Chassis no. 0116A was sold new in 1951 to Pierre Louis-Dreyfus, a noted World War II hero and successful
businessman, who immediately entered it in the Le Mans 24 Hours, where it was run by Ferrari’s North
American Racing Team founder and successful racer, Luigi Chinetti. Driven by Dreyfus and the legendary
Louis Chiron, the car enjoyed a race duel with another 340 that so engrossed Chiron that he missed his pit
window and 25-lap signal. The car ran dry on circuit and was rescued by the team’s mechanic who illegally
refueled the car, causing them to be black-flagged and disqualified. 0116/A returned to Le Mans a year later
with Chinetti, Louis-Dreyfus and a new team-mate Rene Dreyfus, and fought valiantly but retired with a clutch
issue in the fifth hour of the race. Throughout the years, it has passed through the hands of a number of
respected collectors, including Pierre Bardinon, who have enjoyed the car in numerous historic race meetings
such as the Mille Miglia, as well as showcasing it at a number of concours d’elegance events. It comes to
auction eligible for almost any international event (Estimate available upon request).
Joining the Ferrari at RM Sotheby’s prestigious Monaco sale will be a World Rally Championship (WRC) and
Group B icon. Driven by Ari Vatanen, the featured 1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Evolution 1 Group B is one of
the most iconic and successful Group B rally cars of its era. Winning both the 1985 Monte Carlo and Swedish
rally, chassis no. C11 was one of just three Works cars entered into the WRC by Peugeot Talbot Sport, from
a total of 20 Works Evolution 1 rally cars ever made; its two victories helped propel Peugeot to claim the world
championship that year. Vatanen also used the car to recce the Tour de Corse and Acropolis rallies later in
the year, before its final outing with Bruno Saby at the Sanremo rally. It is offered in Monaco having had just
two previous private owners, and boasting an outstanding provenance, heritage and status (Est. €600.000 –
€800.000).
Both the 340 America and the Peugeot 205 T16 will be on preview at RM Sotheby’s stand (S037) at
Retromobile in Paris from today through 7 February. The Retromobile week also marks the official start of RM
Sotheby’s 2016 European calendar, with the company’s Paris sale taking place tomorrow, 3 February at
Place Vauban in the city’s center.
Scheduled for later in the year, RM Sotheby’s exclusive biennial Monaco event is becoming one of Europe’s
leading collector car auctions; its one-day event in 2014 yielded over €41 million in sales. This year’s Monaco
auction is set to build on these impressive results, lifting the gavel on approximately 100 blue-chip collector
cars.
Related material
... Consolidated 2016 Auction Results sorted by Price descending >>>
... Consolidated 2016 Auction Results in gallery view >>>
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