Hammer down

Racers that are going, going, gone…

As we closed for press, Artcurial was hosting the sale of Jean ‘Beurlys’ Blaton’s collection of racing cars at Palais des Congrés in Paris. Among the many sportscars was an ex-Alboreto/Ghinzani Lancia LC1 barquette , the ex-Chris Craft McLaren M8C, a former Team Surtees Lola T160, a Blaton-commissioned Ferrari F40-based Michelotto prototype and a Hartage-BMW M-powered Tiga GC285 C2 car without a race history.

Also in the sale was a number of single-seaters, including the ex-Elio de Angelis Lotus 93T complete with its original Renault EFI. Chassis 001 was raced by the Italian at Paul Ricard and Spa. It was expected to reach 70,000 Euros.

Blaton was also parting with the ex-Sephano Modena Jordan 192 in its original Sasol/Barclay livery. The car was to be sold with gearbox but minus its Yamaha OX99 V12, with a reserve price of 30,000 Euros. Another Jordan, the ex- Andrea de Cesaris 191 which finished fourth in the 1991 Canadian Grand Prix, was being sold without its Ford HB V8. Estimates started at 50,000 Euros.

Height of RM Auctions’ Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona sale on January 28 was the prototype Ferrari 250MM coupé which sold for $143 million. The original owner, Franco Rol, received the car from coachbuilder Pinin Farina on March 1, 1953, and the following month drove it on the XII Giro di Sicilia without success. After the race it was restyled with covered headlights and a wide air intake, similar to the later 375MM.