Bonhams

1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante (Lot 34) 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Alloy Coupe (Lot 63)

Bonhams Celebrates Silver Anniversary Quail Auction August 19

written by David M. Brown

A 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante – one of just 16 ‘Compresseur’ (supercharger) models produced; a trio of early Ferraris; a Briggs Cunningham-campaigned 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition; and a 1931 Stutz DV-32 Convertible Victoria lead 130 premium collector automobiles into the 25th The Quail Auction, August 19, at Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel.

The event is held with The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. The auction begins at 11 a.m. PST; the automobilia sale precedes this at 9 a.m. The cars may be previewed at Quail Lodge on August 17 and 18, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday sale day, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Capable of making 120 mph in a time when less than half that was the ceiling for most cars, the headliner Atalante has rare aluminum coachwork. “Speed, style, exclusivity, originality and provenance: This particular jewel has it all,” says Jakob Greisen, vice president of US Motoring for Bonhams. “If the Type 57 was the supercar of its day, the 57C was the hypercar.”

The last 1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT built leads the three Prancing Horses, all matching numbers and Ferrari Classiche certified. Exhibited at the 1956 Brussels Motor Show, the car received a factory-correct restoration in the late 2000s by marque specialists Patrick Ottis and Brian Hoyt.

A 1949 Ferrari 166 Inter represents the young firm’s first international sales success. The restored Cabriolet is one of only three bespoke and hand-built examples produced at Maranello, with coachwork by Stabilimenti Farina. From two years later, a 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Alloy Coupé, completes the triumvirate. It is one of a half-dozen exclusive examples hand-built in aluminum by Carrozzeria Ghia. The 212 has also had a factory-correct restoration recently performed by Ferrari specialists.

With coachwork by Le Baron, the blue slate gray Stutz was in Argentina for more than four decades, and, after returning to the United States, the car has been owned by two notable collectors, winning multiple Best of Shows following a concours-quality restoration. “Designed to visually lower its lines with a striking ‘coach sill,’ this American classic features an exceptionally long hoodline — the longest of any known Stutz,” Greisen says. “Its proportions are remarkable; no wonder it’s a showstopper.”

The Jaguar was raced by Augie Pabst and Walt Hansgen at Le Mans for the Briggs Cunningham team; it returns for offer at Quail, where Bonhams sold it five years ago. Only 12 of the cars were built with aluminum alloy bodies. “This highly original E-Type Lightweight is among the most important examples of the rare competition model,” Greisen says.

A $150 ticket offers admission for two to the preview, the auction and a catalog. A separate ticket is required for The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering.

For more information, call 415.391.4000 or visit Bonhams.com/Quail or email, info.us@bonhams.com. Hashtag: #BonhamsMotoring; Instagram: @BonhamsMotoring; Facebook: Bonhams1793; and Twitter: @Bonhams1793.

Prices start at $13,650 which includes; Installation, Wireless Controls, Clean Up and Removal of Shipping Box!