20 great cars up for grabs at Coys’ Monaco auction

The Legende et Passion Monaco sale features £20m worth of cars

Monaco. It’s just got that certain something – which might explain why so many auction houses like to save their biggest lots for the principality’s pleasure.

Coys of Kensington is no different: its ‘Legende et Passion Monaco’ sale, taking place on Friday (11 May), is packed with valuable classics – including a one-off Lamborghini Espada, a host of top Ferraris, a Group 4 BMW M1, Group C Sauber C9 and a pair of racing Lolas.

Want the low-down? Well, you can either head to the south of France this Friday – or flick through this gallery. Or both – we don’t mind.

1988 Porsche 959 Comfort

Estimate: €800,000 – 850,000

Porsche built the 959 for one reason: racing. Carrying a raft of advanced technologies – from automatic ride-height adjustment to a system that could dynamically vary the torque sent to the front or rear wheels – this homologation special was a truly innovative machine.

Rarely seen outside of museums, fewer than 300 959s were made – including this Komfort-spec example, which carries a host of mod-cons never normally associated with pure performance machines. And, with a mileage of just 22,000km and a full service history, this is no pocket money Porsche.

1995 BMW M1

Estimate: €130,000 – 170,000

Keen to take the fight to Ferrari and Porsche, BMW commissioned Lamborghini in the ‘70s to develop a Group 4 racer. Styled by Gian Paolo Dallara (then working for Lambo), BMW, together with several former Lamborghini employees, finished the job when funding issues arose – and the iconic M1 was the result.

Just 453 examples of this rare homologation special were built – though many machines were subsequently built to M1 specification, including this race-proven (and race-ready) 1995 model, complete with carbon body and monocoque, and 6-litre V8 engine.

1989 Sauber-Mercedes C9

Estimate: €1,200,000 – 1,600,000

BMWs not your bag? Try this Group C racer straight out of the Sauber museum. Developed by Sauber on instructions from Mercedes, the C9 carried a 6-litre racing engine that, with the help of two turbochargers, could exceed 700bhp – which played no small part in its claiming of the 1989 World Sportscar Championship.

Following that victory, a single 1988 machine – the very one going up for auction, now thoroughly restored and carrying a fresh engine built by an original Sauber engineer – was saved and kept, in its original AEG-sponsored livery, in the Sauber museum until very recently.

1940 Horch 853A

Estimate: €800,000 – 900,000

Not familiar with Horch? Among other things, he’s the man who founded Audi and also headed up a company that bore his name, delivering to market a host of luxury wagons – including this behemoth, the 853A.

Equipped with a 5-litre engine good for 120bhp and innovative, race-bred independent rear suspension, the 853A was built to devour autobahn miles. This 1940 example, chassis 854402, remains in outstanding condition and looks every bit the German speed machine.

1966 Lola T70 Mk 2

Estimate: €350,000 – 390,000

Not one for nipping down to the shops, Lola’s T70 machine was built to take on the mighty Ford GT40. Reliability issues plagued the high-downforce, lightweight machine – particularly in its most popular Chevy V8-equipped iteration – but it still claimed a one-two finish at the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona.

This particular T70 – an open-top Mk 2 example – remains ready to race today, following a recent comprehensive refurbishment.

1972 Lola T290

Estimate: €180,000 – 220,000

Another Lola number, this T290 was crafted in 1972 to dominate Group 6 racing. Built around an aluminium monocoque with independent suspension and disc brakes on every corner, in 2-litre spec it was no layabout – though customers had to provide their own engines.

This particular T290 carries a Cosworth BDG engine good for 260bhp, and notably scored a class victory in the 1972 running of Italy’s famous Targa Florio rally.

1958 Jaguar XK150 S

Estimate: €150,000 – 175,000

You’ll find several stunning E-types at the Monaco auction – but this XK150 S is the real showstopper: just 888 of Jaguar’s mid-century sports car were ever built, and this matching-numbers example is as fine as they come.

Where the standard XK150’s performance wasn’t too different to the XK140 before it, in ‘S’ guise it was a 250bhp speed machine capable of hitting 60mph in 7.3 seconds. Not bad for a 1958 motor – and the one in this Jag has been recently refurbished for good measure.

1970 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS

Estimate: €290,000 – 330,000

A stunning Italian fastback complete with evocative shark nose, the Ghibli was fastest in its rare ‘SS’ trim (like the example up for auction), which saw the 4.9-litre V8 squeezed for 330bhp and a top speed of 174mph – making it Maserati’s fastest ever machine at the time of its launch.

A fine matching-numbers 1970 example finished in glorious Rosso-Rubino red, you can expect this Ghibli to go well at auction.

1959 Maserati 3500 GT

Estimate: €290,000 – 320,000

Designed by the esteemed Giulio Alfieri and powered by a race-derived 3.5-litre engine, the 3500 GT was Maserati’s first GT effort – and a seriously stunning one at that.

This 1959 model is equipped with the desirable Weber triple carburettor setup (rather than the fuel injection fitted to later models) and goes to market in near-perfect condition, courtesy of a meticulous restoration and mechanical overhaul.

1972 Lamborghini Jarama Series 1

Estimate: €150,000 – 190,000

What’s in a surname? Well, that usually depends on what the surname is. Jones, for example, doesn’t give you much. Lamborghini? That’s where things change.

Take this 1972 Lamborghini Jarama S1: designed by Bertone, the V12-equipped machine up for auction is one of just 177 ever built – which ought to make it rare enough, except it was latterly stabled with a certain Fabio Lamborghini, nephew of Lamborghini founder Ferruccio.

1969 Lamborghini Espada Series 1

Estimate: €550,000 – 750,000

Another car from the collection of Fabio Lamborghini, this Series 1 Espada with a difference is undoubtedly the most interesting of them – though probably not the most expensive.

Why's it so special? Well, it’s the sole Espada to carry a large plexiglass roof; as if owning a Lamborghini wasn't enough in itself, if you bought this one you'd be in possession of a genuine one-of-a-kind model. 

It's also worth mentioning that it was paraded before the 1969 Monaco Grand Prix by none other than Prince Rainier III, with Princess Grace (yes, Grace Kelly) and Albert II as passengers.

1967 Lamborghini Miura P400

Estimate: €800,000 – 900,000

Entering the supercar market isn’t something done lightly – and Lamborghini definitely got that message. Fitted with the 4-litre V12 from the 400GT (albeit in a transverse, mid-engine arrangement), the Miura was only the Italian marque’s second production car, yet its Dallara-designed swoops had heads turning from the moment it was revealed in Geneva.

Just 275 P400 Miuras were built, including this 1967 example, which was shipped new to Texas billionaire Hugh Halff Jnr. Unmodified and wearing its original colour scheme, it’s a rare bull indeed.

1969 Lamborghini Espada Series 1

Estimate: €250,000 – 280,000

This second Espada in the list is another Fabio-owned number – and it’s quite the stunner.

A pristine example of Lamborghini’s first four-seater, this white Espada (named after a matador’s sword, naturally) was the 53rd of just 186 Series 1 machines built, and left the factory in 1969 carrying a 4-litre V12 engine good for 325bhp and 150mph. Fully serviced in 2017, it retains an entirely original interior and well-restored body.

1967 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2

Estimate: €220,000 – 250,000

The successor to Ferrari’s first four-seater, the 330 GT was, like the 250 GTE, a beautiful tourer designed by Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina – but with a crucial difference: four headlights.

Only found on Series 1 examples, the four-light setup was fitted with the US market in mind and was banished by the time the Series 2 came around, making early examples – such as this restored 330 GT 2+2 being sold by Coys – instantly recognisable.

1948 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500S

Estimate: €250,000 – 290,000

Alfa’s 6C 2500 was never meant to be produced for as long as it was – but with the Second World War interrupting development, it continued to come out of the factory into the ‘50s.

Supplied as a chassis to coachbuilder Pininfarina, this 1948 ‘S’ (for ‘Sport’) model is one of the rarest, not least because it spent some 40 years with a single owner (a woman who received it as a gift from her lover).

Restored in the ‘80s, well kept and maintained, it remains a highly original and impeccable example – hence the price tag.

1969 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2

Estimate: €190,000 – 220,000

Up there with the most luxurious family cars you could get in the late-’60s, Ferrari’s Pininfarina-bodied 365 GT 2+2 blended a fleet of mod-cons (think power steering, electric windows and optional air conditioning) with the performance of a 4.4-litre V12 engine.

Refinished in Marrone Colorado, this 1969 2+2 has benefitted from a comprehensive service of the major internals, as well as a fresh clutch and tyres – making it a strong contender for your next practical car.

1983 Ferrari 512 BBi

Estimate: €230,000 – 280,000

Ferrari’s 365 GT4 BB carried the first ever flat-12 engine found in a road car. A Formula 1-derived motor, it found its finest form in the 512 BBi, where it was paired with fuel-injection tech that made power much more accessible.

Sure, the 512 had its share of issues, but it was a thoroughly drivable sports car. Just 1007 BBis were built, of which this left-hand drive example is one. With 56,000km on the clock and in fine condition all round, that upper estimate looks entirely feasible.

1985 Ferrari 308 GTS QV

Estimate: €120,000 – 180,000

What’s better than owning a well-kept 1985 example of Ferrari’s V8-equipped 308, complete with Targa top and four valves per cylinder head (hence the ‘Quattrovalvole’ or QV label)?

If you’re a tennis fan, it’s surely owning this 1985 308 GTS QV, which was previously stabled with Wimbledon ace and general star of the '70s Björn Borg. Not into tennis? It’s still a mighty fine Ferrari, with just 32,000km on the clock.

1981 Ferrari 308

Estimate: €90,000 – 120,000

Two 308s in one list? Coys might not win any prizes for model variety, but this 1981 example of Ferrari’s Pininfarina-bodied 255bhp sports car is notable for, among other things, its famous former owner.

In outstanding condition today, this pristine Prancing Horse was presented in 1981 to Michele Alboreto – erstwhile Formula 1 star, winner of the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans and all-round Italian racing legend.

1969 Alfa Romeo Berlina

Estimate: €40,000 – 50,000

Relatively sedate by Alfa standards, the Type 1750 Berlina was a boxy little number with a slight sporting bent. Even with its twin-cam 1.8-litre motor and disc brakes, it was more family saloon than sports car – so why’s it on this list?

Because the example up for auction in Monaco used to be the runaround of one Prince Rainier de Monaco, who bought the Italian wagon in 1969, before later passing it on to Prince Albert, who himself sold it in 2012.

No, that won’t make it of interest to everyone – but it's relatively affordable in this company, and if you’re a dedicated fan of the Monégasque royal family it might be worth a punt. And if not? Well it's still a nice little car anyway.

The Coys Monaco sale takes place on Friday (11 May). We'll bring you the results when we've got them.