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 HISTORIC
SPORTS CARS, MAJESTIC TOURERS AND CELEBRITY MOTOR CARS
HIGHLIGHT CHRISTIE'S ANNUAL CAR AUCTION AT PEBBLE BEACH
Exceptional Motor Cars at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance - August
17, 2003
Christie's 14th annual
sale of Exceptional Motor Cars at Pebble Beach on August 17 will highlight
the Concours d'Elegance weekend with an exceptional offering of exceedingly
rare and historic sports racing and touring motor cars, such as the sleek
1913 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, the striking Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage,
and the currently eligible historic F1 racer, the 1972 BRM P180. Motor
cars with celebrity status will also be offered in the sale, including
Academy-Award® Winner Adrien Brody's 1955 Cadillac Series 62 Four
Door Sedan, featured in Liberty Heights, and Director and three-time Oscar
nominee Frank Darabont's 1952 Mercedes-Benz 220A Cabriolet, featured in
The Majestic.
Sports Racing
 One
of the most exotic and celebrated sports racing cars from the late 1950s-60s,
is the Maserati Tipo 61 'Birdcage,' chassis No. 2461 (estimate: $1,500,000-2,000,000).
More usually referred to as the 'Birdcage' because of its intricate metal
framework under the body, this sports racing car was famously driven by
Stirling Moss and Dan Gurney to victory in the 1960 Nürburgring 1,000km
race. Only 16 Birdcages were ever produced.
Once a champion racer,
and currently highly competitive in historic racing, the 1972 BRM P180,
chassis No. 2 (estimate: $250,000-300,000) hails from the era of F1 motorsport,
 which
has recently become eligible for several historic GP series. This V12,
3 litre BRM debuted at Monaco in May 1972, and subsequently won the Race
of Champions at Brands Hatch, England in October 1972.
 The
beautifully restored 1935 Miller-Ford Indianapolis 500 Race Car (estimate:
$300,000-400,000) documents Harry Miller's prestige as perhaps the most
famous American engineer who incorporated ideas far ahead of the times,
including front wheel drive, independent suspension and aluminum fairings
over the axles. The celebrated engineer built only 10 Miller-Ford race
cars for the 1935 Indianapolis 500 in a remarkable 79 days.
 Conceived
in honor of Ford Motor Company's Centennial, the highly-anticipated 2005
Ford GT (estimate: $150,000-180,000) is a modern tribute to motorsports'
most famous endurance race car, the GT40. Ford GT chassis No. 10 will
be the first one of Ford's supercar sold to the public. The car will be
produced to the successful bidder's specification, including the color
and options, for delivery in 2004 when production begins.
Grand Tourers
 Henry
Royce's greatest achievement was the introduction of the six-cylinder
40/50hp model, later dubbed the Silver Ghost. It was considered the finest
in luxury motoring and mechanical excellence, and soon gained the title
"The Best Car in the World." The low, sleek and fast open tourer
gained this ultimate recognition for its success both on the race course
and on the road. A total of 188 examples of the iconic London-To-Edinburgh
model were built, and in 1913, chassis No. 2484 with Tourer coachwork
by Cann Ltd. (estimate: $550,000-650,000) was delivered to the Rt. Hon.
Lord Carbery. From 1916 onwards, it has resided in the United States under
the ownership of various well-known car collectors, such as Cameron Peck,
Alton Walker and Donald Gilmore. At Pebble Beach in 1962, the 1913 Silver
Ghost won the top honor "Best in Show." This stunning vehicle
has kept most of its original coachwork after restoration, making it an
exceedingly rare and original survivor.
By 1907 the 40/50hp
was dubbed the Silver Ghost, and the most desirable model within the range
produced from 1911 onwards was known as the London-To-Edinburgh car. This
long, low, sleek and fast open tourer derived its name from genuine achievement
on both race course and road rather than from any clever advertising slogan.
The first example, chassis number 1701, completed a special trial run
from London to Edinburgh entirely in top gear. Later, without alteration
or adjustment, the same car reached 78.26 mph at Brooklands.
This stunning vehicle,
fresh from a restoration, will be returning to Pebble Beach this August
as one of the star exhibits of the Christie's auction. Importantly, during
restoration it was discovered that, although the bodywork has been slightly
modified during its life, the original coachwork largely remains, making
it an exceedingly rare and original survivor of the iconic London-To-Edinburgh
model.
The Rolls-Royce motorcar
has been widely accepted as the ultimate symbol of quality for almost
100 years—its inspirational legacy preserved through two world wars,
tremendous global depressions and the onslaught of fierce competition.
 Tagged
simply as "The Car Magnificent" when first introduced, the majestic
1908 Delaunay-Belleville with coachwork by Mulliner (estimate: $220,000-280,000)
is a beautifully designed and technologically advanced automobile, found
in the garages of such notables as King Alphonso XIII of Spain, George
I of Greece and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Ordered new by Mr. Barber
of Barber Threads Company in Ireland, the 1908 Delauney passed through
only two further ownerships, and remains in remarkable original condition
from coachwork and detail features to the original upholstery. With its
pressure-fed engine lubrication system, potent six-cylinder six-litre
engine and four speed transmission, the graceful and refined 1908 Delaunay-Belleville
can reach a comfortable touring speed of 50mph.
Elsewhere in the sale:
the Burlington Carriage Company, the makers' English agents, advertised
the Delaunay-Belleville as simply 'The Car Magnificent'. The marque came
to be known as 'The French Rolls-Royce'. Beautifully designed, large,
expensive and conservative, they were also technologically advanced: their
pioneering pressure-fed engine lubrication system being standard on all
their models. Delaunay-Bellevilles were soon to be found in the garages
of King Alphonso XIII of Spain, King George I of Greece and Czar Nicholas
II of Russia, among others. Sadly only a handful exist today.
Ordered new by Mr
Barber of the Barber Threads Co in Ireland, this Delaunay remained in
that family until 1952, when it returned to the UK and passed through
only two further ownerships into the present private collection some 30
years ago. This uncomplicated history accounts for the remarkable condition
in which the car survives - both highly original from its coachwork and
detail features to the original upholstery, and yet sympathetically restored
to enhance the car from its long cylindrical bonnet to a plethora of brass
accessories and trim.
Quantifying its elegance
only describes half of the car, for it is one of few of its day that is
truly usable in modern road conditions, with its potent six-cylinder six-litre
engine and four-speed transmission allowing a comfortable touring speed
of over 50mph. Performance and style are the hallmarks of the best motor
cars. This majestic Delaunay-Belleville blends both with grace and refinement,
as one of the finest of its era.
Pre-war Alfa Romeos'
revered following among car collectors owes much to designer Vittorio
Jano, who required his cars and engines to look as good as they performed
well. This particularly interesting Alfa Romeo 'Special' has a fascinating
history. It started life as a long-chassis late-series Gran Turismo six-cylinder
1750 with drophead coupé coachwork.
It was bought in 1950
by the well-known Alfa aficionado Viscount Ridley, who found it heavy
and underpowered. He located an eight-cylinder engine and gearbox, which
he found could be simply installed in his chassis which bore a remarkable
similarity to the eight-cylinder production models, with larger brakes
and heavier springing. He then discovered that this new engine was in
fact a racing engine from one of the original factory-produced 'Monza'
machines that had enjoyed considerable success in pre-war European racing
events.
Viscount Ridley used
it extensively until his death, then it passed through several owners.
The penultimate owner had access to the Leslie Hawthorn Le Mans-winning
Alfa then on loan to the Montagu Motor Museum and he carefully copied
its body style to produce the attractive coachwork the Ridley Alfa Romeo
bears today. This owner kept the car for twenty years and, although he
used it only sparingly, competed in several European and International
rallies.
The current owner
purchased the car from a Christie's auction in 1998 and, after extensive
research in Europe, he discovered part of the original Monza chassis.
Since he had access to a genuine body, he naturally decided to rebuild
the Monza. Rather than destroying the spirit of the Ridley Alfa, which
for more that 50 years had an eight-cylinder supercharged engine, he acquired
and installed another similar engine. This is an excellent opportunity
to acquire, at a reasonable price, a most potent and desirable high-performance
eight-cylinder machine, the major components of which all emanated directly
from the Alfa Romeo factory.
The 1931 Alfa Romeo
8C-1750 Le Mans Tourer (estimate: $300,000-400,000) claims a fascinating
history. This Alfa Romeo 'Special' was owned and raced for many years
by the well-known Alfa aficionado Viscount Ridley. Today it sports replica
coachwork copied from the famous Leslie Hawthorn Le Mans-winning Alfa.
As in Lord Ridley's days, this Alfa Romeo is powered by an eight-cylinder
engine.
1950s-1960s
Intended for the famous and most affluent car enthusiast, the 1967 Ferrari
365 California (estimate: $550,000-750,000), was one of just 14 built
between 1966-67 that showcased the 4.4 litre engine. This 12,000 mile
example, which was owned by the same family from 1967-2001, received the
National Vintage Preservation Award from the Ferrari Club of North America
in April 2003.
 Combining
elegant Italian styling with American muscle under the hood, the 1952
Siata 400L Spyder Prototype (estimate: $280,000-380,000) was featured
at the 1952 Turin & New York Auto Shows. The steel body prototype
caught the attention of Bill Devin, founder of Devin sportscars, and he
subsequently purchased it directly following the Auto Show.
Celebrity Motor Cars
Nicknamed "Cupcake," the 1952 Mercedes-Benz 220A Cabriolet (estimate:
$50,000-70,000), was featured prominently in the major motion picture
The Majestic (2001) starring Jim Carrey, and will now be offered in the
sale. Accompanying the motor car are actual frames and still photos from
the motion picture (courtesy of Castle Rock Entertainment and Warner Bros.).
The 1952 Mercedes-Benz has been beautifully restored by the owner Frank
Darabont, the director of The Majestic and three-time Oscar nominee for
such films as The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and The Green Mile (1999).
 The
Academy-Award® Winner for The Pianist (2002), Adrien Brody, has consigned
his 1955 Cadillac Series 62 Four Door Sedan (estimate: $15,000-20,000,
To be Sold Without Reserve), which was used in the filming of Liberty
Heights (1999). All the proceeds from the sale of the Cadillac Sedan will
benefit a children's charity of the actor's choice. Also, included with
the car is a signed movie poster and a DVD of the movie.
Auction: Exceptional
Motor Cars August 17 at 6 p.m.
Viewing: The Pebble Beach Equestrian Center August 14, 15, 16 (10 a.m.
- 5 p.m.)
(corner of Portola Rd. & Stevenson Dr.) August 17 (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
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