A Porsche 356B Super 90 Coupé that had been left to the mercy of Mother Nature is one of the highlights at Bonhams' forthcoming Goodwood 73rd Members' Meeting auction on 21 March, despite being a project beyond the means of all but the most determined restorers.
The 1963 car was driven into a garage by its third owner in 1973, where it remained for more than four decades. Despite being stored for such a long time the condition of the 356 deteriorated considerably, with the sills and wheel arches now well and truly rotten and the engine seized. It is expected to fetch £10-15,000.
In much better condition – and wearing a £240-280,000 estimate – is an ex-works 1982 Audi quattro Group B rally car, which was driven in period by Hannu Mikkola. The car was raced by the Finn at the 1982 Rallye Monte-Carlo, where it finished second behind the Opel Ascona of Walter Röhrl. In later years it was driven by ex-Saab rally driver Antero Laine, who campaigned it with great success.
A Maserati Tipo 60/61 'Birdcage' recreation will tempt those with deeper pockets. The dark blue Crosthwaite & Gardiner-built racer is expected to make £400-600,000, and could be its next owner's ticket to historic racing, having been extensively campaigned at VSCC meetings throughout its life.
A 1969 Abarth 2000 SE-014 'Cuneo' show car from the Maranello Rosso Collection is expected to sell for as little as £8000, which will set a few hearts racing, but initial enthusiasm may be tempered by the realisation that the engine is a dummy. It may lack the 250bhp 1946cc 'four' of the road-going car, it is nonetheless a fascinating piece of racing history.
Also exciting is a 1955 Frazer Nash Le Mans Coupé, which once belonged to Kitty Maurice and was campaigned at La Sarthe by John Dashwood and Bill Wilks in 1959. The car was one of nine models produced between 1953-'56, and its £550-650,000 pre-sale estimate reflects that rarity.
One of the bargains of the sale (depending on your perspective) is likely to be a 1986 Tiga GC286 3.0-Litre Sports Prototype, which could be yours for £80,000. The 420bhp racer is powered by a Cosworth V6 – the same model initially slated for the Metro 6R4 – and represents one of the cheapest ways of entering the Group C Historic Racing Series.
