My Favorite Cars At The Villa d'Este Auction

by Mike -

RM Auctions will hold their auction at Villa d'Este on May 21 at Spazio Villa Erba Cernobbio, Como.

Here are my favorites from an excellent selection.

1963 Chevrolet Testudo - Estimate: €500.000-€800.000 ($715,000-$1,144,000)

- From the Collection of Bertone S.p.A.

- Unveiled at Geneva Motor Show in 1963

- One-off design and highly influential in numerous other designs

- An early career highlight of young designer Giorgetto Giugiaro

Does this look like a Jensen Interceptor from the rear?

1965 Ford GT40 Works Prototype Roadster - Estimate: €2.400.000-€2.900.000 ($3,432,000-$4,147,000)

- Works prototype of the most historically important Ford racing car

- Fourth of only five GT40 prototype roadsters built; believed lost for 40 years

- 1965 Le Mans Trials, driven by Sir John Whitmore 

- 1965 Targa Florio, driven by Whitmore and Bob Bondurant

This car looks fabulous from any angle.

1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato 'Coda Tronca' - Estimate: €260.000-€300.000 ($372,000-$429,000)

- One of only 30 SZ “Coda Tronca” examples built

- Lightweight Zagato bodywork 

- Autotecnica Conrero engine

This looks fun.

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Competition Spider by Bertone - Estimate: €700.000-€910.000 ($1,001,000-$1,301,000)

- One of three built and the only known unrestored “survivor”

- The only Bertone-bodied Aston Martin with known racing history

- Wonderful 15,000-mile original example with exceptional patina

- Single ownership for 38 years

What an Aston, even in red.

1968 Bizzarrini 5300GT Strada - Estimate: €380.000-€480.000 ($543,000-$686,000)

- Exceedingly rare, low production

- Dramatic Bertone styling, Iso chassis and strong Chevrolet V-8 power

- Fully restored in current ownership; retrofitted air-conditioning

- Shown at the 2004 Concorso Villa d’Este, complete with FIVA Class A3 passport

I love a Bizzarrini and this green looks great, although I do not think it is an original color.

1964 Alfa Romeo TZ Coupé - Estimate: €475.000-€575.000 ($679,000-$822,000)

- One of the most important TZs in existence, race-prepared new for Alfa Romeo by Autodelta 

- Entries at the Targa Florio, Le Mans 24 Hours, Monza 1000 Kms and Tour de France

- Landmark Alfa Romeo model with gorgeous aluminium Zagato coachwork

- Fully restored by Piet Roelofs Engineering to 1964 Le Mans configuration and livery

It is amazing how these cars have appreciated.

1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider by Scaglietti - Estimate: €2.600.000-€3.300.000 ($3,718,000-$4,719,000)

- One of the finest examples in existence with known ownership and successful racing history

- Five Targa Florio entries and Winner of the Monte Pellegrino Hillclimb 

- Last four-cylinder Ferrari sports racer, rarer than 250 TR and 250 GTO

I would hope to see this on an historic race track sometime.

Click on the images for a larger view.