Top 25 lots at the Villa d’Este sale

Lots to get excited about

This month, RM Sotheby’s holds its biennial Villa Erba sale, which takes place on the shores of Lake Como, Italy.

The sale is held in partnership with the world-famous Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este for vintage and classic cars, and this year’s auction features 14 cars from the hitherto-secret Aurora Collection. Better still, all the lots from that collection are offered without reserve.

In addition, a range of vehicles from the all-Italian Piccolo Collection will also go under the hammer and, again, they’ll be for sale without reserve.

Here is our countdown of the top 25 lots set to go under the hammer on 20 May 2023, according to their pre-sale estimates.

25. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SC Roadster (est: €600-800,000)

Talk about exclusive. This is one of the rarest Mercedes-Benz cars of all, because the company built a grand total of 53 of them.

The Roadster was based on the chassis of the 300 saloon, but with 15cm removed from the wheelbase. The model was also available as a coupé and a cabriolet.

The range began with a 3-litre straight-six engine under the bonnet, fed by three Solex carburettors, but a 1955 update included the carbs being replaced by a mechanical fuel-injection system, which helped to significantly increase the car’s power output.

The early history of this example is as yet uncovered, although it shows signs of an older restoration prior to being bought by the Aurora Collection in 2011.

24. 2004 Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT (est: €700-800,000)

Lamborghini has long been known for producing outrageous supercars, but what it hasn’t been known for is racing. However, the Murciélago, which was produced after the VW Group’s takeover of Lamborghini in 1998, was a good basis for a GT car.

So, Lambo tuner Reiter Engineering got together with the engineers at Audi Sport and set about developing a car that would comply with the rules of both the FIA GT Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours.

They kept the 6-litre V12 but ditched the standard car’s four-wheel-drive system in favour of a rear-drive set-up, and fitted a Hollinger six-speed sequential gearbox, as well as uprated Brembo brakes.

This car competed in the 2004 American Le Mans Series before being sold to a Malaysian racing team at the end of the season. It was completely rebuilt by Reiter in 2010.

23. 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America (est: €700-900,000)

The Lancia Aurelia B12 saloon of 1950 was already a bit of a looker, but it was when the company revealed the Spider in 1954 that jaws truly dropped at the sight of its sheer elegance.

The wraparound windscreen and split bumpers were designed to snare the attention of passers-by, and succeeded in doing so. The car also featured one of the first series-production V6 engines, in the shape of the 2.5-litre B24 motor.

The car you see here is a matching-numbers example that first saw the light of day in 1955. It was the very first car to be purchased by the all-Italian Piccolo Collection in the early 1970s, and remained in the collection’s possession until the present day.

It has been regularly shown throughout its life, and is eligible for historic road rallies and tours, such as the Mille Miglia.

22. 1959 Facel Vega Facel II Prototype (est: €700,000-1m)

Facel Vega stood out from the norm because its cars were stylish, exclusive and built by hand. They were also very expensive. At the end of the 1950s, the brand was undeniably on the up.

The Facel II was the company’s expression of that confidence because it was low, light, fast and oozed elegance, and the car’s story began in 1959 with this prototype, chassis HK2 A099.

Its styling actually differs quite substantially from that of the final production cars because it features separate stacked headlights instead of the final integrated units, and the roofline is much shorter.

This car has had six owners, the last of whom subjected it to a three-year restoration, which included much of the bodywork being remanufactured.

A comprehensive record of the restoration will be sold with the car at the RM Sotheby’s sale on 20 May.

21. 1952 Bentley R-type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by HJ Mulliner (est: €750,000-1m)

It’s fair to say that the Bentley R-type Continental represents one of the most luxurious ways to travel very quickly indeed. On the road at least.

Rolls-Royce Chief Projects Engineer Ivan Evernden wanted the ultimate expression of sophistication and pace, and this model was the car he came up with. At launch, it had a top speed of around 118mph, and was lauded as the fastest four-seater in the world.

This accolade was made possible because it featured aluminium bodywork fashioned by coachbuilder HJ Mulliner, added to which the bodywork itself was extremely aerodynamic for the day.

This Bentley’s first owner (and, indeed, subsequent ones) certainly had to pay handsomely for the luxury, because the car cost £6928. Bear in mind that the average UK annual salary when this car was new was £468 and you can see that the car was more than a little exclusive.

This example, which is one of only 25 built on a Bentley MkIV chassis, had £20,000 of restoration work in 2021.

20. 1977 Lamborghini Countach LP400 ‘Periscopo’ (est: €950,000-1.05m)

The Lamborghini Miura might have been the first car to earn the term ‘supercar’, but there can be little question that the subsequent Countach represents the term better than any car before. Some might argue since, too.

From the scissor doors to the mid-mounted 3.9-litre V12, the car screams ‘exotic’, a feeling enhanced by the fact that this is the ‘Periscopo’ model that features a periscope-style rearview mirror that allows the drive to look rearward through a scoop in the car’s roof.

This car was bought new as a right-hand-drive Australian model by the singer Rod Stewart when he was on tour Down Under. Upon his return to Los Angeles, he had a wide bodykit and targa roof added, and kept the car until 2002.

The second owner overhauled the engine and had it converted to left-hand drive, and then the third owner had the car returned to the spec in which it originally left the Lamborghini factory, albeit in left-hand-drive form.

In 2022, the car was the subject of restoration work by Lamborghini’s own restoration house, Lamborghini Polo Storico.

=17. 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (est: €1-1.4m)

Believe it or not, the Mercedes-Benz SL name is 69 years old this year, although the roadster version of the super leicht didn’t actually appear until 1957. Before that, it was the gullwing-doored coupé that stole the headlines.

At the time, the sheer technology and performance it offered were revolutionary. It was light, it had a 3-litre straight-six engine and mechanical fuel injection, and the engine was tuned for slightly more power to offset the fact that the roadster was 125kg heavier than the coupé. Not only did it have superb performance but it also managed to do so with sophistication and style – there was no manic behaviour here.

This car is one of just 267 examples produced in 1958, and has had numerous owners on its way to this sale. It was the subject of a full restoration in the middle of the 1980s, and as part of the works it was given a disc-brake conversion. However, the original drum brakes are included as part of this lot.

=17. 2011 Ferrari SA Aperta (est: €1-1.4m)

To have Ferrari build a model dedicated to you must be pretty special, but that’s what Ferrari did for father and son Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina, a designed house that Ferrari owes much to.

So, the company took the 599 (not the humdrum 599GTB but the searing 661bhp 599GTO), and removed the roof. Not only that but Ferrari restyled the rear with a couple of aerodynamic fins and rollbars.

Better still, Ferrari managed to do this while adding just 17kg to the weight of the basic 599.

This example was supplied new in 2011, and delivered to the Aurora Collection shortly afterwards. It has covered just 209km (130 miles) since, so is considered ‘as new’ for VAT purposes, and will be subject to VAT on the purchase price.

It has also been given Ferrari Classiche certification, although this is in digital form only.

=17. 1961 Ferrari 250GT Cabriolet Series II (est: €1-1.4m)

Ferrari was chasing a different demographic with the 250GT, which was aimed at those who wanted a grand-touring machine. It was less of a hard-edged sports car than previous offerings and was designed to take a couple of people a long way in great comfort.

The second-generation car had slightly softer styling with a more rounded nose and redesigned headlights in a body built by Pininfarina. It also featured a redesigned Colombo 3-litre V12 engine and four-wheel disc brakes.

This matching-numbers example spent the early part of its life in Italy before it was shipped to the USA, where it passed through a number of owners. It was bought by Klaas Zwart, founder of Ascari Cars, in the early 2000s, and remained in his ownership until it became part of the Aurora Collection in 2012.

It comes with a digital Ferrari Classiche certificate. However, the printed book has been misplaced, and so the next owner will need to discuss recertification with Ferrari.

16. 1960 Ferrari 250GT Cabriolet Series II (est: €1.2-1.4m)

The 250 Cabriolet was a natural extension of the Ferrari range, because it provided comfort as well as performance. However, as well received as the car was, Ferrari built only 36 of them, and there was demand for more.

The company immediately set about designing a successor, the Series II version, of which 200 were constructed, featuring the famous 3-litre Colombo V12 engine, fed by triple Weber carburettors, coil valve springs and an ‘outside plug’ design, in which the spark plugs were moved to the outside of the cylinder head, by the exhausts.

This is number 112 of the 200 made, and it began life by being bought by a Milan resident, resplendent in Spruce Green paintwork and beige interior.

Thereafter, the car’s history is as yet uncovered, but it is known to have spent significant time in the US, where it was painted red.

In 2007 and 2008, the car was restored by a Colorado specialist and painted black at that time. It was also awarded Ferrari Classiche certification, and comes complete with the coveted red book detailing its authenticity.

15. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing (est: €1.2-1.5m)

Mention the word ‘gullwing’ and there’s really only one car that will immediately spring to the mind of car enthusiasts. And it isn’t a De Lorean.

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL absolutely shook the automotive world to its core when launched in 1954, such was the cutting-edge technology involved, plus the sheer performance and staggering looks. And, of course, the doors.

The success of the 300SL in motorsport made the road car popular with Swedish road racers, and no fewer than 17 were delivered to customers there between 1954 and ’56, of which this car was the fourth.

Its history is vague, but is believed to have spent most of its life in Sweden, and comes complete with special-order driver-operated radiator shutters, belly pans and rear mudguards. Sadly, the original Rudge wheels have been lost.

It has been static in the Aurora Collection for quite some time, so will require a thorough inspection and possibly recommissioning before being driven.

14. 1936 Lancia Astura Cabriolet Series III ‘Tipo Bocca’ (est: €1.2-1.6m)

This 1936 Lancia Astura Cabriolet is the sort of car that makes people simply stop and stare, content to soak in its glorious aesthetics and spend time studying the beautiful details. It really is stunning.

And the fact that it’s one of only three ever made simply enhances its desirability. It’s about as close to an automotive unicorn as they come.

It is called the ‘Tipo Bocca’ in reference to a Lancia dealer in northern Italy at the time, who commissioned this and five similar cars – two others on the same short-wheelbase chassis as this one, and three on a long-wheelbase platform.

The chassis left Lancia in June 1936, after which the bodywork was added by Pininfarina. The car was then displayed at the 1937 Berlin motor show.

It was shipped to the United States, and spent many years there. However, its condition deteriorated until 1982, when a Swiss collector purchased it and began a restoration that would take almost 40 years to finish.

13. 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 (est: €1.3-1.5m)

Talk about a statement of intent. The motoring world had been intrigued in 1965 when Lamborghini unveiled a rolling chassis with mid-mounted V12 engine in 1965, but that intrigue turned to outright astonishment the following year when the completed Miura was finally shown. It was stunning to behold, and had equally staggering performance.

The 4-litre V12 engine instantly made the car the fastest production car in the world. And it set the tone for every Lamborghini product since, because it was loud, outrageous and stupendously quick.

The engine may have been the centrepiece, but the rest of the car’s technology was equally cutting edge, with four-wheel independent suspension and disc brakes all round.

This car spent its life in Italy until 2012, when it was bought by the current owner and subject to a €30,000 restoration.

12. 1963 Ferrari 250GT/L Berlinetta Lusso (est: €1.3-1.6m)

The Ferrari 250GT/L Berlinetta was introduced at the 1962 Paris Salon as a replacement for the 250GT coupé, with the L standing for ‘Lusso’, or luxury.

That extra luxury appeared in the forms of leather upholstery throughout, a diamond-quilted parcel-shelf cover, and a revised dashboard, and the model garnered an illustrious collection of famous owners, including a certain Steve McQueen.

This is a matching-numbers car, so the 3-litre Colombo V12 engine is the one it left the factory with, as is the four-speed manual gearbox.

When new, this car was the 30th car off the line, out of an eventual production run of 350. It was painted in Oro Chiaro (gold metallic) with a black interior, but has since been repainted in Rosso. It became part of the Piccolo Collection in 1968, and has remained there ever since.

It is known to have competed in the 2007 Bologna-Raticosa hillclimb, and won Best in Show at the 2018 Concorso Internazionale Eleganza Automobili Montecatini Terme, also in Italy.

11. 1965 Ferrari 275GTS (est: €1.3-1.7m)

Ferrari certainly kept its coachbuilders busy in the 1960s. In 1964 it launched the replacement for the 250GT series of models with this, the 275.

The 2400mm chassis was fitted with a 3.3-litre version of the Colombo V12, and the coupé Berlinetta bodywork was then added by Scaglietti, while the Spider was constructed by Pininfarina.

The GTB was aimed at those who wanted to go everywhere in a hurry, while the GTS such as the one here, was aimed at those who wanted to savour the journey a bit more, and who wanted to be seen along the way.

Only 200 examples of the 275GTS were constructed, and this is a fine example. It was delivered new to its first owner in Reno, Nevada, in the United States, in 1965, and would remain in the state for the following 40 years, in the care of two further owners.

Eventually, it found its way into the Aurora Collection, and in 2007 was issued with Ferrari Classiche certification, which signifies that the car has an engine, gearbox, body and chassis that match those held in the Ferrari record books. Better still, the all-important Red Book remains with the car.

The only difference from the factory spec is that the original black interior has been replaced with a beige one.

10. 1989 Ferrari F40 (est: €2.2-2.8m)

You can forget everything else – if you were a teenager at the end of the 1980s there was only one supercar to adorn your bedroom wall: the Ferrari F40.

Yes, there was the technological masterpiece that was the Porsche 959, but the F40 blasted into the public consciousness like a bewinged lightweight missile because it could break the 200mph barrier.

The car was launched to mark the 40th anniversary of the company’s inception (hence F40), and it absolutely exemplified the phrase ‘less is more’. It felt like a racing car for the road, so was shorn of most luxuries – after all, anything else would have simply slowed it down.

This car has been used very lightly throughout its life, and has also been the subject of an extensive restoration process, after which it was awarded Ferrari Classiche certification.

There is a photographic record of the restoration that accompanies the car, which has covered only 17,250km (around 10,700 miles) since new.

=8. 2019 Ferrari Monza SP1 (est: €2.5-3m)

Talk about being in touch with your wild side. The Ferrari Monza SP1 is an outrageous celebration of the joy of driving, which harks back to the 750 Monza racer from the 1950s, but with the searing performance provided by thoroughly cutting-edge mechanicals.

Ferrari only ever constructed 499 examples of the single-seat SP1 and twin-seat SP2 models, all of which feature a 6.5-litre V12 up front, driving the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. How does 0-62mph in 2.9 secs grab you?

Even getting into and out of the car has a sense of drama, because you do so through scissor doors.

This car has completed just 26km (16 miles) in its entire life, and the vast majority of that distance was covered by Ferrari engineers when testing and shaking down the car prior to delivery to its first owner.

With such a low odometer reading, the car is classified ‘as new’ for VAT purposes, so will be subject to VAT on the purchase price.

=8. 1973 Ferrari 365GTS/4 Daytona Spider (est: €2.5-3m)

The Ferrari 365GTB/4 launched in 1968 is a stunning-looking machine, and was later given the nickname ‘Daytona’ in reference to the marque’s 1-2-3 finish in the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona race.

However, when Ferrari removed the roof with the 365GTS/4 that was launched at the 1969 Frankfurt motor show, it surely enhanced the shape to the nth degree.

Under that shark-nose front end was the final iteration of the ubiquitous Colombo V12 engine, this time enlarged to 4.4 litres and fuelled by six Weber twin-choke carburettors.

Ferrari only ever constructed 122 Daytona Spiders, of which this car was the 113th. It was sold to its first owner in Switzerland in 1973, and has remained with that owner until the present day.

It was built to US specification, so comes with air-conditioning, an eight-track player, and has instruments that display miles, not kilometres.

The odometer reads just 3862 miles, so the car has had a very easy life, and it also comes with Ferrari Classiche certification, although this is in digital form only because the famous accompanying book has been lost.

=6. 1967 Ferrari 275GTB/4 (est: €2.8-3.3m)

In the 1960s, Ferrari was in the process of becoming one of the most desirable names in the automotive world, thanks to cars such as the 250GT, the 400 Superamerica and the 500 Superfast, but one that caught the attention of the cognoscenti around the world was this, the 275GTB/4.

The 275GTB featured a five-speed transaxle and fully independent suspension under that staggeringly beautiful bodywork, which was fashioned by Scaglietti.

Then in 1966, along came the 274GTB/4, which thankfully looked much the same, but which had a hugely upgraded 3.3-litre Colombo V12 engine under the bonnet, complete with no fewer than four camshafts and fed by six Weber carburettors. It was a grand tourer par excellence, and as such gained a notable roster of buyers around the world, arguably the most famous being one Steve McQueen (his car is for sale at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale on 18-19 August 2023 – read about it here).

This example spent a short time in Italy before being shipped to the United States. It was subject to a restoration in 1989, then passed through a few owners until it joined the Aurora Collection in 2011.

It has been awarded Ferrari Classiche certification, although the accompanying book has been lost, so the new owner will have to discuss recertification with Ferrari.

=6. 2019 Bugatti Chiron (est: €2.8-3.3m)

How on earth do you follow a car such as the Bugatti Veyron? After all, it was comfortably the fastest car for a very long time, and was the sort of machine you could take from Calais to Rome – for lunch. And still be home in time for tea.

Well, the Chiron is the car to eclipse the Veyron, and looks every inch the meaner, moodier progeny. This example features a Grey Carbon and Nocturne exterior hue, which lends it a certain menace.

Underneath is a chassis that was built to Le Mans prototype standards, and which shrouds an 8-litre quad-turbo W16 engine that develops 1479bhp and 1180lb ft of torque. How does 0-62mph in 2.4 secs grab you? Like a fairground ride, probably.

This example has had just the one owner and is showing just 1339km (around 830 miles) on the odometer, which of course means that it will be viewed as new for VAT purposes and will be subject to VAT on the purchase price.

5. 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupé Aerodinamico (est: €3-3.5m)

Pininfarina was undeniably operating at the top of its game when it came up with the Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupé Aerodinamico, because it provides a seamless blend of elegance and purpose.

So, purposeful – yes. Stunning to behold – yes. Bargain? Not so much. When new, the 400 you see here cost only fractionally less than the much-heralded 250GTO. So, just 17 cars were produced in the end, of which this is number five.

This car has spent most of its life in the United States, where it was much enjoyed and was even a Car and Driver magazine cover car in 1963.

It has also benefited from more than $230,000 of restoration work since 2014, which included a new interior and an engine overhaul. It has also had a Kevlar clutch lining, a set of triple Weber carburettors and Koni shock absorbers fitted.

The car was certified by Ferrari Classiche in 2011 and the all-important Red Book accompanies the vehicle, proving it retains its matching numbers body, chassis, engine and gearbox.

4. 1956 Ferrari 500TR Spider (est: €4-4.5m)

Ferrari is known as one of the foremost supercar manufacturers in the world, but its reputation was forged in the heat of competition on the race track. And the 500TR Spider by Scaglietti was one of its successful machines.

It won the 1956 Grand Prix Supercortemaggiore at Monza, and then went on to achieve more than 30 class wins and overall victories in both Europe and the United States.

This car is the third of just 17 produced and was first purchased by gentleman racer Prince Gaetano Starrabba di Giardinelli, who campaigned it with some success, achieving podium finishes in three out of the 10 races he entered in the car.

In 1957, the car was updated to meet Appendix C regulations, then was sold to Swedish racer Tore Bjurström, who also achieved success in it. A crash in 1958 resulted in a new nose being fitted, then after some more racing it was consigned to a back corner of a garage.

The car was then overhauled and passed through a number of owners before it was purchased by the current owner in 2011 and kept in climate-controlled storage. It has been driven sparingly since.

3. 1949 Ferrari 166MM Touring Barchetta (est: €4-5m)

We move into the top three at this RM Sotheby’s auction on 20 May with this stunning Ferrari.

The 166S was one of the pivotal cars in Ferrari’s early history, because it put the company on the competitive map by winning the 1948 Mille Miglia. So, it made sense to produce a model to celebrate that win – the 166MM was that car.

This car was originally ordered by the Automovil Club Argentina, and was painted in light blue with a pale-yellow interior in tribute. This car was also Ferrari’s display car at the 1949 Paris show.

After the show, the car was shipped to Argentina, where it took Ferrari’s first victory in South America in the hands of privateer Carlos Menditeguy.

Shortly after, the car was returned to Ferrari’s factory in Maranello, before being raced with some success in various Italian events.

Subsequently, the car has been owned by several collectors but retains its original engine and gearbox, and is accompanied by its factory build sheet and history report.

The car will be taken to Maranello after the sale, so the buyer will have to arrange transport from there. The car will also be subject to VAT and import duties if the buyer wishes it to remain in the EU.

2. 1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB Berlinetta (est: €7.5-8.5m)

Yes, another Ferrari… ‘Iconic’ is a word that can certainly be applied to several of Ferrari’s masterpieces, of which the 250GT SWB Berlinetta is one.

The car was introduced in 1959 on Ferrari’s short-wheelbase chassis, and proved successful on track and in the showrooms. Indeed, the company ended up building 165 examples in total, of which this in the 62nd. It is also the last example to be built with the 1960 body style.

It has certainly had a colourful history, having been owned by several high-profile people in the United States and Europe. Its engine was also removed and placed in a long-wheelbase 250GT for some time. Plus, this car has appeared on the silver screen, with a brief appearance in the 1968 Disney film The Love Bug.

It passed through a pair of British owners before being bought by a French collector in 1985, and in the 1990s this collector commissioned a restoration during which the original engine was reunited with the car.

The car is certified by Ferrari Classiche but the Red Book is lost, so a conversation will need to be had with Ferrari about recertification.

And, yes, that is an eye-watering pre-sale estimate but, like the other lots from the Aurora Collection, it is being offered with no reserve.

1. 1972 Ferrari 312PB (est: €14-18m)

And, of course, we finish with another Ferrari.

Enzo Ferrari was a big lover of sports-car racing. Witness the fact that the factory was all-conquering in the early 1960s, and despite losing out to Ford at Le Mans for a few years, the Italian brand still won the sports-car World Championship for makes in 1967.

Fiat then bought Ferrari in 1969 and the racing programme received a financial shot in the arm, and the 312P (‘P’ for prototype) car was honed over the course of a few years, culminating in this, the 1972 312PB. The ‘B’ in the name signified the fact that the car features a modified version of the flat-12 engine from the 312B Formula One car of the day.

This car made its competitive debut at the Buenos Aires 1000km race in ’72, and took pole position in the hands of drivers Tim Schenken and Ronnie Peterson. Not a bad start, but better was to come when the car took the overall victory in the race. It was the start of an illustrious but short career in which the car only ever finished on the podium.

It is a matching-numbers car, and is one of the most original examples left.

See this and all the other lots in the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba sale on 20 May 2023, at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, here.