The only road-registered Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution, the car in which Niki Lauda made his F1 debut, a 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K cabriolet A, a 1932 Horch 970 cabriolet and a Tucker 48 are among the vehicles that will cross the block at RM Sotheby’s biennial auction May 14 during the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique weekend.
Those cars are just the latest addition to the docket for an auction which previously announced the consignment of a 1951 Ferrari 340 America Barchetta.
RM Sotheby’s alternates its spring sale in Europe between the Monaco historic weekend and a sale at Villa Erba during the Villa d’Este concours on the shores of Lake Como.
The Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution is one of only 14 such racing cars in private hands, is the only one known to have been registered for driving on public roads, and is being offered for public sale for the first time. On the track, the car won 31 times in 31 starts, taking the Canadian GT championship three times and also racing in the 24 Hours of Daytona. The pre-auction estimated value is €2.700.000 to €3.000.000 ($3 million to $3.4 million).
The ’71 March 711 is the car in which Lauda made his F1 debut in the Austrian Grand Prix. The car was built for Ronnie Peterson, who posted podium finishes at Monaco and Hockenheim. It has been in private hands since 1973. Pre-sale estimated value is €550.000 to €650.000 ($615,000 to $730,000).
The Mercedes 540 K and Horch 670 are pre-war touring cars. The 540 K is one of only 33 in the Cabriolet A body style and among the few with the 5.4-liter engine. The 670 is one of only five known to exist and is the only one not in institutional ownership. Its engine is a V12. Pre-auction estimated values are €2.700.000 to €3.300.000 ($3 million to $3.4 million) for the Mercedes and €2.700.000 to €3.600.000 ($3 million to $4 million) for the Horch.
The 1948 Tucker is one of only 51 built and one of only two still residing on the European continent. The car’s previous owners include Nick Jenin, Gene Zimmerman and Bob Bahre. The car has recently undergone restoration. Pre-sale estimated value is €1.350.000 to €1.850.000 ($1.5 million to $2.1 million).
The sale, which will include some 100 vehicles, will be held at Le Sporting, site of many of the principality’s most prestigious events.
