10.5.12

The 8th biennial Grand Prix De Monaco Historique will take place on the streets of the Principality over the weekend of May 11th -13th; combining four collectors car and motorcycle auctions, and three days circuit racing, arranged into seven categories for Grand Prix, Formula 3, and sports cars, from 1925 to 1984.

Undoubtedly most successful historic racer over the last two decades on the Monagasque streets, has been American Duncan Dayton with ten wins to his credit – this year, the proprietor of Connecticut based, Highcroft Racing races his Lotus 16 in Serie B, and his Brabham BT33 in Serie E. Making a very welcome return to the cockpit, is 1988 British Touring Car Champion and local resident, Frank Sytner in his Lotus 24 and March 783, whilst former Grand Prix racer, and winner of the 1972 and 1975 Targa Florio, Arturo Merzario will race a 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C35 in Serie A. Other  notable entries include BMW touring car star, and winner of the 2006 Dubai 24hrs (at the age of 67!), Dieter Quester in a 1937 BMW 328, multiple British saloon car champion Patrick Watts, in his 1950 Allard J2, ex F2 racer and current Swedish F1 TV Commentator, Eje Elgh in a 1977 Chevron B38, and sometime DTM racer Frank Stippler, who will undoubtedly be quick in Willi Balz’s 1934 Maserati 8CM.

Away from the circuit, RM Auctions (The Grimaldi Forum), Bonhams (Prince’s Motor Museum) and Coys (Espace Fontvielle), will present an extensive collection of collectors cars and motorcycles over just two days!

11the May

1pm RM Auctions - The Carlo Saltarelli Ducati Collection

The Collection represents one of the largest private collections of Ducati motorcycles ever to be offered at auction. Spanning the marque’s full history from road to racing machines, the 100-bike collection was selected over the past 30 years by lifelong enthusiast Carlo Saltarelli, an ex-Ducati factory test rider, racer and owner of a Ducati dealership. Also available will be the ex-works 2011 Ducati Desmosedici GP11 VR2
raced by Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden, with a guide price of €300k.
 
2pm Bonhams Les Grandes Marques a Monaco

Offering a diverse catalogue of watches, automobilia and collectors cars, the sale commences with a private collection of 44 superb TAG Heuer watches, whilst personally the most appealing automobilia “lot” is a circa 1928 Lalique, Victoire glass mascot. Six Ferraris are on offer in the Prince’s Museum hosted auction, where top sale is most likely to be the much documented 1930 ex Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo Gran Sport Spider, raced by Luigi Scarfiotti (€850-€950K).

12th May

11.00 am Coys “Legende et Passion”

London collectors car dealer and European auction house offers 70 “lots” in the Espace Fontvielle - with ten Ferrari’s included in the extensive catalogue, where the “star car” is the 1937 Mercedes 540K Sport Cabriolet A, and catching my eye is the 1957 Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible(€180-€220k)

2pm RM Auctions

Undoubtedly the weekend’s focal auction is the Canadian auction house's second sale in the multi-purpose Grimaldi Forum. With eighty-five cars (twenty one of which are Ferraris), one Riva motor launch, and the Ferrari powered Arno XI Hydroplane on offer - the most expensive cars in the catalogue, are the California consigned Ferrari 375MM and Ferrari 625C, whilst the sale’s most unusual “lot” is the 1951 Piero Taruffi driven, "Italcorsa/Tarf II" Speed-Record Car.

My favourite…… is Maserati 250F CM4(€540k); built by the late Cameron Millar from original parts, and rarely used since it was previously purchased at Bonhams Monaco 2010.

I have have euros and Panama and will bring you an comprehensive report - including the racing highlights, auction results and an enthusiasts “eye”, into one of the globe's foremost collectors car events….see you there!!

The author is a Director of 2B Consulting Automotive who offer the sale and brokerage of fine automobiles. Click on the logo to go to their website.