Aston Martin, Ford, Delahaye, Jaguar, Porsche, and Talbot-Lago Headline Monterey Car Week Auctions

After a year-long hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Monterey Car Week in California is set to return this August. Beginning today, August 6th, 2021, live events will run until Sunday, August 15th. The annual classic car week will feature nearly 30 events, including car shows, auctions, races, panel discussions, and lectures. Topping the week is the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, commemorating its 70th year.

This year’s Monterey Car Week auctions will feature sales from Bonhams, Gooding & Company, Mecum Auctions, and RM Sotheby’s. In 2019, the Monterey Car Week auctions together garnered USD 250,000,000. Auction Daily explores some highlights of the coming Monterey Car Week auction cluster before the events kick off.

1970 Porsche 917K

A 1970 Porsche 917K will cross RM Sotheby’s 2021 Monterey block with a presale estimate of $16,000,000 to $18,500,000 (lot #328). The car— chassis 026— made its debut in the 1970 World Sportscar Championship, 24 Hours of Le Mans. Driven by David Hobbs and Mike Hailwood, it sported an orange roof and blue lower bodywork. The car ran as high as the third position for 49 laps before crashing in the 50th lap.

In 1971, it appeared as the winning car in Steve McQueen’s film Le Mans. The film used original racing footage. Following the movie, the chassis was factory repaired and re-bodied as a Porsche 917 Spyder. The remodeled 917 Spyder had lightweight open bodywork and competed in the 1972 and 1973 European InterSerie Championship.

“The Gulf Oil Porsche 917K is essentially the holy grail of competition cars,” Gord Duff, global head of auctions at RM Sotheby’s, said in a statement. “It represents the very best of motorsport history and heritage from an era of legendary cars and drivers, it will forever be a movie star in its own right.”

In 1988, collector Mike Amalfitano acquired the car. It remained in his possession until the current owner purchased the car in 2010 for nearly $4,000,000. He then restored it to its original Le Mans coupe specification.

1995 McLaren F1

Gordon Murray’s McLaren F1 is one of the most meticulously engineered cars of the 20th century. The Le Mans-winning pedigree, carbon-fiber bodywork, and a central driving position make it an icon of the century. A 1995 McLaren F1, with chassis 029, will be available with Gooding & Company during Monterey Car Week (lot #29, estimate: in excess of $15,000,000).

Between 1992 to 1998, the company produced a total of 106 McLaren F1 cars. According to the listing, chassis 029 was the 25th F1 off the assembly line and has less than 400 miles on the odometer. The car has its original Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, luggage set, and toolkit. Since its delivery, it has been with its first owner, a private Japanese collector. The available car sports original Creighton Brown paint, a brown/tan leather interior, and tan-colored panels for the central driver’s seat. 

The last 1995 McLaren F1 to appear at auction was in 2017 during Bonhams’ Quail Lodge Auction. The Base Silver car grossed $15,620,000.

1966 Ford GT40 Alan Mann Lightweight

The 1966 Ford GT40 Alan Mann Lightweight will appear for public bidding for the first time during Gooding & Company’s upcoming Pebble Beach Auctions (lot #39, estimate: $7,000,000 – $9,000,000). GT40, a chassis AM GT-1 car, is the first of two aluminum-bodied GT40s ever built.

In 1965, Ford commissioned Alan Mann Racing to build five aluminum-bodied GT40 cars. Ford intended to race these lighter and faster cars in 1966 Le Mans. Mann could make only two such cars in 1966, one of which will come to auction for the first time. While the GT40 underwent testing at Le Mans, it never competed in the race.

In 1985, the current owner acquired the car after it sustained damage in a road accident. He commissioned GT40 specialist Bob Ash of Georgia to restore the car to its original splendor.

1936 Delahaye Type 135 Competition Court Teardrop Coupe

Among the many pre-war cars offered by Mecum Auctions at Monterey is a 1936 Delahaye Type 135 Competition Court Teardrop Coupe (lot #S95, estimate: $5,000,000 – $6,000,000). The car features a Goutte D’Eau-style coupe by Figoni et Falaschi. Delahaye, a family-owned company, focused on limited production and innovative designs. Including the offered lot, only 30 examples of the Competition Court models exist.

Fewer Delahaye cars are Figoni et Falaschi-built. Only three cars with body number 609 have survived. In 1937 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, two Delahaye Type 135 Competition Court cars finished second and third position. The available car changed hands several times before landing in the United States. It received restorations for Concours d’Elegance.

1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Cabriolet Décapotable

For its Quail Lodge Auction during Monterey Car Week, Bonhams will offer a 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Cabriolet Décapotable (lot #49, estimate: $1,800,000 – $2,300,000). Many consider the Cabriolet to be the most powerful and glamorous car of the Art Deco era. The available Cabriolet is one of only four built and one of the two surviving examples with bodywork designed by coachbuilder Figoni et Falaschi. The blue and black exterior of the car takes inspiration from the naval ships of the era with a whale-like design.

Gilbert Fayol, a French industrialist, commissioned the available T26 Sport Cabriolet. The car was sold in the 1960s. However, it was not until the 1990s that it received its first in-depth restoration. 

The auctions of Monterey Car Week run from August 12th through August 14th, 2021.

RM Sotheby’s Monterey Auction Weekend starts on August 12th and runs until August 14th, 2021.

Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auctions begins August 13th at 8:00 PM EDT and ends on August 14th, 2021 at 2:00 PM EDT.

Mecum Auctions’ Monterey 2021 runs from August 12th until August 14th, 2021.

Bonhams’ Quail Lodge Auction begins on August 13th, 2021at 2:00 PM EDT.