RM Sotheby’s sale of the Guikas collection in Le Castellet

20 novembre 2021 lookcharms Aucun commentaire

A personality apart in the collection industry, Marseille-based Jean Guikas has been selling vintage and competition cars since 1989 through the GTC company. The vehicles he offers for sale were not on deposit but his full ownership. A substantial part of his collection was offered for sale as part of an event organized by RM Sotheby’s on the Castellet circuit, which notably enabled demonstrations of the many racing models entered!

Ferrari, guaranteed success

Unsurprisingly, a Ferrari trio dominates the sales rankings. The timballe is won by a 250 GT Berlinetta Competizion from 1955, bodied by Pininfarina in only 3 copies! Restored by Ferrari in 1977, it then benefited from a restoration of the Colombo V12 in 1995. It sold for 6,192,500 euros.

Next comes a Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet from 1958 part at 4,420,625 euros. Preserved in its original juice, its restoration revealed that it had been fitted with elegant and discreet ventilation grilles on its front fenders, visible in photos dating from its very early years. Personalization before its time! The sales podium is then completed by a Ferrari 575 GTC from 2005 for 2,648,750 euros. Entered in the Italian GT championship, this competition car has the distinction of being the latest competition model of the prancing horse powered by a V12!

The Alpine mystery, Johnny’s Iso, etc.

The 24 hours of Le Mans were also in the spotlight in this sale. The 4th and 6th best sales were made by prototypes. This is first of all the case of the Alpine Renault A442 which was sold for 2,255,000 euros, also accompanied by a stock of spare parts sold separately. The chassis 4422 of the lot, only among the 4 existing to be owned by an individual, was the property of Jean Sage then by Adrien Maeght who exhibited it for 25 years in his automobile museum in Mougins. Returned to Jean Guikas in 2014, it has been restored and demonstrated on the circuit.

The file presented claimed to provide solid photographic evidence attesting that it was the model that won the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans with Jean-Pierre Jaussaud and Didier Pironi, but the identity of the victorious chassis has been questionable for years and Renault seems to disagree with this statement.

In an addendum to the guide, Renault informed that “For the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans, the car with race number ‘2’ was chassis number 4423, and the car with race number ‘3’ was this car, chassis number 4422. Chassis 4422— having displayed the number « 3 » during the race — was redecorated with the number « 2 » after the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans for use in promotional and exhibition purposes.

The uncertainty may have been played out since the estimate counted on a range between 4 and 5 million, that is to say the double of what was obtained.

A 1981 Ferrari 512 BB LM also left for 1,973,750 euros. This model powered by a 5-liter flat 12-cylinder, capable of developing 550 hp, marked a semi-official return of Ferrari to Le Mans, even if the expected results were not crowned with success. This car is part of 16 BB / LM Series 3 competition manufactured between 1980 and 1982. Having recently been certified by Ferrari Classiche, this very well preserved original 512 BB / LM is sold with the « Red Book ”which confirms that it is equipped with its original engine (“ matching numbers ”) and a transmission of the appropriate type.

Other models stood out, such as a Iso A3 / C from 1965. Created by this daring little manufacturer, it was unveiled at the 1963 Turin Motor Show. The A3 / L was intended to be a sumptuous GT, while the A3 / C was a competition car developed and carefully honed by the famous Giotto Bizzarrini. to be the chief engineer of the famous Ferrari 250 GTO. Both versions, tourism and competition, soon acquired a brilliant reputation due to the appeal of their style due to Giorgetto Giugiaro, from Bertone, and their powerful V8, in this case derived from that of the Chevrolet Corvette.

The specimen on offer is a rare and highly sought-after A3 / C, built in Modena by Piero Drogo’s Carrozzeria Sports Cars. Its body made of aviation duralumin, an alloy of aluminum, copper and magnesium light and flexible but very difficult to weld, had to be assembled by riveting, as is the case for airplanes, but it allowed it to gain space. weight and weigh only 969 kg. This car is the eighth of ten A3 / Cs built in 1964; it was delivered new to a certain… Johnny Hallyday!

A few F1 cars were also present: a March 77 Cosworth, the “memorable” Footwork Porsche from 1991 with a V12 entered into the annals of losing, and a Prost Peugeot AP03 from 1999, surprisingly presented in a 2001 livery.

Italian fervor, French luxury, etc.

Jean Guikas’s passion for beautiful Italians is evident, since we could appreciate a Countach LP400 from 1975, a Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada from 1968, a Spider Maserati Ghibli 4.7 from 1970 or even a Ferrari 365 GTB / 4 Daytona from 1969 Other racing GTs were presented, including a Lister Storm from 2001, a Jaguar XJ220 CLM from 1993 and a Ferrari 360 GTC from 2006. France was also in the spotlight with a splendid Delage D8 S Cabrio from 1933, acquired for more than 800,000 euros, a Facel Vega Face II or a Delahaye 135 MS Cabriolet from 1950. A French luxury unfortunately over…