marketing another of the DB5 vehicles produced for the franchise’s Thunderball. This one, though only used for promotional purposes, features all the gadgets Bond required including revolving licence plates, hubcap blades, hidden guns, a bulletproof screen, radar and a smoke machine.
The adaptations to the vehicle, last sold in 2005 in Arizona for approximately £1,300,000, were orchestrated by the renowned special effects designer Michael John Stears (1934 – 1999). Better know as “The Real Q”, Stears also built flying cars for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Man with the Golden Gun and created mechanical effects for Star Wars. He won two Academy Awards for his work and his talent and vision plainly can be seen in this vehicle for which Richard Stewart Williams seek £3,000,000.
For more information contact Richard Williams of Richard Stewart Williams Limited on +44 (0) 1932 868377.
View further details on the car at: http://www.rswilliams.co.uk/aston-martin-sales/?carid=42
A video clip of a Rolls-Royce Phantom in a far from typical setting
This week’s video of the week was sent to us by Anthony Brown and features a most unusual use of a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
In it, an unknown driver takes the vehicle off road at speed. Surprisingly, the 5,800-pound curb weight car copes well as it careers through the parkland of an English country estate and though the tyres were no doubt trashed, we thought it well worth sharing.
Watch the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-pzol0sxro