IT ’S H A MMER TIM E
GOODING & CO’S LARGEST LONDON SALE HAS PLENTY TO TEMPT, FROM PRE-WAR BENTLEYS TO A COMPETITION PORSCHE AND FERRARIS, PLUS MORE BESIDES
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AMPTON COURT HAS BEEN THE SCENE OF high drama many times in its history, and this year’s Gooding & Co auction promises scintillating tales of its own. It’s the auctioneer’s largest UK sale so far, and boasts 40 lots spanning more than a century of motoring, from a 1910 Stanley Model 60 Runabout to a 2012 Ruf RT 12 S; outputs of 10bhp and 770bhp, respectively. The star lot has to be the 1960 Ferrari 250GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione, which was originally part of the famed North American Racing Team assault on the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hours, with George Arents and Alan Connell Jr taking the car to fifth overall and second in class. It was later raced at the Goodwood Tourist Trophy by Pierre Dumay, and then sold to Guy Rivillon of Rivillon Coachworks. He enjoyed the car on several rallies, hillclimbs and circuit races between 1964 and 1965, with highlights including a fifth overall finish at the Coupe de Vitesse at Montlhéry and a first in class and fourth overall at the Rallye Rouen. Following stints in the 48
collections of noted Ferrari collectors, it’s been extensively restored by Lanzante, and has an estimate of £6-7 million. If you’re a fan of patinated Porsches, the barn-find 1956 Porsche 550 Spyder will surely tempt. Chassis 550-079 was first sold to Swiss racing driver Rita Rampinelli in red with white darts. After a brief time with the car, she passed it onto fellow Swiss driver, Heinz Schiller, who raced it across Europe. It was then sold to another racing driver, Edouard Margairaz, who used it to tackle Swiss hillclimb events. In the 1960s, 550-079 was upgraded with factory ‘werks’ components to boost it to then-current specifications. These changes included a factory engine and RS60 bodywork. According to paperwork with the car, Swiss Formula 1 winner Jo Siffert owned the Porsche for some time, and it was also in the hands of Herbert Kuke for a while, too. It came to the UK in 1982 to form part of an extensive collection, but aside from two appearances at the Oldtimer Grand Prix and an historic race at Zolder, it hasn’t been seen for 35 years. Described as being in ‘as found’ condition,
RIGHT 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione is predicted to be the star of the auction.
FAR RIGHT ‘As found’ Porsche 550 Spyder has a long competition history.
