Carmel, Calif., August 20th, 2019

Bonhams’ 22nd annual collector car auction last week during Monterey Car Week, held in conjunction with the prestigious Quail Motorsport Gathering, was a two-day sale that offered 217 cars and achieved a highly respectable sell-through rate of 76% resulting in over $32-million total.
Kissed by the sun, cooled by a gentle sea breeze, and set in a spacious and accommodating setting, the weather and attractive atmosphere cooperated wonderfully for the expanded August event.

The highlight of this globally attended sale was the extraordinary 1951 Ferrari 340 America Vignale Coupe Speciale that had been in single family ownership for the last 50 years. After enthusiastic bidding, the charismatic Italian competition GT was bought by a sophisticated European collector for $3,635,000.

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Of the multiple highlights from the two-day auction, three notable sales were also important sports cars – the rare 1953 FIAT 8V Supersonic formerly owned by American motorsport legend Briggs Cunningham sold for $1,625,000, the 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra achieved $1,380,000, and the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing in beautiful condition made $1,347,500.

“Our breadth of selection this year was truly impressive,” said auctioneer and Bonhams Group Motoring Director Rupert Banner. “There was something for everyone, from every era and focus. The market is proving selective and we saw passionate bidding on the very best collectors’ cars, while modern classics brought strong interest.”

Added Jakob Greisen, Bonhams VP of Motoring, “We had lots of international bidding, which resulted in a strong sell-through rate, and we witnessed the strength of youngtimer cars – a boon for the hobby and the industry as a whole.”

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