Blenheim, Ontario, Canada – The Scaglietti designed 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder Alloy Competizione highlighting this year’s Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction was built for Luigi Chinetti’s legendary North American Race Team (N.A.R.T.) to compete in the race of all races – The 24 Hours of Le Mans. This race bred Ferrari will compete for winning bids on the auction block along with 200 other significant sports, racing and classic cars at the Monterey Convention Center adjacent to the Portola Plaza Hotel, Monterey, California – August 17-18.
Named after its biggest import market, this long wheelbase California Spyder is one of only seven alloy-bodied racing models ever constructed and one of only two equipped with the powerful Tipo 128F engine, designed exclusively for competition. Born to run fast, these custom versions featured Ferrari's special racing camshafts, higher compression ratios, cold air pan carb surrounds and velocity stacks drafting into Weber 40 DCL carburetors. Pushing out a significant 260bhp and with a substantial reduction in weight, these racers were tough to beat.
Driven by the team of Bob Grossman and Fernand Tavano, the car won a respectable 5th place overall at Le Mans in June of 1959, competing with the likes of racing legends Carroll Shelby, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Stirling Moss and Graham Hill. A winning participant in numerous automobile racing events since it’s Le Mans debut, it also won more Concours awards than any other California Spyder due to the care and preservation efforts of its owner for the last 26 years.
RM is also offering a selection of rare vehicles for collectors of classics. Among these is one of the most luxurious and valuable Duesenbergs ever built - The 1935 Bohman & Schwartz Duesenberg Model SJ Town Car. This art deco inspired stunners was created by world-class coachbuilders, Christian Bohman and Maurice Schwartz. The design, elegant in proportion, features a radically sloped radiator shell and long, tapered, pontoon fenders with aerodynamic spare tire covers that flow into the fenders.
Originally designed for actress and playwright Mae West, the car screams, “why don’t you come up and see me sometime.” West eyes (among other features) were bigger than her pocketbook and she didn’t have, or couldn’t borrow, enough money to pay for the car. So this delectable ride fell into the hands of candy company heiress Ethel V. Mars whose Mars Candy Company fortune bought her this treat. Mrs. Mars, one of the world’s wealthiest people at the time, used the car for trips between the Mars headquarters in Chicago and the family estate “Milky Way Farms” in Tennessee, before selling it to a Chicago dealer who, in turn, sold it to famed D. Cameron Peck collection. In 1986, it was bought by a Mr. Dicker who is rumored to have spent in excess of $1-million on its restoration. Its last owners gave the Duesenberg a full engine rebuild and is currently in a mechanical state on par with its outstanding cosmetic condition. (Est. 2,300,000 - $3,000,000)
Also offered for sale are two of the most spectacular French built automobiles to wear the Delage marque. The 1933 Delage DS8 Coupe Roadster made its debut as the 1934 Salon Paris Show Car. Described by L’Auto Carrosserie and VU magazines as “Triumphant in all Concours” events and the “masterwork of Carrosserie deVillars”, the DS8 is without question one of the most beautiful prewar open Delages ever built. With it one-off custom two-place coachwork by deVillars, exceptional provenance and ownership, the Delage represents the very best of French design in every respect.
The second car offered is the 1936 Delage D8 120 Aerosport which was also the Salon Paris Show Car in 1937 and is regarded as the first prototype example built. With exceptional provenance, a beautifully preserved presentation and just 36,000 kms from new, this Aerosport represents the last and only fully restored example in existence. (Est. $2,500,000 - $3,000,000 and $1,500,000 - $2,000,000 respectively)
This year’s RM Monterey auction line up will also include a selection of 13 historically significant racing cars and 3 early motorcycles from the impressive David Uihlein Collection and over 400 lots of rare and original automotive posters and artwork from the impressive David Lawrence Collection.
RM Auction’s Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction will be held in the Monterey Convention Center next to the Portola Plaza Hotel at Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey, California. Activities are held August 16, 17 & 18th, with auction previews daily on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The auction sale times are Friday, August 17th and Saturday, August 18th evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Admission to the Monterey Sport and Classic Car Auction sale is $40 per person, with children 12 and under admitted free of charge. An auction catalog is available for an additional $100 U.S., including shipping and handling within North America, by calling 800-211-4371 or visit
www.rmauctions.com .
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