Events

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Edward Jones – December 14, 2015

duPont REGISTRY Scottsdale Auction Week After Party at th...

Every year, thousands of automotive enthusiasts and collectors visit Scottsdale, Arizona for the momentous Scottsdale Auction Week. During this week, auction houses from around the world roll some of the world's finest cars across their blocks. These cars range from classics to modern exotic cars, meaning there's something for everyone.To celebrate this week in the desert that we look for every year, we're throwing an afterparty at the luxurious W Scottsdale. The party will be held January 29, 9 pm - 2 am.For reservations, please call (480)970-2121. W Scottsdale 7277 East Camelback Road Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 W Scottsdale Website

By Edward Jones – December 11, 2015

RM Sotheby's New York City 2015 Top 10 Auction Results

In New York City last night, RM Sotheby's "Driven by Disruption" auction took the city by storm. Classic and modern vehicles were auctioned off, some fetching multi-million dollar results. Overall, the total amount in sales at the event was in excess of $73.5 million.Impressively, their top ten sales each went for over $1 million, with the highest-valued car fetching almost $30 million. 10. Lot 228 - 1934 Delage D8 S Cabriolet (Chassis 38229), $1,430,000 9. Lot 227 - 1954 Siata 208S Spider (Chassis BS 535), $1,650,000 8. Lot 206 - 1964 Porsche 356 C 1600 SC Cabriolet (Chassis 160371), $1,760,000 7. Lot 202 - 1972 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV (Chassis 5014), $2,420,000 6. Lot 219 - 2003 Ferrari Enzo (Chassis 135440), $3,300,000 5. Lot 216 - 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe (Chassis 0313 EU), $3,300,000 (post-sale transaction) 4. Lot 214 - 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow (Chassis 2575029), $3,740,000 3. Lot 211 - 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I (Chassis 0791GT), $5,720,000 2. Lot 215 - 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT (Chassis DB4GT/0186/R), $14,300,000 1. Lot 221 -1956 Ferrari 290 MM (Chassis 0626), $28,050,000 (Source: RM Sotheby's)

By Edward Jones – November 25, 2015

RM Sotheby's New York Auction Set for Multi-Million Dolla...

RM Sotheby’s, the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles, is set to take New York City by storm next month with their creatively-styled Driven by Disruption auction, December 10. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM by ScagliettiThe upcoming event follows in the footsteps of the company’s blockbuster 2013 New York sale, the first major collector car auction to hit the city in over a decade. Held at Sotheby’s Manhattan headquarters, that event set a new standard for the industry in terms of its quality and presentation, generating an outstanding $63 million in sales during just two hours of bidding. The upcoming 2015 event, which will again be held at Sotheby’s New York, is set to amplify those results and from a quick look at the catalog, is certainly shaping up as the star auction of the holiday season, if not 2015.As with all RM events, the emphasis is very much on quality over quantity; the catalog features just 31 motor cars, each carefully handpicked by RM specialists to showcase the extremes of motoring history and the molds that were broken by engineers and designers in pushing the automotive envelope. The cars perfectly fit the sale’s theme, each ‘disruptive’ in their own way, whether for their genre, styling or engineering. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Sportabteilung' Gullwing“Whether it be a stunningly beautiful coachbuilt automobile, a wild, untraditional design, or a marvel of high performance engineering, the auction features cars that break with the conventional morals of car design and production,” describes Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division. In linking to the event’s December date, Kelleher adds, “We are delighted to showcase this exhibit during a time in New York that is truly magical.”The motor car offering spans more than 70 years of innovative styling and engineering. Among key attractions are the cutting-edge 2006 Lamborghini Concept S (Estimate: $2.4-3 million); the incredibly rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Sportabteilung’ Gullwing, driven by Sir Stirling Moss to an impressive second overall at the 1956 Tour de France (Estimate: $5-7 million); and the ex-works 1956 Ferrari 290 MM, built for and piloted by the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio. The latter, estimated by RM to bring more than $28 million, is one of the most desirable and valuable cars to ever come to auction.The automobiles will be complemented by a select range of memorabilia. From pint-sized children’s cars to automotive paintings, posters, sculptures and intricate engine models, this group also keeps with the event’s creative theme, with many of the collectibles on offer representing significant disruptions to automotive history in scale form.Combined, the vehicles and memorabilia will no doubt create an automotive display the likes of which New York City has never before seen. If you’d like to see them for yourself, an exclusive six-day public exhibition will open the weekend of December 5 in Sotheby’s 10th floor galleries and continue through until the December 10 evening sale. Below are ten more show-stopping cars on offer at Driven by Disruption that will take your breath away.For full event details, to register to bid, or to view the Driven by Disruption digital catalogue, visit www.rmsothebys.com or click the button below.Learn More 1954 Pegaso Z-102 3.2 Berlinetta by Touring $800,000 - $1,000,000 More Info 1954 Siata 208S Spider by Motto $1,500,000 - $1,900,000 More Info 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I by Pininfarina $6,000,000 - $7,500,000 More Info 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato $15,000,000 - $17,000,000 More Info 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta by Ghia $300,000 - $350,000 More Info 1969 Ferrari Dino 206 GT by Scaglietti $700,000 - $850,000 More Info 1972 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone $2,200,000 - $2,600,000 More Info 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti $800,000 - $1,000,000 More Info 1981 BMW M1 $800,000 - $1,000,000 More Info 1991 Ferrari Testarossa $400,000 - $500,000 More Info Sponsored by:

By Andrew Nabors – November 06, 2015

Carlisle Auctions & duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee Coming ...

Throughout the motoring world, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is known as the location of some of the largest car shows of their type in the world. What began as a swap-meet in 1974 has grown into 11 annual shows, each a must-see for their genre.Because they began as a swap-meet for classic and collectible parts, adding an auction was the next logical step. After packing as many events as possible into their local fairgrounds, they decided to take the show on the road. We may be biased, but Florida is the only logical choice for a great car show.Carlisle Auctions' Fall Florida Autofest began in Zephyrhills in 2013 as the only auction that makes consignments available on a “free unless sold” basis; if your car doesn’t sell, your consignment fee is refunded. The hysteria over such a competitive auction structure pushed attendance levels far beyond what the facility could handle, so this year they are trying something new. For four days in November, from Nov. 12-15, the Fall Florida Autofest and its auction will take over the spacious and tranquil SUN 'n FUN complex in Lakeland. SUN 'n FUN is a 501(c)(3) charity that operates the Florida Air Museum along with the Central Florida Aerospace Academy.Located at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, the auction will be held in three aircraft hangars on Nov. 13 and 14. Less than an hour’s drive from Orlando and Tampa, this spacious WWII training field is nearly sold out of vendor space. More than 400 consignments are already booked, with many rare exotics and collectibles. One of the premier listings is a 1989 Lamborghini Countach with only 2,284 miles on the odometer.At a Carlisle Auction, you aren’t just a bidder or consignee; you become family. Repeat visitors and referrals account for a majority of their business and once you attend, you will be hooked. Because all four annual auctions have been overbooked, expect to hear the announcement of a fifth event in the near future.We never miss a great car show, especially one this close to home. If you are reading this, make plans to be in Lakeland on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 14, as duPont REGISTRY will be hosting a Cars & Coffee at the Fall Autofest. If you plan to show a car as part of Cars & Coffee, you're eligible for a discount on your Carlisle Auction bidder's pass.Connect with Carlisle Auctions in advance at 717-960-6400 and mention your interest in both Cars & Coffee and the auction. If the auction isn't part of your plan, just cruise in with your car the morning of the show. We have always valued our partnership with Carlisle Auctions, and we hope to see you there.Learn MoreGallery Sponsored by:

By Caitlin Duffy – August 20, 2015

Mecum Auctions Sees 7 $1 Million+ Sales at Monterey

The various auctions at California's Monterey Car Week have always seen notoriously high totals for their sales, but the 2015 shows seem to have been some of the highest of all. Mecum Auctions has announced their final total and top sales, showing the growth of interest in luxury cars is in no danger of slowing.With 387 cars in total crossing their block between Aug. 13 and 15, Mecum reached a total sales amount of $44,335,001, as an Aug. 19 press release from the auction house tells us. Seven cars alone brought in $10,225,000, with each individually selling for more than $1 million - with five of those sales happening on Saturday, Aug. 15, alone.The top sale from Mecum's event was a 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S for $2.3 million, while a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible wasn't far behind at $2.25 million. One of the most anticipated lots, Steve McQueen's Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera, sold for $1.95 million. A portion of the sale of McQueen's Porsche is being donated to The Boys Republic - read more in our June 10 article.Check out the list below to see the top 10 sales from Mecum's Monterey auction, and prepare for Mecum's next event Sept. 16-19 in Dallas, Texas. 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S $2,300,000 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible $2,250,000 1976 Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera $1,950,000 2005 Maserati MC12 $1,575,000 1989 Ferrari F40 $1,150,000 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster $1,000,000 2005 Porsche Carrera GT $1,000,000 1967 Shelby 427 Cobra Roadster $950,000 1967 Toyota 2000GT $925,000 2005 Porsche Carrera GT $775,000 Upcoming Mecum Lots (Source: Mecum Auctions) See More Updates from Monterey and Pebble Beach

By Edward Jones – August 19, 2015

Official: RM Sotheby's Monterey Auctions Set Record for C...

At Monterey Car Week 2015, RM Sotheby's set the record for the highest ever total for a collector car auction, announcing an official total of $172.9 million in sales.In a press release issued by the auction house today, they announced that they bested last year's performance by 20 percent. At the top of their sales was a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM that fetched an astonishing $17.6 million. Additionally, The Pinnacle Portfolio set the benchmark for the highest single-day, single-vendor auction at $75.4 million.“The results truly speak for themselves and reflect our commitment to bringing not only the best to the market, but backing our product by extensive research and documentation," said Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division. "In addition, the Monterey event was truly a fantastic showcase of the RM and Sotheby’s teams working in concert to build a global platform for collector cars."What's more, the RM team won the "Best in Show" award at the Peach Beach Concours d'Elegance with the 1924 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A F. Ramseier & Cie Worblaufen Cabriolet, which was restored by RM Auto Restoration.Below are the 35 exotic cars that sold for more than $1 million, each of which helped create the record-breaking results. Top 35 Sales 1964 Ferrari 250 LM - $17,600,000.00 1998 McLaren F1 'LM-Specification' - $13,750,000.00 1953 Jaguar C-Type Works Lightweight- $13,200,000.00 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione 'Tour de France' - $13,200,000.00 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider - $8,500,000.00 1950 Ferrari 275S/340 America Barchetta - $7,975,000.00 2005 Ferrari Enzo - $6,050,000.00 1931 Bentley 4½-Litre Supercharged Two-Seater Sports - $4,015,000.00 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy - $3,960,000.00 1994 Ferrari F40 LM - $3,300,000.00 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 - $3,300,000.00 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider - $2,750,000.00 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV - $2,475,000.00 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO - $2,420,000.00 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport "300" - $2,310,000.00 2005 Maserati MC12 - $2,090,000.00 1952 Jaguar XK120 Supersonic - $2,062,500.00 1995 Ferrari F50 - $1,980,000.00 2015 McLaren P1 - $1,980,000.00 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 "001" - $1,815,000.00 1910 American Underslung Traveler Toy Tonneau - $1,815,000.00 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta 'Lusso' - $1,815,000.00 1933 Duesenberg Model SJ 'Riviera' Phaeton - $1,595,000.00 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe 'Boano Prototype' - $1,485,000.00 2008 Lamborghini Reventón - $1,375,000.00 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II Prototype - $1,320,000.00 1976 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 'Periscopio' - $1,320,000.00 1988 Porsche 959 'Komfort' - $1,210,000.00 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra - $1,210,000.00 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon - $1,210,000.00 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster - $1,210,000.00 1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C - $1,155,000.00 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe - $1,155,000.00 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III Drophead Coupe - $1,072,500.00 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta U.S. Prototype - $1,045,000.00 (Source: RM Sotheby's) See More Automotive Auction News

By Andrew Nabors – July 13, 2015

Lamborghini Concept S Up for Auction

Though their upcoming auction in Monterey, California may be headlining most news stories, RM Sotheby’s is saving a piece of Lamborghini history for their New York Auction: the Lamborghini Concept S.If you don’t mind arriving with a unique hairstyle, this Gallardo’s lack of a functional windshield is a throwback to vintage open-air motoring. As the lot description on RM Sotheby's Auctions website tells us, a rolling chassis was shown at Geneva in 2005 to gauge public interest in a Gallardo speedster. The crowd and the motoring press went wild, so it received a few more styling touches along with a functional drivetrain. All aspects of the car were made ready for a limited production run, but it never came to fruition.(Related: $65 Million Car Collection Walk-Around: The Pinnacle Portfolio)With one owner since new, the street legal Concept S has seen just over 111 miles of engineering shakedowns and Concours fields. Lamborghini concepts tend to be show stoppers, and this one stands to return a nice profit when it crosses the block on November 18.Stay tuned to Autofluence for more auctions and wild concept cars.Gallery (Source: RM Sotheby's Auctions) See More Event Coverage

By Caitlin Duffy – July 09, 2015

Keith Richards' Bentley "Blue Lena" Set for Auction at Bo...

Summer 2015 is turning into one of the best seasons yet for adding rare, collectible and iconic vehicles to collections, with auction houses left and right lining up some incredible lots.Bonhams has recently listed one particularly notorious Bentley. "Blue Lena," after Lena Horne, was its nickname when Keith Richards owned this 1965 S3 Continental Flying Spur Sports Saloon, and as recently as June 7, 2013, when a Soundcloud recording was added to KeithRichards.com, it was still in his garage.With an owner like Keith Richards, there are few doubts that this particular Bentley has seen more wild things than most humans could ever imagine. There are references to Blue Lena throughout Richards' autobiography "Life," including the time he drove down to Morocco to find some things that are illegal in most countries.There are reports that it was modified to add a hidden compartment for the things they didn't want police to find, and Car and Driver's July 8 article tells us he bought it new when he was 22. But after about 50 years of ownership, it's time for Lena to find a new home.(See Also: Miami Vice's Ferrari Testarossa Set to Cross the Block at Mecum)Bonhams is estimating the lot will sell for between $610,000 and $920,000 at the September 12 Goodwood Revival auction in Chichester, Goodwood, UK. But, if you'd prefer a '65 Bentley S3 that you can get stateside before that point, check out our listings at the button below.Bentley S3s For Sale Gallery (Source: Bonhams, KeithRichards.com, Car and Driver) See More Celebrity Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – July 08, 2015

Auctions America Santa Monica: 300 Rare Cars Set to Cross...

What do a Ferrari Enzo, a custom Bubbletop Ford, Rita Hayworth's 1941 Continental Coupe and a 1954 Sorrell-Manning Special all have in common? 1955 Ford "Beatnik Bubbletop" CustomThey'll be crossing an auction block and finding new owners in Santa Monica next week.On July 17 and 18, approximately 300 hand-selected cars will assemble at Santa Monica's historic Barker Hangar for Auctions America's annual California Sale. Owned by presidents, celebrities and private collectors alike, each represents a distinct point in automotive history, capturing the essence of a different era in their design and construction.Among the main highlights found in the Auctions America event are a few rare Ferraris, Porsches and Mercedes-Benz models, as well as some radiantly beautiful custom designs. A 2004 Enzo is estimated to sell for between $1,700,000 and $2,100,000, while an older Prancing Horse, a 1967 330 GTS, could go for anywhere between $2 million to $2.6 million. The 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special RoadsterFrom Mercedes-Benz is a 1938 540K Special Roadster by Nawrocki. Considered a supercar at the time of its production, the 540K Special Roadster is an incredibly rare model, as only 58 examples were created. As Car and Driver stated back in May 2002, a 1937 540K sold for $3.6 million, which, when adjusted for inflation, amounts to around $4.75 million. With the rate at which the values of collector cars has increased over the past few years, there's no doubt that this will fetch an incredibly high price. Estimates for this specific Roadster are set for $2+ million.In the truly unique category are the 1955 Ford "Beatnik Bubbletop" Custom and a few vehicles who were once owned by a person of note, including President Kennedy's 1962 Lincoln Continental Presidential Town Limousine, George M. Cohan's 1917 Pierce-Arrow Model 48B Series Four-Passenger Touring and a 1967 Shelby GT 500 Eleanor Tribute Fastback from the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds." 1955 Cadillac Series 75 Presidential Parade Limousine, specially ordered for Mamie Doud Eisenhower (Est. auction price: $100,000-$150,000)A gallery of some of the main highlights can be seen below, and to learn more about the lots, be sure to check out the digital catalog for the auction at the button below. The event will kick off with previews on July 16 at 10 am and July 17 and 18 at 9 am, before the auctions begin at 10 am. A full weekend pass is just $20, and while you're there, be sure to keep an eye out for the duPont REGISTRY booth, and grab a copy of our latest issue. For more information, visit Auctions America's website at Auctions America.View Digital Catalog

By Andrew Nabors – June 25, 2015

One-Off Maserati Boomerang Set to Cross the Auction Block

Giorgetto Giugiaro’s creations are among the boldest and most iconic Italian cars ever made, and this one set the industry on fire in the early 1970s.Maserati was looking for a way to get away from their sleek and sensuous lines and invite discussion around what the future would be. The Maserati Boomerang was first unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in 1971, and today, as a press release from Bonhams tells us, it's preparing to cross the block.(Related: Steve McQueen’s Porsche 911 Turbo Being Auctioned Off)With an interior straight out of Tomorrowland, the Boomerang's steering wheel exists as a leather covered ring that orbits the circular instrument cluster. The large side glass is raked inboard at a sharp angle, making the low slung cockpit look larger than it really is. Seats mounted below and between the frame rails don’t offer too much practicality, but their pleated Italian leather looks like a comfortable ride.Based on the Bora’s chassis, the Boomerang also borrowed the 4.7-liter V8 tuned to 300 hp. It is a registered and fully functional car that has taken top honors from Pebble Beach to Monte Carlo. The release from earlier this week announced that it will be a part of Bonhams' upcoming Chantilly Sale. If you need to own the concept that set the pace for Italian design, make plans to be in Chantilly, France on September 5.For more concept cars and auction updates, stay tuned to Autofluence.View LotGallery (Source: Bonhams) See More Event Coverage

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