Phil Hill

Rare Multimillion-$ 1955 Aston Martin Racer Added to RM's Monterey Lineup

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

RM Auctions has just announced the consignment of a highly-desirable 1955 Aston Martin DB3S racer (above) to its Sports & Classics of Monterey auction event on August 13th - 15th in California. One of just 20 customer DB3Ss built and one of three examples ordered new by Australia's celebrated "Kangaroo Stable" racing team, the 1955 DB3S, chassis number DB3S/104, boasts an unbroken chain of ownership through to the present and an impressive racing history spanning from 1956 through to its last known event in 1997. It's estimated at $1.75 million - $2.25 million, making it one of the world's most expensive Aston Martins.

Painted in the famed Aston Martin racing color of Almond Green metallic with a yellow flash on the bonnet, the car was also driven by racing legends like Phil Hill and Carroll Shelby. "The Aston Martin DB3S in particular is rarely available to the market and when it is, traditionally only changes hands privately," notes RM President Ian Kelleher, "so it is exceptional to find one with such important provenance to be offered for sale publicly." The Aston will be auctioned off along with the $3 million 1952 Jaguar C-Type that The Classicist wrote about last month.

Tags: Aston Martin, AstonMartin, Australia, California, Monterey, Phil Hill, PhilHill, RM Auctions, RmAuctions

The Classicist: $3 Million Jaguar Racer, 26 Ferraris & More on Offer in Monterey

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Events, The Classicist

On August 13-15 RM Auctions is holding its annual Sports & Classics of Monterey auction in California, starring an historic 1952 Jaguar C-Type sports racer (above) that was driven to victory in 1952 by the legendary Phil Hill and is expected to fetch over $3 million. 26 Ferraris and several other rare and valuable autos will be part of the 200 vehicles crossing the auction block over the course of the three-day event. The beautiful and rare C-Type (a precursor of the modern-day XK we wrote about recently), designated XKC-007, was one of just 53 examples built and one of the first Jaguar C-Types delivered to the United States.

Shipped to New York in 1952, this example was immediately driven to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, where it, along with XKC-009, made their competitive racing debuts as part of the company's North American sales effort for the model. It was at this meet that XKC-007 made Jaguar history when the eventual World Champion driver, Phil Hill – then just 25 – drove it to victory in the Sheldon Cup. Presented in period correct condition, it notably displays the signature of the great Phil Hill and retains its original, numbers matching engine.

The star amongst the stunning selection of 26 Ferraris is a 1953 166MM Spider Scaglietti estimated at $1.4 million - $1.8 million. The important car was given by Enzo Ferrari to his son Dino for a design project with Scaglietti. It is known as the first Scaglietti-bodied competition Ferrari and its attractive, rakish styling resulted in the prototype for the subsequent 750 Monza and 500 Mondial models. It was restored first in the 1960s and again prior to running the Mille Miglia Storica in 2005.

Gallery: RM Monterey '09