The RM Auctions sale at Monterey California each year is nearly as well known as the nearby Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with which it coincides during the Monterey Car Week festival. Among the selection of stunning classics to go under the hammer are some of the world’s finest convertible cars. We took a look through the catalogue and picked out three interesting cars which appealed to us:
1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype
After being snubbed in their bid to buy Ferrari the GT40 was Ford’s revenge on the Italian company. Ford commissioned Eric Broadley of Lola, a well established British racing car builder, to develop a car with a Ford V8 which would beat Ferrari on world endurance racing circuit. The cars won Le Mans four times in a row during the late 1960s but to homologate it as a road car 100 road-going versions were sold to the public. Four of these were roadsters and the only one of these still in original condition is to be sold at the August auction.
This particular car was the first GT40 Roadster made and was used as the development prototype as well as press demonstrations. Caroll Shelby the cars developer spent a lot of time at the wheel including demonstrating the car to Henry Ford II and the company’s board of directors.
The car is well known at concours and classic car events having had the same loving owner for over 20 years.
1961 Ferrari 250 GT N.A.R.T. Spider by Fantuzzi
Ferrari 250 series cars are selling at ever increasing prices at the moment, regularly stretching into 7 figures. This one is likely to follow. This unique North American Racing Team Ferrari was class winner at this year’s Palm Beach Cavallino Classic. The car started life as a 1961 250 GTE but in 64 was shipped back to Fantuzzi, a Modena-based coachbuilder responsible for most of Ferrari’s formula and sports/racing car bodies of the period. The beautiful bodywork heavily inspired the later Ferrari 275 GTB.
The 3 litre V12 engine was upgraded in 1967 with Testarossa cams and a new intake manifold with six twin-choke Weber carburettors along with a five speed gearbox.
1953 Lancia Aurelia PF200 C Spider by Pininfarina
This retro-futuristic looking Lancia Aurelia is one of only three Spiders bodied by the legendary Pininfarina. Certainly one of his most creative works. This one has won many concours awards since a recent thorough restoration and has had the same doting owner for the last 46 years.
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