Bonhams at Zoute 2016: Delivery-mileage 911 R leads pack of prominent Porsches

30th September 2016

Visitors to the pleasant Flemish seaside town of Knokke Le Zoute might be tempted by the tables at the nearby Grand Casino. Alternatively, they could place a bet on whether the brand-new Porsche 911 R at Bonhams' 7 October sale beats its pre-sale estimate of €250k to €350k...

In brief:

• 31-car catalogue. Possible €6m gross (2015: €10.9m)
• 11 Porsches include 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI Sondermodell, ex-Dutch police 1989 911 Carrera 3.2 Targa and ex-Derek Bell 928 Club Sport

Taking a rough trading price of €400k to €450k on the open market in Europe, and factoring in Bonhams Europe’s killer 15% buyer’s premium, the green/white, Swedish-delivered 911 R (pictured, top) might well break the €350k mark in the room. We are, though, in unknown territory, as it's the auction debut of 2016’s ‘must-have’ Porsche that retailed for c.€200k new. Note: as a new car with less than 6000km, buyers should acquaint themselves with the relevant VAT regulations. In the UK – where RHD cars could change hands for £500k – there’s a potential VAT implication of 20%.

Brown is the colour: lovely 1970s 'Sondermodell' 2.7 MFI Carrera

Ex-Dutch police 911 keeping a look-out for smoking... tyres

Joining the new 911 are 10 other Porsches, and we raise our hats to the Bond St team for a varied selection that includes one of the last-in-line Sondermodell Carreras, impact-bumper cars with the 2.7-litre, mechanical fuel injection (‘MFI’) motor from the iconic 1973 Carrera RS. Bonhams is hedging its bets with this one: €175k plus premium values it as a typical MFI car, €275k (€316.25k all-in) justifies its one-of-113 status. Restored, with books, tools and owner’s manual, in Copper Brown with tartan/tan, this one looks the real deal. One to watch.

€600k to €800k Lamborghini. Sparkling estimate not matched by catalogue photography...

One of the last 356 'Pre-A' Speedsters a long way from Beverly Hills

Other entries of interest include a 1966 Lamborghini 350 GT (€600k to €800k, looking expensive), an early (1964) Citroën DS19 Décapotable by Chapron for €135k to €175k and a European-delivered 1955 Porsche 356 ‘Pre-A’ 1600 Speedster. The matching-numbers Speedster was restored in 2012, has picked up a brace of concours pots and is unusual in being a 1600 – most Pre-As were 1500s. Estimate: a broad €350k to €550k.

It’s a good all-round catalogue from Bonhams, one we might suggest puts its Chantilly sale into perspective, and we await the results with interest.