• Further Le Mans legends to feature in the sale include a 1955 Ferrari 121 LM Spider by Scaglietti and a 1969 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione
  • Also on offer is the mighty 1990 Nissan R90CK in which Mark Blundell posted a legendary pole position lap in 1990 and 1967 Alpine A210, a veteran of two Le Mans 24 Hours
  • More information at rmsothebys.com

 

(London, England, 7 March 2023) – RM Sotheby’s is delighted to announce four incredible new consignments for its upcoming Le Mans Centenary sale, each boasting exceptional Le Mans provenance. The auction is to be held in partnership with the ACO during this very special 100th-anniversary running of the legendary race. The auction will be a unique offering of 24 of the most spectacular racing cars that all share significant competition history in the world’s most famous endurance race.

The 1955 Ferrari 121 LM Spider by Scaglietti will undoubtedly be a highlight of the auction. All 1950s competition Ferraris are special, but chassis 0546 LM boasts exceptional competition history in both the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Mille Miglia of the same year. One of a mere four 121 LMs built, 0546 LM is also one of only two which were upgraded from 118 LM specification. This example was raced by legends of the era including Maurice Trintignant, Giuseppe Farina, Harry Schell, and Paolo Marzotto (Estimate: €5,500,000 – €6,500,000 EUR).

 

The second Maranello great to be consigned to the sale is a 1969 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione, undoubtedly one of the most purposeful Group 4 racing cars ever produced. Originally built as a road car, this example was listed as the third ever production Daytona to leave Maranello, but in April 1971, it was converted by Gianni Diena and Aldo Silingardi’s Autofficina Sport Auto in Modena for Luigi Chinetti’s NART (North American Racing Team). The car was campaigned at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 1971 by Luigi ‘Coco’ Chinetti Jr. and Bob Grossman, wearing race no #58. The car achieved a remarkable 5th overall and won the index of thermal efficiency. It was later campaigned at Daytona 6 Hours, Sebring 12 Hours, Watkins Glen 6 Hours, and SCCA regional races, making it a Daytona Competizione with an impeccable race history (Estimate: €4,800,000 – €5,200,000 EUR).

For fans of the Group C era, the 1990 Nissan R90CK will rate as one of the most remarkable cars to take to the track at Le Mans during the era. Created as Nissan’s World Sportscar Championship contender, the chassis offered for sale was campaigned at the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans by Mark Blundell, Julian Bailey, and Gianfranco Brancatelli. Powered by an immense 32-valve, twin-turbocharged V-8, the car offered is believed to be the chassis that Mark Blundell took to an astonishing pole position, during which his qualifying lapwas a huge sixseconds faster than the car in second place, using full boost for the entire lap that was reported to give the car 1,100 hp. The lap, which was captured by on-board camera, has become one of the great moments in Le Mans folklore (Estimate: €1,000,000 – €1,500,000 EUR).

Although less powerful than some Le Mans contenders, this exceptional 1967 Alpine A210 is no less remarkable. The car on offer boasts two appearances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a racing history that includes no less than seven endurance races with two class wins. Offered with a period race support Renault Estafette van and a spare 1,300 cc, this Alpine is an ideal base for a sympathetic restoration and is an exceptional example of a late 1960s sports racing car (Estimate: €1,200,000 – €1,500,000 EUR).