RM PRESENTS STUNNING SELECTION OF AUTOMOBILES DIRECTLY FROM THE BERTONE MUSEUM AT ITS CONCORSO D'ELEGANZA VILLA D'ESTE SALE
- RM Auctions presents six automobiles from the official collection of Carrozzeria Bertone at its debut sale at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, 21 May, 2011
- Auction represents the first time the Bertone vehicles have been offered for sale on the public market
- New consignments join an impressive roster of 30 of the world's finest automobiles slated for the exclusive RM evening sale
"RM is delighted to be aligned with the illustrious Bertone brand and truly honoured to have been selected to bring some of their most famous and extraordinary creations to the open market for the very first time. We look forward to providing our collector car expertise for the successful sale of these rolling works of art," says Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Europe.
Illustrating the craftsmanship and styling leadership of Ing. Nuccio Bertone and his firm, selected automobiles from the Bertone Collection that will feature in the upcoming RM sale include: the unconventional 1967 Lamborghini Marzal prototype, s/n 1001, driven by Prince Ranier and Princess Grace at the start of 1967 Monaco Grand Prix (Est. €1.000.000 - €1.800.000); the sensational 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero, s/n C/1160CPL, the first prototype of the mid-engined Stratos production supercar and the hugely successful rally car (Est. €1.000.000 - €1.800.000); and, the revolutionary 1963 Chevrolet Testudo, s/n 20927w207657, sporting an amazing and totally transparent one-piece windscreen and roof cover (Est. €500.000 - €800.000).
This magnificent collection of cars is completed with a 1974 Lamborghini Bravo, s/n NS46 01, an ultra low slung car with several styling cues from the Lamborghini Countach (Est. €150.000 - €220.000); a 1980 Lamborghini Athon, s/n S155/01, featuring clean, futuristic lines (Est. €150.000 - €220.000); and, an outlandish 1978 Lancia Sibilo, s/n S 12201, unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in April 1978 (Est. €60.000 – €100.000).
"These cars represent a highly significant slice of Bertone's creative history, as well as a unique opportunity to purchase some of the best known and most influential dream cars ever built. This coupled with the fact that the upcoming auction represents the very first time that any of these six vehicles have been offered for sale on the public market, makes for a unique and very special ownership opportunity.We anticipate that they will be well received by the collector car world," adds Girardo.
The exciting roster of Bertone automobiles joins a spectacular line-up of over 30 blue-chip automobiles consigned to the exclusive RM evening sale, which forms an official part of this year's celebrated Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este weekend. With an average value per car approaching €1.000.000, the RM offering is considered one of the most spectacular collections of automobiles offered in recent auction history.
For full event details and a frequently updated car list, please visit www.rmauctions.com or call RM's London office at +44 20 7851 7070.
Event Details: RM Auctions at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este
Sale date:
21 May, 2011 8:00pm – 11:00pm CET
Preview dates:
20 May, 2011 10:00am – 6:00pm CET
21 May, 2011 10:00am – 6:00pm CET
Location:
Spazio Villa Erba,
Largo Luchino Visconti, 4
Cernobbio, Como, 22012, Italy
Admission:
Admission to the event requires the purchase of an official auction catalogue for €70. The catalogue admits two and must be presented at the entrance to the sale to be granted entry.
About RM Auctions
RM Auctions is the world's largest auction house for quality automobiles. With over three decades of experience in the collector car industry, RM's vertically integrated range of services, from restoration to private treaty sales, auctions, estate planning and financial services, coupled with an expert team of car specialists and international footprint, provide an unsurpassed level of service to the global collector car market. RM proudly holds four of the top five all-time records for the most expensive motor cars sold at auction. RM's restoration division has achieved unprecedented accolades earning "Best of Show" honours at the world's top concours events.
1963 Chevrolet Corvair Testudo
Penned by a young Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Testudo wrapped GM’s unconventional compact coupe in sensual sheetmetal. The flip up cabin and oviod shape lend the car a sci-fi feel, but the Testudo’s nose, headlamps, window shape, and B-pillar air intakes were all incorporated into Marcello Gandini’s 1967 Lamborghini Miura.
Legend has it Giugiaro attempted to acquire the car when he left Bertone for Ghia in the mid 1960s. Now’s his chance to try again — and really, what better way is there to spend that VW paycheck?
1967 Lamborghini Marzal
Lamborghini’s interest in building a four-seat grand touring car led to Bertone’s creation of the Marzal — a sleek, wide, and angular GT that debuted at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show. It’s easy to see how the show car inspired the Espada that launched two years later, but the Marzal still has some radical touches — large windows, gullwing doors, rear-mounted 2.0-liter I-6 — that never made it into the production car.
1970 Lancia Stratos Zero
Few concepts were any wilder than Marcello Gandini’s Stratos Zero, which was unveiled at the 1970 Turin show. Taking the “folded paper” design ethic to a new level, the Stratos Zero was essentially a wedge on wheels that threw all automotive design conventions aside. Passengers were placed low in the bodywork, and entered and exited the car through a flip-up windshield. Power came from a Flavia’s 1.6-liter V-4, which was placed amidships. The Stratos name was later ported to another Lancia-Bertone tie-up, but that design was far less revolutionary as this original design.
1974 Lamborghini Bravo
The Bravo was developed as a small, entry-level Lambo that would replace the aging Urraco P300. Although the concept shares its mechanicals with that production car, it bears absolutely no visual resemblance to it. Its tapered wedge shape shows some influence from ItalDesign’s Lotus Esprit, but the design is infused with Lamborghini cues (note the rear wheelarches) and unique touches (the matching louvered hood and decklid, for instance) throughout. While the prototype racked up nearly 24,000 miles in testing, the Bravo project ultimately went nowhere. A pity, for the car looked nearly ten years ahead of its time.
1980 Lamborghini Athon
Beneath the skin, the Athon is similar to the Bravo (it’s built upon Urraco/Silhouette mechanicals), but the rationale behind its inception is markedly different. While the Bravo was loosely linked to an actual production project, the Athon was a pure PR stunt, designed mainly to celebrate the company’s transition to yet another new owner.
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