London – The growth of vintage racing has stimulated the sale of suitable cars for weekend enthusiasts to take back to the track. Cars that have a racing pedigree are particularly sought out.
Looking to serve this burgeoning group of collectors, one of the oldest auctioneers, Bonhams, announced the sale of a 1964 Porsche 904 GTS and 1965 Alfa Romeo TZ1 from the Collection of Bernard Consten – a name synonymous with sensational motorsport successes. The cars, respectively estimated at £400,000-600,000 and £240,000-280,000 will be auctioned on 19 September 2008 at the world-famous Goodwood Revival in West Sussex, UK.
Bernard Consten’s illustrious motorsport career includes: five-times ‘Tour de France’ winner (1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963), four-times French national rally champion (1958, 1961, 1962, 1967), and 1958 winner of the ‘Coupe des Alpes’. He regularly participated in the Le Mans 24-Hours, 1.000km at the Nürburgring, 1.000km of Paris, Targa Florio and Sebring 12-Hour race events and later became president of the FFSA or ‘Féderation Française du Sport Automobile' (1968-1973). Today, Bernard Consten continues to participate in numerous events including the 2008 ‘Tour Auto’ and 2008 ‘Coupe des Alpes’ with the Alfa Romeo TZ1, which is to be offered for sale by Bonhams.
To be sold:
1964 Porsche 904 GTS chassis no. 021
In February 1964, French Porsche importer SONAUTO delivered the car new to Robert Buchet, a well known privateer racer and French Porsche distributor in the 1960s. The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS participated in period at the 1965 Le Mans with Ben Pon, 1964 Tour de Corse, 1965 Coupe des Alpes, 1965 Reims 12 Hours with Guy Ligier, 1965 Routes du Nord and numerous other French rallies until it was sold in 1968. It has continuous history from new, although now fitted with a later 6 cylinder 2.8 litre RSR block since the 1970s. The vendor has owned the now fully restored car since 1994.
Estimate £400,000-600,000.
1965 Alfa Romeo TZ1 Chassis no. 080
Delivered new in April 1965 by French marque importer SOFAR to Claude Journot, this matching numbers car is presented for sale in superb condition with continuous ownership history. The Alfa Romeo competed in the 1965 Rallye de Lorraine, 1966 Cevennes Rallye and 1966 Tour de Corse. It was purchased by Bernard Consten in 1990 and has remained in his collection ever since.
Estimate £240,000-280,000.
Says Philip Kantor, Bonhams’ International Director of Business Development who consigned these motor cars for sale: “We are proud to offer for auction two such important competition cars from Bernard Consten’s glory era, models that were purchased by him not only for the fact that they date from the period where he raced a TZ1 himself against the Porsche 904s, but also because they are today highly eligible for international historic motorsport. With a mere 100 odd examples of each produced, this is a rare and possibly unique occasion to purchase these continuous history examples directly from the ownership of such a prestigious custodian.”
For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to
www.bonhams.com
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