Bonhams Collector Cars Europe achieved their best-ever result
for the glamorous Zoute Sale today, with the 2022 edition,
staged on the beach at Knokke-Heist, Belgium, achieving a
stunning total of €25 million, with a sell-through rate of
95%.
Topping the sale was a true automotive icon, a rare 1957 BMW
507 Series 1 Roadster, which made €2,093,000, earning
enthusiastic applause from the packed beachfront saleroom.
The BMW was one of eight wonders of the motoring world which
achieved seven figure sums today, including a fellow 1950s legend
– a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé, subject of a
spectacular specialist restoration and offered with competition
history, which made €1,380,000. Both cars are eligible for the
Mille Miglia Storica.
The finest Ferraris always perform well at Zoute and today was no exception, with a fully matching numbers
1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L 'Lusso' Berlinetta, which was displayed that year at the50th Paris Motor Show,
making €1,700,000. Its stablemate 250 GT, a Ferrari Classiche certified 1961 Series II Cabriolet, the rarest
and one of the most desirable of the 250 variants, sold for €1,092,500.
However, it was another Sixties Superstar which really set the saleroom on fire, doubling its pre-sale
estimate. €1,115,500 was achieved by a 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400, offered in its original colour
scheme of Blue Miura over Gobi (beige), which had spent the past 17 years on static display in a private
collection.
The Miura’s performance was matched by a contemporary supercar – a 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR
McLaren 722 S Roadster, a one owner from new example of the limited edition commemorating the
marque’s 1955 Mille Miglia victory, which achieved €1,012,000, twice its pre-sale estimate. Its rival
modern supercar – a rare European-specification 2004 Porsche Carrera GT, which sold for €1,380,000,
surpassing its top pre-sale estimate.
Philip Kantor, International Chairman, Bonhams Motoring, said: “Our decennial Zoute Sale has
exceeded all expectations and is our largest sale to date – and Bonhams’ most successful sale so far this
year. We are all truly delighted with this result, which is double that of last year’s auction.”
The 2022 Zoute Sale presented its largest selection of collector cars from the classic to the contemporary
era, with 75 motoring jewels being offered.
Further highlights which had their moment in the sun include
2014 Mercedes-Benz AMG G-63 6x6, sold for €759,000, exceeding its top estimate of €500,000. This
one-owner example of the ultra-rare and luxurious off-roader had covered fewer than 200kms from new.
1959 Cadillac Series 62 De Ville Convertible, sold for €253,000, also surpassing its top estimate of
€170,000. Previously owned by Albert Uderzo, creator of the world-renowned cartoon character Asterix the
Gaul.
1997 Porsche 911 Type 993 Turbo ‘X50’ Coupé, sold for €278,000, twice its pre-sale estimate. This
example of the last air-cooled engine variant of the 911 had been built to Gulf Cooperation Council
specification, and its power upgraded to 430bhp.
2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series, sold for 335,000, more than double its top estimate
of €140,000. One of only 350 largely carbon fibre fixed-head coupé Black Series supercars, with a power
output of 670 bhp. The one owner car had covered a mere 80 kms from new.
The Bonhams Zoute Sale was the 10th edition staged as part of the Zoute Grand Prix in the Belgian
resort of Knokke-Heist. The Bonhams Eurocars team is now preparing for its first auction in Italy – The
Milano Sale on 18 November during Milano AutoClassica.
