24 Hours of Le Mans 2023 – Amazing lots from the auction of the century

One of the highlights of the year for RM Sotheby’s, the well-known auction house, will take place alongside the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And that’s it, we have a list of votes to be had.

• Porsche 962C – One of three models used by the factory in the 1985 and 1986 World Sports Championship campaigns. It has 117 engines in this chassis 962-004 took a strong position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1986, in one of its three appearances at the Le Mans classic. His best result: 5th place in 1988. Derek Bell, Al Holbert, Jacky Ickx, Klaus Ludwig, Jochen Mass, Vern Schuppan, Hans Stuck and John Winter. It was then entered for two more seasons by Joest Racing, which had factory support. Restored by Trevor Crisp (Katana Ltd) – Porsche Group C specialist – it is in good working order, with a very long tail but with a short tail. This is the first time a factory Porsche 962 C has been offered publicly at auction.
  

• Ferrari 121 LM Spider by Scaglietti – A factory car for Scuderia Ferrari, this chassis 0546 LM was entered at the beginning of 1955 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Mille Miglia in the same year. Driven by the company’s official drivers Maurice Trintignant, Harry Schell and Piero Taruffi, this is one of four LM 121s built and still in operation. Between 2018 and 2023 it was completely restored by Ferrari Classiche. It still has its original powertrain which has the same number as the chassis: 0546 LM.

• Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione – Factory produced prototype used for development from 1969 to 1971. This chassis 12467 was later converted into a race car by Ferrari for the North American Racing Team. Fifth overall in the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans in the hands of Bob Grossman / Luigi Chinetti Jr, he also participated the following year in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Fully restored to Le Mans specification (“Red Book” Classiche certified) sold with original certificate and Ferrari invoice for Le Mans preparation.
  

  

• Lancia LC2 – With chassis 0005, this car took pole position and set the fastest lap in the 1984 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (Bob Wollek / Alessandro Nannini), before finishing eighth overall. The following seventh year with Henri Pescarolo / Mauro Baldi, he won the Kyalami 1984 1000 km with Ricardo Patrese / Alessandro Nannini. This is one of nine LC2 chassis built for the 1983 to 1986 WSC seasons.

• Aston Martin DBR9 – DBR9/106 chassis, this car he started competing with Barwell Motorsport in FIA GT, before changing the name to Giwaveve Motorsport with Philipp Peter and the late Allan Simonsen behind the wheel. Young AMR driver at the time was responsible for giving this DBR9 a third GT1 podium at the end of the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans, thanks to Tomas Enge / Christoffer Nygaard / Peter Kox. His last race started in 2011, in FIA GT1, with Young Driver AMR.
  

  

• Jaguar XJ220 C LM – Participated in the 1993 24 Hours of Le Mans, chassis 002 was driven mainly by David Coulthard, who did not return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans after that. He was supported that year by Australian David Brabham and Dane John Nielsen, two drivers who went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Three who will finish without classifying.
  

  

• Delahaye 135 S by Pourtout – One of the most famous pre-war Delahayes in competition. Second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1938 in the hands of Gaston Serraud / Yves Giraud-Cabantous, it belonged to the famous French Ferrari dealer Charles Pozzi, who raced. Overall, it took part in around 50 events between 1936 and 1956. Restored in 2005 by Atelier Concept & Restoration Bonnefoy, it comes with a detailed report from marque specialist Christian Huet and is eligible for historic events, including the Mille Miglia and Le Mans. Classic.
  

  

• OSCA MT4 by Morelli – Chassis 1147, this is one of 19 examples with the 1491cc 2AD overhead cam engine, and one of 72 examples built in total. Entered by the factory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1954, it retains the engine matching the registration number. Equipped with a fully tuned ZF gearbox to improve its performance, it benefited from a restoration in the 1990s complete with a recent engine and gearbox rebuild by Italian automotive specialists. Sold with documentation including Le Mans 1954 papers, research and correspondence from the owners, as well as invoices and restoration photos. Meticulously maintained during the 28 years it was owned by the current owner, this is an important historical example of the Maserati brothers’ reign.
  

  

• Alpine A210 – Appeared three times at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1967 to 1969, this car (chassis 1725) won its class in 1967 (Henri Grandsire / José Rosinsky) and 1968 (Jean-Luc Thérier / Bernard Tramont). It has also participated in the 12 Hours of Reims, the 500 kilometers of the Nürburgring and the 9 Hours of Kyalami. Part of a historic collection managed by Gérard “La Gombe” Gombert for over 40 years. It has a restored Gordini-Renault 1470cc powertrain and comes with many historical memorabilia and photos, a spare engine, a spare set of wheels and a truck of the Unregistered Renault Estafette used to transport it.
  

  

• Nissan R90CK – This is one of the six chassis built, but perhaps the most legendary as it is the R90C/1, i.e. the one that – in the hands of Mark Blundell – took the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1990. Fifth in Montreal then fourth in Mexico City, currently maintained by historic Group C specialists, Phil Stott Motorsport. Of course, it is eligible for historic Group C events, including the Le Mans Classic (support race) and the Daytona Classic.

• Aston Martin Le Mans “LM8” – Seventh place overall in the 1932 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (AC Bertelli / Pat Driscoll), even won the eighth biennial Cup. This is one of the three official “second series” Aston Martins entered in the Sarthe. Previous owner of the park since 1955.
  

  

• Chrysler Viper GTS-R – GTSR-C3 chassis, participated in the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Justin Bell / Pierre Yver / John Morton trio behind the wheel. It also appeared at the 24 Hours of Daytona in the same year with Olivier Beretta / Dominique Dupuy / Tommy Archer, it participated in the FIA ​​GT, British GT, before leaving for Spain and then the United States.
  

  

• Circuit M482 – This is one of three M482 chassis built by Jean Rondeau Cars, in this case M 482-002. Driven by legends Henri Pescarolo and Thierry Boutsen in the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans, it has been fully preserved and restored by Philippe Belou, a former Rondeau mechanic. Accompanied by an FIA HTP report and a set of spares, it is eligible for historic races, including the Le Mans Classic and the Daytona Classic.
  

  

• Venturi 600 S-LM – Chassis VK8CLM61193CE0003. It first appeared at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1993 thanks to Stéphane Ratel, it was entrusted to Costas Los / Johannes Badrutt / Claude Brana. Back in 1995 and the BBA Championship (Emmanuel Clérico / Laurent Lécuyer / Bernard Chauvin) will not start in 1996.
  

  

• Porsche 911 GT3 R – With chassis WP0ZZZ99ZYS692075, this Porsche took the start of the 2000 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Organized by Australian team Skea Racing International, it finished 17th overall and 2nd in GT thanks to the Johnny Mowlem / David Murry / Sascha Maassen trio. That year, he also participated in various Endurance races, in Europe and across the Atlantic.
  

  

• Ferrari 250 GT – From 1963 and with chassis 4155, this 250 GTE is not just any car, as it was the car that acted as… the safety car during the 31st edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans ! No wonder?
  

  

• Finally, a lot of original to say the least: the tricolor flag It was inspired in 1965 by Mr. Maurice Herzog (then Assistant Secretary of State for Youth and Sports), who had the honor of giving the start to the 33rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, won by Jochen Rindt’s Ferrari 250 LM. / Masten Gregory.