Bonhams set a resounding record for its 7th annual auction at Greenwich, Connecticut, with a sale of more than $8 million, a 40-percent gain compared with last year, and with a 93 percent sell-through rate.
Leading the collection of around 100 cars and motorcycles was a 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 “Periscopica” with just 10,000 miles on its odometer. The car sold for a record $1.2 million (all results include buyer premium). That figure was double the Lambo’s presale high estimate and the highest ever for a Countach sold at auction.
One of the first left-hand-drive Jaguar E-types, a 1961 3.8-liter roadster, rang up a strong $335,500 sale.
The unique 1966 Fitch Phoenix, which was the road-going prototype from the late racer and innovator John Fitch of Connecticut, sold for $253,000 to a thunderous round of applause.
The auction attracted a full house of spectators and bidders, including a number of worldwide phone bidders. The Bonhams sale was held alongside the famed Greenwich Concours d’Elegance.
“It was a record turnout at this year’s Greenwich auction,” said Rupert Banner, vice president and head of the Bonhams motorcar division East Coast. “We were pleased to bring this year’s expansive offering of quality motorcars to this wonderful event.”
As well as automobiles, the auction started off with more than 250 lots of automobilia, including rare, circa 1920’s historic photographs and vintage racing memorabilia from ex-Peter De Palo chief pit attendant Ben Duncan that sold for $26,250, well above the pre-sale estimate of $3,000- $5,000.
Porsche memorabilia and spares also ran up strong numbers, such as the original Porsche Type 356 Speedster driver’s manual that sold for $4,000 against an estimate of $200-400. More than 98 percent of the automobilia lots sold.
For complete results and information about Bonhams’ upcoming Quail Lodge auction August 15 in Carmel, California, see www.bonhams.com/motoring.
