Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans 2023 - The incredible lots of the centenary auction
10 May. 2023 • 9:15
One of the highlights of the year for RM Sotheby's, the well-known auction house, will take place in June, at Le Mans. And now we have the list of lots that will be available.
© RM Sotheby'S
- Porsche 962 C – One of the three cars used by the Works team during the 1985 and 1986 World Sports Car Championship campaigns. Equipped with the 117 engine, this 962-004 chassis took pole position in the 1986 Le Mans 24 Hours, in one of its three appearances in the Le Mans classic. Its best result: a 5th place in 1988. Behind the wheel : Derek Bell, Al Holbert, Jacky Ickx, Klaus Ludwig, Jochen Mass, Vern Schuppan, Hans Stuck and John Winter. It was then entered for two more seasons by Joest Racing, which was supported by the factory. Restored by Porsche Group C expert Trevor Crisp (Katana Ltd), it is in perfect working order, fitted with a superb long-tail but accompanied by a short-tail. The first time a Works-campaigned Porsche 962 C has ever been publicly offered for sale or at auction.
© RM Sotheby'S
- Ferrari 121 LM Spider by Scagletti - A Scuderia Ferrari factory car, this chassis 0546 LM was lined up at the start of the 1955 Le Mans 24 Hours and the Mille Miglia the same year. Driven by the firm's works drivers Maurice Trintignant, Harry Schell and Piero Taruffi, it is one of only four 121 LMs built and still in working order. Between 2018 and 2023 it underwent a complete restoration by Ferrari Classiche. It still has its original powertrain which has the same number as the chassis: 0546 LM.
© Courtesy of Rodolfo Mailander Photograph Collection / Revs Institute
- Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione - Prototype prepared by the factory and used for development from 1969 to 1971. This 12467 chassis was then transformed into a race car by Ferrari for the North American Racing Team. Fifth overall in the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans with Bob Grossman / Luigi Chinetti Jr, it also competed the following year in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Freshly restored to Le Mans specification (certified "Red Book" Classiche) it is sold with a certificate of origin and an invoice from Ferrari for preparation for Le Mans.
© Archives Maurice Louche for RM Sotheby'S - Lancia LC2 - 0005 chassis, this car took pole position and the best lap in the 1984 Le Mans 24 Hours (Bob Wollek / Alessandro Nannini), before finishing eighth overall. Seventh the following year with Henri Pescarolo / Mauro Baldi, it won the 1984 Kyalami 1000 kilometres with Ricardo Patrese / Alessandro Nannini. This is one of the nine LC2 chassis built for the 1983 to 1986 WSC seasons.
© 2022 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's
- Aston Martin DBR9 - Chassis DBR9/106, the car started out in FIA GT with Barwell Motorsport, before moving to Gigawave Motorsport with Philipp Peter and the late Allan Simonsen behind the wheel. Young Driver AMR then took the DBR9 to the third step of the GT1 podium at the end of the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours, thanks to Tomas Enge / Christoffer Nygaard / Peter Kox. His last race was in 2011 in FIA GT1 with Young Driver AMR.
© RM Sotheby'S - Jaguar XJ220 C LM - Entered in the 1993 Le Mans 24 Hours, the 002 chassis was driven by David Coulthard, who never returned to the Le Mans 24 Hours afterwards. He was joined that year by Australian David Brabham and Dane John Nielsen, two drivers who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A trio that finished unclassified.
© RM Sotheby'S
- Delahaye 135 S by Pourtout - One of the most illustrious pre-war Delahaye competition cars. Runner-up in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1938 in the hands of Gaston Serraud / Yves Giraud-Cabantous, it was owned and raced by the famous French Ferrari dealer Charles Pozzi. In all, it took part in nearly 50 events between 1936 and 1956. Restored in 2005 by Atelier Concept & Restauration Bonnefoy, it comes with a detailed report from marque expert Christian Huet and is eligible for historic events including the Mille Miglia and Le Mans Classic.
© RM Sotheby'S - OSCA MT4 by Morelli – Chassis 1147, this is one of approximately 19 examples fitted with the 1,491 cc twin-cam 2AD engine; and one of 72 total. Entered by the factory in the 1954 Le Mans 24 Hours, it retains the engine corresponding to the registration number. Fitted with a fully synchronised ZF gearbox to improve its performance, it was restored in the 1990s, with more recent rebuilds of the engine and gearbox by Italian automotive specialists. It is being sold with documents including the 1954 Le Mans papers, research and correspondence from the owners, as well as invoices and photographs of the restoration. Meticulously maintained for 28 years during which time it has been owned by the current owner, it is a historically significant example of the dominance of the Maserati brothers.
© RM Sotheby'S - Alpine A210 - Seen three times at the start of the Le Mans 24 Hours from 1967 to 1969, this car (chassis 1725) won its class in 1967 (Henri Grandsire / José Rosinsky) and 1968 (Jean-Luc Thérier / Bernard Tramont). It also took part in the 12 Hours of Reims, the 500 km of Nürburgring and the 9 Hours of Kyalami. Part of a historical collection managed by Gérard "La Gombe" Gombert for over 40 years. It is equipped with a restored Gordini-Renault 1,470cc power unit and is accompanied by extensive historical documentation and images, a spare engine, a set of spare wheels and an unregistered Renault Estafette van used to transport it.
© RM Sotheby'S - Nissan R90CK - It is one of the six chassis built, but probably the most mythical as it is the R90C/1, the one that - in the hands of Mark Blundell - took pole position in the 1990 Le Mans 24 Hours. Fifth in Montreal and then fourth in Mexico City, it is currently maintained by Group C historical experts Phil Stott Motorsport. It is of course eligible for Group C historic events, including Le Mans Classic (support race) and Daytona Classic.
Alex Penfold ©2023 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's
- Aston Martin Le Mans "LM8" - It finished seventh overall in the 1932 24 Hours of Man (A.C. Bertelli / Pat Driscoll) and even won the eighth Biennial Cup. It is one of the three official "second series" Aston Martins entered in the Sarthe. Well-known history, with its previous owner retaining the car since 1955.
© RM Sotheby'S
- Chrysler Viper GTS-R - Chassis GTSR-C3, it took part in the 1997 Le Mans 24 Hours with Justin Bell / Pierre Yver / John Morton at the wheel. Also seen at the 24 Hours of Daytona that same year with Olivier Beretta / Dominique Dupuy / Tommy Archer, it took part in the FIA GT, the British GT, before going to Spain and then the United States.
© RM Sotheby'S - Rondeau M482 - This is one of the three M482 chassis built by Automobiles Jean Rondeau, in this case M 482-002. Driven by the legendary Henri Pescarolo and Thierry Boutsen at the 1983 Le Mans 24 Hours, it has been impeccably preserved and restored by Philippe Belou, former Rondeau technician. Accompanied by an FIA HTP file and a set of spare parts, it is eligible for historic races, including Le Mans Classic and Daytona Classic.
© RM Sotheby'S - Venturi 600 S-LM - Chassis VK8CLM61193CE0003. Seen for the first time at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1993 thanks to Stéphane Ratel, it was entrusted to Costas Los / Johannes Badrutt / Claude Brana. Back in 1995 with BBA Compétition (Emmanuel Clérico / Laurent Lécuyer / Bernard Chauvin), it will not start in 1996.
© RM Sotheby'S - Porsche 911 GT3 R - With chassis WP0ZZZ99ZYS692075, this Porsche took part in the 2000 edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours. The car was entered by the Australian team Skea Racing International and finished 17th overall and 2nd in GT thanks to the trio Johnny Mowlem / David Murry / Sascha Maassen. That year, it also took part in various endurance races, both in Europe and across the Atlantic.
© RM Sotheby'S
- Ferrari 250 GTE - Made in 1963 and equipped with the 4155 chassis, this 250 GTE is not just any car, as it was the car that acted as a... safety car during the 31st edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans! Isn't that great?
© RM Sotheby'S
- Finally, a very original prize: the tricolour flag waved in 1965 by Mr Maurice Herzog (then Under-Secretary of State for Youth and Sports), who had the honour of giving the start of the 33rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, won by the Ferrari 250 LM of Jochen Rindt / Masten Gregory.
© RM Sotheby'S
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