WORDS: ELLIOTT HUGHES | PHOTOS: RM SOTHEBY’S
The remarkable 86-car Carrera Collection, all consigned by a single owner, will be offered for sale with no reserve by RM Sotheby’s in a two-part auction this July.
Porsches make up the majority of the collection, and part one is set to begin in Switzerland at the Hotel Meilenstein in Langenthal on July 7, with part two following a week later in Sotheby’s Milan, Italy sale on July 12. The combined value is estimated at a cool £12m ($15.2m).
Part one is the larger portion of the sale, and it is led by a rare 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring, which is expected to cross the block for £310,000–£345,000 ($445,000–$500,000).
A highly original example offered in its original Light Yellow paintwork over black leatherette interior, the Carrera RS underwent a full restoration before being appraised by marque expert Christian Kramer in April 2016.
Porsche built just 1580 Carrera RS 2.7s as homologation specials for Group 4 sportscar racing between 1972 and 1973, and they are considered by many enthusiasts as one of the greatest 911s ever made.
Despite the rarity of the Carrera RS, another 1973 example finished in Tangerine is also up for grabs, although with a slightly lower guide price of £270,000–£310,000 ($390,000–$445,000).
Tied with the second- and third-highest estimates are a pair of elegant 1963 Porsche 356B Carrera 2 2000s.
Leading the duo is a GS Coupé that was delivered new to Sonauto in Paris, France and was restored by the previous owner from a derelict state between 1998 and 2005. The consignor acquired the Ivory White example in 2014 and it is valued at £280,000–£345,000 ($400,000–$500,000).
The other 356B Carrera 2 Coupé is a coveted ‘Sunroof’ model finished in Bali Blu that was restored in 2012 by a 356 specialist based in Italy (£270,000–£345,000/$390,000–$500,000).
A 1995 Porsche 911 GT2R is another highlight, and is one of only 78 examples built. The car was originally delivered to renowned tuner Helmut König, who raced it alongside Renato Mastropietro for just over a year before retiring from motor sport due to ill health. The GT2R was then sold to Mastropietro, who fielded it in the FIA GT Championship for Seikel Motorsport in 1999 and 2000.
After a crash at Silverstone in 1999, Rennsport rebuilt the GT2R’s body; the original bodywork was then reinstalled some years later, along with an upgraded 3.8-litre flat-six engine. It is forecast to fetch between £270,000–£345,000 ($390,000–$500,000).
Other notable lots included in part one include a trio of BMW Z8 Roadsters (two of which are Alpina V8s), a 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE Cabriolet, seven 911 Speedsters, four 911 GT3RSs and four 911 Turbos.
The star lot of the second sale in Milan on July 12 is a 1959 Porsche 356A Carrera Coupé finished in its original shade of Silver Metallic. This model is frequently referred to as the 356A’s pinnacle iteration thanks to its bevy of lightweight components and upgraded Type 692 Carrera engine, which features four camshafts, a dry sump and a new ignition system.
In-period, the vehicle participated in multiple hillclimb competitions, and it achieved victories in its class during the 1959 Pontedecimo-Giovi and Aosta-Pila events in Italy with its original owner, Dr Giorgio Acutis from Turin. Its estimated pre-auction value ranges from £340,000–£425,000 (€400,000–€500,000).
Another rarity that is sure to catch the eye of collectors is a pre-production Porsche 911 Turbo S. Built in 1997 as a homologation car for the 993 Turbo S, it also served as a promotional vehicle and features in a plethora of marque brochures and books.
The Arctic Silver Metallic example comes festooned with rare optional extras including the signature of two-time WRC champion and former Porsche Works driver Walter Röhrl inscribed on the door sills. The one-of-a-kind 911 should cross the block for £255,000–£340,000 ($325,000–$435,000).
Next up in the Italian auction is a 2010 997-generation Porsche 911 GT2RS with just 7500km on its odometer. Its powertrain is a purist’s delight, combining a six-speed manual transmission with a twin-turbocharged flat-six that develops 611bhp. Its next owner can expect to pay between £205,000–£240,000 ($260,000–$305,000).
A 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster is projected to be the joint third-most lucrative car on offer in Milan alongside a 1953 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Cabriolet, both of which share an identical estimate of £155,000–£190,000 ($195,000–$240,000).
Other highlights include a further six Porsche 911 Turbos of varying generations, four 911 Targas, another three 356s, six 911Ss and a BMW Z1 complete with its novel vertically sliding doors.
