The 1993 McLaren MP4 that Ayrton Senna drove to his record sixth Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix victory sold for $5 million at the Bonhams Monaco 2018 sale. Senna’s first Monaco racer – a 1984 Toleman-Hart – sold for a sensational $1.9 million.
The top result at the Bonhams 2018 Les Grand Marques à Monaco sale was €4,197,500 paid for the 1993 McLaren-Cosworth Ford MP4/8A Formula 1 racing single-seater car that Ayrton Senna raced to his record sixth Monaco Grand Prix victory. However, an even more sensational result was the €1,610,000 achieved on the 1984 Toleman-Hart TG184 that Senna raced to second place at his Monaco Formula 1 debut. A 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster sold for a solid €1,219,000. The 1953 Ferrari 625 TF Two-Seater Spider, estimate €4,500,000 to €6,500,000, failed to sell.
Bonhams Les Grandes Marques à Monaco 2018
The biennial Bonhams Les Grandes Marques à Monaco classic car sale was held during the historic grand prix racing weekend on May 11, 2018, in Monte Carlo.
At the 2018 sale, Bonhams earned €14,566,214 with three cars sold for over a million euro each. At the Bonhams Monaco 2016 sale the top result was €7,245,000 for a 1953 Jaguar XK120C ‘C-Type’ Sport-racing Two Seater Roadster.
Top Results at the Bonhams Monaco 2018 Sale
The top results at the Bonhams Monaco 2018 sale were as follows:
| Lot | Year | Car | Price (€) | Price ($) |
| 1 | 1993 | McLaren Cosworth Ford MP4/8A Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater | 4,197,500 | 5,009,266 |
| 2 | 1984 | Toleman-Hart TG184 Racing Single Seater | 1,610,000 | 1,921,374 |
| 3 | 1957 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster | 1,219,000 | 1,454,754 |
| 4 | 1931 | Bentley 8-Litre Tourer | 741,666 | 885,105 |
| 5 | 1987 | Ferrari F1/87 Formula 1 Racing Single Seater | 666,666 | 795,600 |
| 6 | 1993 | Bugatti EB 110 GT Coupe | 603,750 | 720,515 |
| 7 | 1973 | Porsche 911 2.7 Carrera RS Touring | 575,000 | 686,205 |
Note: Prices include auction premium. Sale held in euro, dollar results as published directly after the auction.
Formula 1 Racing Cars at Bonhams Monaco 2018 Sale
Several Formula 1 racing cars were on offer at the Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2018 sales but the two raced by Ayrton Senna were always going to be the highlights:
1993 McLaren-Cosworth Ford MP4/8A Formula 1 Single Seater
The top result at the Bonhams Monaco 2018 sale was €4,197,500 ($5,009,296) paid for the 1993 McLaren-Cosworth Ford MP4/8A Formula 1 Single Seater that Ayrton Senna raced to his record sixth win at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Senna drove this chassis to victory at the 1993 Monaco Grand Prix and the car as sold is in working condition with the engine and gearbox used at the Monaco race. Senna also raced this chassis at the Spanish, Canadian, British, German, Belgian and Italian Grand Prix races.
Given the provenance of this McLaren, the result was probably a bit less than was hoped for. The 2001 Ferrari F2001 that Michael Schumacher drove to his fifth and final Monaco GP victory, sold for $7,504,000 in 2017 – a record for a modern F1 racing car. RM Sotheby’s decision to offer that Ferrari in a Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Sale in New York, as that is where the big money is, looks more prudent than ever. However, Monaco is where the racing passion is, as was clear from the Toleman-Hart result.
The most-expensive Formula 1 single-seater ever sold at public auction was the 1954 Mercedes Benz W196R that achieved $29,650,000 at the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed sale in 2013.
1984 Toleman-Hart TG184 Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater
Arguably the most spectacular result at the Bonhams Monaco 2018 auction was the €1,610,000 ($1,921,374) paid for the 1984 Toleman-Hart TG184 Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater that Ayrton Senna raced to a phenomenal second place in his debut race at Monaco. The high pre-sale estimate of €750,000 – €1,000,000 seemed at the time to fully account for the car’s extraordinary provenance.
Two years ago, at the Bonhams Monaco 2016 sale, a similar surprising result was €1,059,000 paid for the 1991-92 Benetton Ford Formula 1 car that Nelson Piquet drove his final race in and Michael Schumacher drove to his first ever podium finish. The estimate was only €220,000 – €280,000.
1987 Ferrari F1/87
The third Formula 1 car offered in the Bonhams Monaco 2018 sale was a 1987 Ferrari F1/87 raced in four races by Michele Alboretto. It originally failed to clear the reserve but was later announced as sold at a devilish €666,666 (the estimate was €650,000 – €850,000). This Ferrari biggest talking point is probably that it wore chassis number 100, as mechanical failure prevented it from completing any of the four races it was driven in by Michele Alboretto in 1987.
1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster
A 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster sold for €1,219,000 ($1,454,754) at the Bonhams Monaco 2018 sale – a solid result for a fully restored example with matching numbers.
Mercedes Benz 300 SL prices seem firmer again after two years of weaker result and bids not reaching reserve limits. RM Sotheby’s sold a Roadster and Gullwing for similarly firm prices at Fort Lauderdale in April.
Top Cars Not Sold at Bonhams Monaco
The 1953 Ferrari 625 TF Two-Seater Spider, estimate €4,500,000 to €6,500,000, joined the growing list of top Ferraris failing to sell at public auctions in 2018 – the 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione ‘Tour de France’ offered at RM Sotheby’s the day after also failed to sell. Sellers seem to value the cars far more than potential buyers, especially as many cars are offered with interesting histories and great condition but few with actual in-period victories.
Bonhams will have three smaller but interesting classic car auctions in June 2018 – Aston Martin Sale, Greenwich Concours d’Elegance and Den Hartogh Sale while an annual highlight is the Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale in July where the 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato and John Surtees’ 1957 BMW 507 Roadster are already announced highlights.
Monaco Historic Grand Prix Week Classic Car Auctions in May 2018
Auction Results
- 2018 Bonhams Monaco Classic Car Auction Sale Results
- 2018 RM Sotheby’s Monaco Classic Car Auction Sale Results
Auction Previews:
Pre-Sale Announcements:
Bonhams:
- Senna’s Monaco Race Winning 1993 McLaren F1 – Senna’s sixth and final Monaco Grand Prix race-winning car
- Senna’s 1984 Toleman-Hart F1 Racer – raced to a superb second place at his debut Monaco race
- Withdrawn: 1957 BMW 507 Roadster Series II – the BMW of King Constantine II, the last king of Greece
- 1953 Ferrari 625 Targa Florio – ex-works two-seat spider raced by Mike Hawthorn and Umberto Maglioli
RM Sotheby’s:
Fun tours and adventures to do in the Monaco region: