Bonhams sells Models and poaches from Christies while RM bursts on London Auction scene

Bonhams has a very special auction lined up for October 3, as it has been commissioned to sell Corgi's collection of first-off, pre-production and prototype models. Corgi has for some time retained the first model of the production line of its Collectors' models series, many of them featuring TV or movie stars. Over 500 lots will be sold at Bonhams- Knowle saleroom in Solihull, West Midlands: more info on www.bonhams.com

Bonhams had a strong sale at Goodwood Revival on August 31, totalling 2.7 million, including a 1929 Isotta Fraschini 7.4-litre Sport Landaulette for 298,500, a 1958 Mercedes 300SL Roadster for 289,700 (wow, only a few years ago these were under 100,000!) and a lovely 1927 6.5-litre Bentley Corsica-bodied Tourer for 282,000. The ex-works Mini-Cooper S with which Paddy Hopkirk won the 1967 Circuit of Ireland failed to match Race Retro's six-figure works Mini-Cooper sale though, topping out at 84,000, while a surprisingly high 41,000 was paid for a replica Works Mini-Cooper S - more than the genuine ex-works 1968 London-Sydney Marathon Landcrab Morris 1800 which looked stunning value by comparison at 30,475 (even if its estimate was only 18-22,000).

Bonhams was also well pleased with its Beaulieu sale, netting 141,000 for the 1926 Sunbeam 3-litre Super Sports Tourer (estimate 75-90,000) and 128,000 for the 1921 Vauxhall 30/98 E-type Velox Tourer. Being linked with the Beaulieu Autojumble, this sale always attracts some appealing restoration projects, of which this year's star was the barn-find 1935 Riley Imp, which raised 34,500.

Bonhams further strengthened its market-leading position recently with the arrival of two of Christies- most senior motoring men, Rupert Banner and Philip Kantor, plus consultant Gordon McCall.

Meanwhile RM Auctions hits the London scene in association with Sotheby's, in Battersea Park on October 31, selling 50 cars from Bernie Ecclestone's collection (as already reported) and now a further 20 from Italian businessman Giuseppe Prevosti, including a fine early Ferrari, a 1953 212 Inter, two Bizzarrinis, a Porsche 356 A 1500GS Carrera and a Lamborghini Miura - and another 15 from Brazilian collector Abba Kogan, including a 1922 Hispano-Suiza, two Delages and one of the last Delahayes. Also on sale is a BMW 507 and an original 1966 Ford GT40. It promises to be quite a sale. More on www.rmauctions.com
Malcolm McKay, Motorbase News Editor