Bonhams’ The Monaco Sale ‘Les Grandes Marques à Monaco’ returns this May, once again coinciding with the Principality’s Historic Grand Prix (10 – 12 May).
As befits this unparalleled event, extraordinary cars will be available at the sale, including one of the most historically significant of all British Formula 1 Grand Prix cars and one of the rarest and one-off Ferrari 250 GTO models.
1957-58 Lotus-Climax Type 12 chassis ‘353’, estimated at €290,000 – 390,000
This historic landmark car in Formula 1 World Championship racing history is both the seven-times title-winning British marque’s first-ever Formula 1 contender and also the car in which future five-times Monaco GP winner and double World Champion Driver Graham Hill made his debut in the revered Monte Carlo race.
The Lotus Type 12 design originated from Lotus creator Colin Chapman late in 1956. It was his first Lotus single-seater after the series of ultra-lightweight, elegantly streamlined sports-racing cars with which he had established his marque’s sophisticated reputation. His Type 12 single-seaters were built to contest international motor racing’s newly launched Formula 2 class in 1957, with star drivers Graham Hill and Cliff Allison who raced car ‘353’ very competitively in F2 events, setting fastest laps.
Colin Chapman then set his sights on Formula 1 for 1958. The premier class’ regulations allowed engines of up to 2.5-litres. No suitable power unit was available that Lotus could afford, but Coventry Climax had enlarged their original F2 engine from 1500 to 1960cc. Team Lotus promptly made its Formula 1 debut with Graham Hill driving ‘353’ with 1960cc Climax engine power at Silverstone on May 3, 1958. Graham placed seventh in the F1 class to complete Team’s premier-league debut.
1960 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé, estimated at €2,500,000 – 3,000,000
This Ferrari 250 GT is recognized for its illustrious past and unique coachwork, and it represents a lineage of premier coachbuilders associated with Ferrari. Originally a Pininfarina-bodied coupé, chassis ‘1717 GT’ was later transformed by Carrozzeria Sports Cars, under the guidance of Piero Drogo in 1966, enhancing both its aesthetic and aerodynamic profile.
Chassis ‘1717 GT’ has featured in the 55th annual Geneva Motor Show in 1985 and the ‘Ferrari 75 Years’ exhibition at Autoworld Museum in Belgium in 2022, and it has taken part in historic races across Europe, such as the Carrera des Dolomites in 1988, the 31st Annual Rolex Monterey race at Laguna Seca in 2004 and the TT in the Goodwood Revival Meeting. It has been owned by a number of the most significant Ferrari collectors.
It has been meticulously maintained and is presented in fast road specification, which can easily be adapted to competitive racing.
Other highlights of the sale include:
1950 Delahaye 175 S, driven by Trevoux-Crovetto in the Monte-Carlo Rally taking overall victory in the 1951 edition as well as participating in the 1951 Carrera Panamericana in in the same year, driven by Monegasque racing legend Louis Chiron. Estimate: €450,000 – 650,000.
1955 Facel Vega FV, believed to be the oldest surviving model, formerly the property of the French Government from new and the fourth production chassis. Estimate: €200,000 – 250,000.
2015 Touring Superleggera AERO3, which embodies Touring’s streamlined aesthetic from the 1930s in its most modern interpretation with only three examples produced. Estimate: €600,000 – 900,000.
Bonhams’ The Monaco Sale ‘Les Grandes Marques à Monaco’ takes place on 10 May at Villa La Vigie, Monte Carlo. For further information: bonhams.com
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Image: 1957-58 Lotus-Climax Type 12 chassis ‘353’, estimated at €290,000 – 390,000 Photo courtesy of Bonhams