Lot 114. The Ex-Ecurie Francorchamps, Roger Laurent, Baron Charles de Tornaco, Jacques Swaters, Olivier Gendebien – 1953 Le Mans 24-Hour, Spa 24-Hours, ADAC 1,000-Kilometres race. 1953 Jaguar XK120C 'C-Type' Sports-Racing Two-Seat Roadster. Registration no. POV 114 (UK). Chassis no. XKC 011' – Originally 'XKC 047're-stamped 'XKC 011' by Jaguar Cars Ltd. in 1954. Engine no. E 1066-9. Sold for €7,245,000 (£5,715,580). Photo: Bonhams.

MONACO.- The unique, unrestored, ex-Le Mans 24-Hour race Jaguar C-Type sports car, ‘POV 114’ sold for €7,245,000 (£5,715,580) at Bonhams Monaco Sale, leading the British auction house’s outstanding return to the French Riviera. 

James Knight, International Group Director, Bonhams Motoring, said: “Bonhams’ return to Monaco featured a refined and elegant selection of magnificent collectors’ motor cars, achieving a total €15.3 million. 

“Following months of painstaking research, working with the best historians and notable marque specialists, Bonhams unraveled an intriguing mystery involving the unrestored Jaguar C-Type offered, correcting more than 60 years of accepted Jaguar history. Today after 53 years in private ownership, it has sold for the superb price of €7,245,000 (£5,715,580). It is wonderful to see our team’s groundbreaking work help achieve such a result.” 

Bonhams’ verification began with the accepted Jaguar belief that this was the works team car which substituted at the last moment as a Belgian Ecurie Francorchamps entry in the 1954 Le Mans 24-Hour race, combining that chassis with the bodywork from an earlier Belgian entry which finished at Le Mans the previous year. However, Bonhams’ specialist research confirmed otherwise. 

“The Jaguar was not at all a combination of the chassis from one car, the body from another,” said James Knight. “On further inspection, we established that the it really is the 1953 Belgian-entered Le Mans car in toto, chassis number ‘XKC 047’ - still bearing its original, complete ‘K 1047’ body – but with its chassis number merely re-stamped ‘XKC 011’ by the factory before sale in January 1955.” 

Lot 114. The Ex-Ecurie Francorchamps, Roger Laurent, Baron Charles de Tornaco, Jacques Swaters, Olivier Gendebien – 1953 Le Mans 24-Hour, Spa 24-Hours, ADAC 1,000-Kilometres race. 1953 Jaguar XK120C 'C-Type' Sports-Racing Two-Seat Roadster. Registration no. POV 114 (UK). Chassis no. XKC 011' – Originally 'XKC 047're-stamped 'XKC 011' by Jaguar Cars Ltd. in 1954. Engine no. E 1066-9. Sold for €7,245,000 (£5,715,580). Photo: Bonhams.

• Le Mans 24-Hour race finisher, placing 9th overall
• Jaguar works-supported entrant
• One of the most original C-Types extant
• Single family ownership since 1963
• Incredible provenance  

Chasing the Jaguar for top honours, the 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO Coupé - a model so desirable that before production had even begun, every single one had been sold - achieved €1,817,000 (£1,433,431). 

Lot 110. By order of the executors, One owner from new, Ferrari Classiche certified. 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO Coupé. Registration no. C908 CRU (UK). Chassis no. ZFFPA16B 0000 55171. Engine no. F114B 00128. Sold for €1,817,000 (£1,433,431). Photo: Bonhams.

•Exotic Group B 'homologation special'
•One of 272 built
•Fully documented with extensive history file
•Fastidiously maintained
•Recently serviced with cam belt change

A further highlight of the day’s auction was the magnificent, light and powerful straight-8 engined 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix Two-Seater, first owned by ‘Bentley Boy’ Glen Kidston. Chassis No '4450' offered was the nineteenth such Grand Prix Bugatti to be manufactured by the Molsheim factory, and boasts a racing heritage that includes notable drivers George Duller, Vivian Selby and Lyndon Duckett. After intense bidding, the Bugatti sold for €1,058,000 (£834,656) to an auction room bidder. 

Lot 118. Current Bugatti connoisseur ownership since 1964, The ex-Glen Kidston, George Duller, Vivian Selby, Lyndon Duckett, Ex-Miramas Autodrome, ex-Brooklands Motor Course, ex-Shelsley Walsh, ex-Southport Sands, ex-Rob Roy Hill-climb, etc. 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix Two-Seater. Chassis no. 4450. Engine no. 75C. Sold for €1,058,000 (£834,656). Photo: Bonhams.

Meanwhile - raced by two Formula 1 World Champions, Michael Schumacher and Nelson Piquet - the 1991-1992 Benetton-Ford B191/191B Formula 1 Racing Single Seater sold for an incredible four-times the estimate, achieving €1,058,000 (£834,656) to a telephone bidder.  

Lot 106. The Ex-Michael Schumacher, Nelson Piquet, Martin Brundle. 1991-1992 Benetton-Ford B191/191B Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater. Chassis no. B191B-06. Sold for €1,058,000 (£834,656). Photo: Bonhams.

 Further highlights include a 2006 Porsche Carrera GT Roadster, sold for €713,000 (£562,485), a 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster, sold for €304,750 (£240,417), and a 1963 Ferrari 330 America sold for €431,250 (£340,213). 

Lot 111. 2006 Porsche Carrera GT Roadster. Chassis no. WPOZZZ98Z6L000110. Engine no. 90630639. Sold for €713,000  (£562,485). Photo: Bonhams.

•Delivered new to Europe
•One owner
•Circa 14,300 kilometres from new
•Full Porsche factory service history
•Never before offered for sale

Lot 121. 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster. Chassis no. WDD1994761M001821. Sold for €304,750   (£240,417). Photo: Bonhams.

•Left-hand drive model delivered new to Japan
•Circa 9,700 miles (approximately 15,600 kilometres) from new
•Full service history
•Registered in the UK
•Collectible future classic

Lot 127. 1963 Ferrari 330 America Berlinetta. Coachwork by Pininfarina. Chassis no. 5069. Engine no. 5069. Sold for €431,250 (£340,213). Photo: Bonhams.

•One of 50 made
•Delivered new to the USA
•Matching chassis and engine numbers
•Restored circa 15 years ago
•Registered in Italy