A 1973 Porsche 911S that once belonged to ‘father of pop art’ Richard Hamilton is set to be one of the highlights at Bonhams’ Festival of Speed sale on 26 June.
The 2.4-litre example was bought new by the artist – who designed the record sleeve for The Beatles’ The White Album – and was kept in his collection for more than 30 years. It then passed to his son until 2013, after which is was treated to a two-year sympathetic restoration in the workshops of Clarke & Carter. It is expected to fetch £250-300,000.
“Hamilton said that he would only paint things he felt he could improve upon, and he reportedly said that his Porsche 911 was such a perfect design that he couldn’t improve it in any way,” said Bonhams’ Tim Schofield. “For a great artist to see such synergy between fine art and the design of a motor car is a wonderful endorsement of the craftsmanship, style, and design involved in their creation. We now see cars being collected for their aesthetic qualities much in the same way that people collect art to display in their homes. And rightly so, as these cars are works of art.
“Richard Hamilton was one of the greatest British artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, and we’re delighted to be offering for sale a car that he adored. The car is exceptional and correct in every detail, and is one of the finest right-hand-drive examples in existence.”
