A private collection of mostly classic cars, totalling more than 750 lots is to go under the hammer in Milan this weekend.
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Ian Fleming's Bentley R-Type Continental up for auction
James Bond creator Ian Fleming's 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback has been unearthed in an unrestored condition, and is set to go to auction.
Finished by renowned British coachbuilder H.J. Mulliner, the R-Type Continental Fastback was built in extremely limited numbers. These high-performance grand touring cars attracted an elite clientele that included royalty, celebrities, and captains of industry. This car - BC10LB - is no exception, as Ian Fleming, creator of the James Bond series, ordered this Bentley for his friend and collaborator Ivar Bryce. Bryce worked for the British Security Coordination during World War II and was the inspiration for Fleming's character Felix Leiter. It's a little known fact that Fleming penned James Bond as a Bentley driver in the first six of his novels.
Originally finished in Deep Grey and specified as a left-hand drive, manual gearbox car with front wing spats and lightweight seats, Bryce's R-Type Continental was equipped with bespoke features such as fitted luggage and a racehorse mascot. Recently discovered in a Hollywood garage, where it had been hidden away for over three decades, this unrestored R-Type Continental is one of the most exciting post-war Bentleys to come to market.
Official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Gooding & Company, will be overseeing the sale and have put an estimate on the '53 Bentley at just over £1million.
The auction takes place on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16 in Pebble Beach, California.
Miami Vice Ferrari Testarossa up for auction
The real star of the '80s television series Miami Vice is coming to auction in the US.
The 1986 Ferrari Testarossa driven by Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs as they fought the underworld of Miami was one of the quintessential poster cars that found itself plastered on many a teenager's bedroom wall in the 1980s.
The Testarossa up for auction is powered by a 4.9 litre, 390-horsepower flat-12 engine, a traditional five-speed manual gated shifter, beige leather, power windows, power locks, power seats, cruise control and air conditioning and of course giant '80s mobile phone. After Miami Vice ended its series run in 1989 the car was placed into storage until earlier this year.
It was rumoured that Enzo Ferrari himself proposed that the Ferrari factory could supply two black Testarossas for use on the show, according to auctioneer Mecum Auctions. From that day forward, it was this Testarossa that became the show's signature car. The only significant change came when the Ferrari was repainted white at the behest of Director Michael Mann for better visibility in night scenes. This particular Testarossa quickly moved into cult status along with other series props such as Ray Ban sunglasses, Armani jackets, Scarab speedboats and enough firearms for a small army.
Now showing 16,124 miles and authenticated by both Ferrari North America and Ferrari Classiche, with documented service records from Shelton Ferrari in Fort Lauderdale, the Miami Vice Ferrari recently received an 'engine-out' service at a cost of $8,000.
If you find yourself in Miami and fancy bidding, the auction takes place at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa - Del Monte Golf Course on August 15. To view the Miami Vice Ferrari Testarossa or to register as a bidder, visit Mecum.com where you can watch the auctions progress live.