A 1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix Racing car sold for $4,000,000 as the top result at Bonhams 2016 Quail Lodge auction during the Monterey classic car week. The first Ferrari LaFerrari ever offered for sale at public auction sold for $3,685,000. A new model record of $2.8 million was set for a 1904 Mercedes Simplex.
Bonhams Quail Lodge Sale 2016
Bonhams held its annual Quail Lodge auction during Monterey classic car week on August 19, 2016, in Carmel in California. Bonhams sold eight cars for more than a million dollar each.
Top Results from Bonhams Quail Lodge 2016
The top ten results at the Bonhams Quail Lodge 2016 auction on the Monterey peninsula were:
Year | Car | Price ($) |
1931 | Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix Racing Two Seater | 4,000,000 |
2014 | Ferrari LaFerrari | 3,685,000 |
1904 | Mercedes Simplex 28-32 HP Five Seat Rear Entrance Tonneau | 2,805,000 |
1985 | Ferrari 288 GTO | 2,112,000 |
2014 | McLaren P1 | 2,090,000 |
1955 | Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America | 1,402,500 |
1930 | Duesenberg Model J Town Cabriolet | 1,254,000 |
1989 | Ferrari F40 | 1,155,000 |
1956 | Porsche 356A Carrera GS Speedster | 891,000 |
1965 | Shelby Cobra 289 | 880,000 |
Prices include auction premium.
1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix Racing Two Seater
Bonhams’ top result at Quail Lodge 2016 was $4,000,000 for a 1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix Racing Two Seater. A highest bid of $4,200,000 was initially rejected but the car was announced as sold during the auction.
The 1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix Racing Two Seater was originally owned by Earl Howe, one of the most famous privateer racers in history. The car was driven by several prominent racing drivers of the age including Piero Taruffi and Tazio Nuvolari.
Prior to this sale, the car has not been seen in public for two decades and had only two owners since the 1950s.
See also: the pre-auction press release for more on this Bugatti.
2014 Ferrari LaFerrari
The 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari at Bonhams Quail Lodge 2016 attracted much interest, as it was the first LaFerrari ever offered for sale at public auction. Only 499 were produced (120 in US specification) with the original list price around $1.7 million before options.
The model record was set at $3,685,000 for the 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari. However, a day later, Mecum sold a black 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari for an amazing $5,170,000 as its top Monterey 2016 result. Both cars have covered just over 200 miles each making the results a very nice (financial) return on the original investment.
1904 Mercedes Simplex 28-32 HP Five Seater Rear Entrance Tonneau
A further new model record was set when a 1904 Mercedes Simplex 28-32 HP Five Seater Rear Entrance Tonneau sold for $2,805,000 at the Bonhams Quail Lodge 2016 auction. This Mercedes has a known history from new and is a frequent London to Brighton competitor.
Although around 1500 Mercedes Simplex cars were produced, only around 20 survived with only six in this larger model size. Several pre-First World War cars were on offer during Monterey 2016 with Gooding and RM Sotheby’s also receiving million dollar results for cars from this era.
1985 Ferrari 288 GTO
Three of the 272 Ferrari 288 GTOs produced were on sale during Monterey 2016. Bonhams sold a single-owner 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO for $2,112,000. Gooding achieved around $300,000 more while a $2.2 million offer was rejected at Mecum. Prices for the 288 GTO were clearly stronger in California than at auctions earlier in the year (without taking condition into consideration).
2014 McLaren P1
For the second time in 2016, Bonhams sold a McLaren P1 for $2,090,000. Mecum achieved a similar result at Monterey 2016 for a P1. The striking orange McLaren P1 has covered only 1,200 miles since new.
1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America
After several Lancia Aurelia B24S cars failed to attract much interest at auctions earlier in 2016, Bonhams managed to sell a 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America for a strong $1,402,500. (Gooding has since moved the model record to just over $2 million.)
1989 Ferrari F40
Ferrari produced more than 1,300 F40s making it the most common Ferrari of all. However, in recent years, F40s have sold for more than a million dollar more often than not. Three were on offer during Monterey 2016: Bonhams sold a 1989 Ferrari F40 for $1,155,000. RM Sotheby’s took similar money while a strong $1.6 million bid at Mecum was rejected.
Mercedes Benz at Quail Lodge 2016
Two high-profile Mercedes Benz cars failed to sell at Quail Lodge 2016:
- A 1935 Mercedes Benz 500 K Cabriolet A was the sixth of seven 500 / 540 Ks offered at various Bonhams auctions during 2016 failing to sell. (Other auction houses similarly had mixed successes in 2016 with these large 1930s cabriolets.)
- A 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster (estimate $1,150,000 – $1,350,000) became the latest 300 SL failing to clear the reserve margin. In contrast to 2015 and 2014, a Mercedes Benz 300 SL has to be more special than just showing up to attract bids of well over a million dollar.
Bonhams next major car auctions will be in September in the UK at Beaulieu and the Goodwood Revival, as well as the Chantilly sale in Paris, France, where several 1930s Horch cars and another Mercedes Benz 500 K Roaster will be on offer.