During the Monaco Historic Grand Prix weekend, the first Bonhams live auction was held at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo. There were 25 cars and 6 miniature Honda motorcycles on sale.
Sky blue Delahaye 135 S 1936 with the original chassis went under the hammer for the amount of between 800 thousand to 1.1 million euros. The organizers did not name the exact sum, but, given the history of the car, the new owner knows a lot about the history of motorsport.
The 1991 Isdera Imperator 108i showed an equally impressive result at the auction. One of thirty cars designed by Porsche constructor Eberhard Schulz based on the 1978 Mercedes-Benz CW 311 concept car found an owner for 690 thousand euros. Unlike the original, Schultz equipped his car with conventional rather than hidden headlights, as well as a rear-view periscope on the roof and «gull wings» (doors hinged on the roof of the car, ed.)
A 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Touring in red Bahia livery and with the logo on board closed the top three at the end of an hour and a half auction, going under the hammer for 540.5 thousand euros.
Equally fascinating at the auction for a buyer was the struggle between two Aston Martin cars. Thus, a 1968 DB6 Volante was sold for 460,000 euros, and the DB Mark III DHC1958 went under the hammer for 368,000 euros. It is worth noting that, unlike the original equipment, the sold Volante is equipped with modern seat belts, as well as a smaller steering wheel.
A few words should be said about two more cars that differ significantly from their competitors in the auction — a 1947 Cisitalia D46 Monoposto and a 1949 Georges Irat Sports.
One of twelve Cisitalia D46 Monopostos alleged to have taken part in the Bern Grand Prix driven by Harry Schell, the first American driver to compete in the Formula 1 Grand Prix, was sold for € 158,125. For Georges Irat Sports, the last car built by Georges Irat and presented at the Paris Salon in 1949, the new owner paid 71,300 euros. To justify the rather high cost, it is worth saying that this car is one of a kind, since only a unique body designed by Irat has come down to us from the original. The car is equipped with a chassis and a Simca engine with a volume of 1100 cm3 manufactured in 1939.