An unrestored supercharged “S”-type Mercedes that lay hidden in a garage for six decades led the pack at the Bonhams Goodwood Revival Sale at the Goodwood Motor Circuit on September 15, selling for more than $4.5 million. The overall sale achieved a selling rate of 84 percent in front of a huge and enthusiastic crowd.
The “lost” 1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 “S”-type sports tourer, described as one of the most important motor car finds of the past decade, went for $4,556,971 to an anonymous bidder in the room.
Almost without precedent for motor cars of its age and type, the dark battleship grey “S”-type was owned by the same family from new and had never been restored, retaining its original blue leather upholstery in its entirety.
Meanwhile, a collection of Maseratis owned by the Hartley family, from the Home Counties, sold for a collective $4.68 million. Leading the way was a unique 1929 Maserati Tipo 26M four-seater sports racing car with Brooklands Double Twelve, Irish Grand Prix and RAC Tourist Trophy racing pedigree, which realized $2,735,160.
Another strong performance came from the Lagonda V12 team car borne out of the desire of a pair of enthusiastic lords †Lords Selsdon and Waleran †to go racing at the 1939 Le Mans 24-Hour Endurance Race. It realized in excess of $1.6 million.
Top Alfa Romeo in this sale was the ex-Leonard Headlam, Tourist Trophy and Irish Grand Prix team car, a 1929 Alfa Romeo 1750 SS Competition tourer, which sold for $1.7 million.
Other highlights in the $22 million auction included the sale of “ARX 91B,”, the 1964 Austrian Alpine-winning, 1965 Targa Florio 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII Works Rally/Race Car, which beat its presale estimate to go for $394,000 †an auction record for a rally Healey 3000.
A lot that generated much interest was a unique piece of art modeled on the “Airfix” kits lovingly built by generations of children. The life-sized model of the Aston Martin DBR1 that won the 1959 Le Mans 24-Hour Endurance Race sold for $44,700 to an anonymous telephone bidder.
Prices reported have been converted from British pounds to US dollars and include the buyer’s premium.
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