RM Sotheby’s London 2016 auction live stream - watch it here
Tantalising metal of all types goes up for auction at the upcoming Concours of Elegance in London
Monterey car week might have finished but the auction season isn’t over yet, and next up is RM Sotheby’s London sale, held in conjunction with the Concours of Elegance, Windsor Castle.
The auction begins at 5pm on September 7 and you can watch it live by clicking play on the video at the top of this article. It’ll once again be the home for a spectacular and esoteric collection of supercars, classics and race vehicles, with some models in particular grabbing our attention.
The first is one of the great ‘analogue supercars’, in the form of a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT. Like many at this level in the market, it’s spent most of its time not being driven, and has only 3500km on the clock.
What a shame it would be if the new owner didn’t add to that tally – the GT’s 605bhp, 5733cc V10 is one of the all-time great engines and the rest of the car is entirely worthy of carrying it. You can find out more about this particular car in the video above; it’s estimated to make £600k-£650k.
One of its closest contemporary rivals, a 2003 Ferrari Enzo, will also cross the block in London. With a £1.2m-£1.4m estimate it makes the Carrera GT look a bargain, but it has rarity on its side (Ferrari made 399, to the Porsche’s 1270) and at 1471 miles it’s covered an even shorter distance.
We’re even more partial to cars that have been used – and hard. A 1997 Audi A4 quattro Super Touring and 1997 Renault Laguna BTCC Super Touring both fit that bill.
The A4 was Emanuele Pirro’s steed in the Central European Super Touring Championship and the latter was Jason Plato’s challenger in the 1998 BTCC – in the Nescafe Blend 37 livery familiar to anyone who grew up playing TOCA2 on the PlayStation.
The former is expected to make £130k-£160k, while the Laguna is surprisingly a little less, with an £80k-£120k estimate. £85k-£110k will get you a competition saloon of an older kind, with a Marlboro-liveried 1985 BMW M5 Superproduction car – making 460bhp from its 3.5-litre inline six.
Rally fans can choose between a 1971 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale (£290k-£335k) and a 1986 Ford RS200 (£170k-£210k), the latter in higher ‘S’ specification with 350bhp, electric windows and a Tickford-tweaked interior.
Our pick of the Alfa Romeos includes a 1986 1750 GTAm (£225k-£275k) and a quirky 1974 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 1600 Familiare, which should reach £55k-£70k. Of the Porsches, we’re rather keen on a 1973 911 Carrera 2.7 Lightweight (estimate: £450k-£550k) and a 1992 911 Carrera RS in Maritime Blue, expected to hit £160k-£180k.