A 1936 Lagonda Rapide Sports-racing two seater is headlining the 2014 Bonhams Goodwood Revival auction on September 13, 2014.
See also: 2014 Bonhams Goodwood Revival Auction Results
Historic 1930s Racing Cars at Goodwood Revival 2014
The Goodwood Revival sales traditionally include a number of historic racing cars and the 2014 Bonhams auction is no exception. The top result at the Goodwood Revival 2014 sale is expected for the 1936 Lagonda LG45R Rapide sports-racing two-seater – registered as ‘EPE 97’ it is considered one of the best-known British historic racing cars.
Two historic Maseratis will be on offer in the Italian company’s centennial year. The 1932 Maserati Tipo 4CM Single-Seat Racing Vetturetta on offer broke the world-speed record for 1100cc engines in 1934. The 1937 Maserati Tipo 6CM Single-Seat Racing Vetturetta was raced by privateers in England before and after the Second World War and is expected to sell for well over a million dollar.
A 1930 OM 665 SS MM Superba 2.3 litre supercharged sports tourer (estimate £800-950,000) is expected to achieve even stronger results than the Maseratis. This OM 665 won its class in the 1930 Mille Miglia and end the race fifth overall.
Further cars expecting to sell for over a million dollar are all more modern Ferraris and include:
- 1949 Ferrari Tipo 166 Inter Coupé (£5-700,000)
- 2007 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione Berlinetta (Estimate £1.25-1.4 million)
- 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Berlinetta (Estimate £1.5-1.8 million)
1936 Lagonda LG45R Rapide – ‘EPE 97’
The Lagonda LG45R Rapide – ‘EPE 97’ – one of the most visibly recognizable pre-war sports racing cars, is to be offered at Bonhams Goodwood Revival sale on 13th September, estimated at £1,400,000 – 1,800,000.
It is a car that author and motoring historian Geoffrey Seaton notably described as ‘the most famous Lagonda of all’, and is one of the few cars of any period that have come to be known simply by its UK registration number, ‘EPE 97’.
‘EPE’s life began in 1936 when Lagonda faced financial decline. The company was rescued by Lagonda admirer and businessman Alan Good who subsequently appointed W.O. Bentley as chief designer. Bentley was pivotal in transforming the company through his engineering excellence, firstly with the modifications he made to the in-line six-cylinder engine as used in the LG45, and later with designing the company’s first V-12 engine.
In its racing life, ‘EPE’ was a Fox & Nicholl Team Car and competed at the highest level in prestigious international events such as the Grand Prix de l’ACF at Montlhéry; RAC Tourist Trophy race; British Racing Drivers’ Club 500-Miles; and the 1937 Le Mans 24-Hours.
Post-War, the car continued its racing campaign, competing in the inaugural Goodwood Nine Hours and the VSCC Pomeroy Trophy event of 1959. As collectors’ motorcar, ‘EPE’ has been actively campaigned since the 1980s by a series of enthusiastic long terms owners, including the Mille Miglia, and various race meetings on both sides of the Atlantic.
This wonderful British warhorse is recognized as having all the right credentials. It is a racing Team car that competed at the highest level. It has Bentley’s fingerprints all over it and is, in effect, the spiritual successor to the Bentley Team Cars that bore his name.
It is very original and in superb working order, eligible for many of the most prestigious historic events such as the Le Mans Classic, Goodwood Revival, Monterey Historics, California Mille and Colorado Grand.
1930s Maserati Racing Cars at Goodwood Revival 2014
In Maserati’s centenary year, Bonhams to offer historic Maserati Vetturettas at the Goodwood Revival sale on Saturday 13th September
- 1932 Maserati 4CM estimated at £400,000 – 600,000
- 1937 Maserati 6CM estimated at £600,000 – 900,000
The 1933 Maserati 4CM, chassis no. 1120, is one of the fastest pre-War single seaters in modern era historic racing, famed with setting world speed records during the 1930s with Giuseppe Furmanik, and raced in period by Gino Rovere.
Furmanik took delivery of this originally 1100cc Maserati 4CM – or 4-cilindri monoposto – single-seat racing car on August 12, 1932. The compact car was very avant-garde at that time, featuring as it did the driver-width centerline bodywork just introduced to Grand Prix racing by the celebrated Alfa Romeo Tipo B Monoposto and was a most sophisticated and trend-setting machine.
The model was well received in racing communities, and achieved great success at circuits such as the mighty Nurburgring during the 1932 German Grand Prix meeting where it won its 1100 Vetturetta class. Celebrated engineer Giuseppe Furmanik decided the car was powerful and adaptable enough to challenge the class World Speed Record.
In 1934, he made his attempt by modifying the engine and reducing the weight to just 470kg, and took the 4CM to the Autostrada Firenze-Mare. He smashed the record, achieving 222.634 kilometers per hour (over 138mph), beating the previous world record of 207.527kph held by MG.
Postwar the car was acquired by R. A. Jones in 1976, and subsequently campaigned in the UK from 1984 by new owner Sean Danaher. Simon Bull was to later acquire the 4CM and, in the hands of Martin Stretton, the car became pretty much invincible.
The car was subsequently acquired by experienced motor-cycle and motor car racer Barrie Baxter, who campaigned it from 1999 until it was acquired by Stefan Schollwock who continued its Historic career.
A well-proven front-running Historic Maserati Vetturetta from a most nostalgic era, the 4CM is offered with an estimate of £400,000 – 600,000.
The 1937 Maserati 6CM also has an admirable racing history. Purchased new by leading British driver Austin Dobson, he competed in the car at both Donington Park in the UK and Phoenix Park in Ireland.
From 1946 to 1948, the 6CM went on to excite audiences at both the British Grand Prix, Goodwood Motor Circuit, the St. Helier Jersey Road Race, and in later years was indicted to the famed Harrah Collection in Las Vegas where it remained for 35 years.
The 6CM returned to the United Kingdom in 1985 and, after painstaking recommissioning, embarked upon its Historic racing career, competing at many VSCC events and other high profile meetings such as the Silverstone Classic, Monaco Historics, Goodwood Revival, and various Maserati and Ferrari racing challenges.
One of the quickest pre-War racing cars around, the 6CM is estimated at £600,000 to 900,000.
James Knight, Bonhams Group Head of Motoring, said: “We’re delighted to add these two famously swift Maseratis to Bonhams Goodwood Revival auction. Maserati is currently enjoying its centenary year, and these well known and highly respected examples of the marque are a wonderful tribute. They rarely come to market because they are so rare, with just 20 4CMs and 27 6CMs built in period.
“I’ve enjoyed seeing both of the cars offered race in Historic events where they achieved great success. They each have a glorious period racing history, and are a worthy addition for any Maserati collector.
“With over 100 hand picked motor cars offered, plus over 150 lots of automobilia, the Goodwood Revival sale is a highlight for any motoring enthusiast’s calendar – with this year no exception.”
Bonhams , founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. Bonhams hold the record for the two most-expensive cars ever sold at public auction: the 1962 Ferrari GTO for $38 million at the Quail Lodge 2014 sale and the 1953 Mercedes Benz W196R Formula 1 racing car for $29.6 million at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013 sale.
