RM Sotheby’s is hosting a new sale at Cliveden House Hotel, a beautiful estate outside London. The property has a fascinating history and is now a lovely resort hotel and spa. The home also has an American connection, having once been owned by William Waldorf Astor. Guests of the Astors included Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Mahatma Gandhi, Amy Johnson and T. E. Lawrence.  

RM Sotheby’s Cliveden House Sale offers an impressive selection of mostly RHD cars from various manufacturers, which makes sense given its location in the United Kingdom. The auction definitely skews toward the high-end of the market and while there are a handful of German vehicles on consignment, the Italian offerings are what captured my attention. Read on to see my top picks from this new event, all of which have an Italian origin or connection.

Collecting scooters seems like a fun alternative to collecting cars for those who are space-challenged. My affinity for ex-emergency service vehicles should be well-known by now, so this Lambretti Li150 Police scooter obviously caught my eye. The asking price is fairly steep for a 70s Lambretta, even if it is 1 of only 2 made. That nightstick holder and little blue light on the rear are pretty darn charming, though.

Predecessor to the 400 and 412, the Ferrari 365 GT4 is a grand touring coupe made by Ferrari in the 1970s. I love the angular styling and seeing 6 Webers under the hood instead of the fuel injection setup of the later cars. As a bonus, the 365 seems much easier to find with three pedals than the later iterations. An estimate of £60-70,000 seems a bit high given it has been sitting dormant in a museum for some time, but if you want one in right-hand drive…

Offering 60s Italian styling, rarity, and performance at a lower buy-in versus cars bearing a prancing horse, the Maserati 3500 GT still remains a bit of a hidden gem in the classics world. It’s really nice to see one of these in such lovely condition, so I hope the bidding is spirited and meets the house estimate of £120-150,000.

If you’re one of the discerning collectors who love hybrid American/Italian cars, Iso Rivolta is a familiar name. The Lele may not be on your radar, however. The Lele was built to compete with the Lamborghini Espada, and if it looks familiar, you’ve got a good eye. This 1974 Iso Rivolta Lele is an amazing opportunity to acquire a Gandini-designed rarity at a bargain price. That is assuming you can register it in your country minus a registration or title.

I know very little about modern Ferraris. Even my knowledge of classics built in Marenello is rudimentary, but sometimes a modern Ferrari speaks to me. This 488 GTB is simply stunning in its two-tone paint scheme with red interior and white (!) carpets. Estimated at £190-260,000, you’ll pay a premium for this specification.

One of two Ferrari 250s at Cliveden, this car almost needs no introduction. In stunning condition with a nicely documented history, this 250 SWB was once modified to GTO spec. I, for one, am glad to see it back in its original condition. The low end of the estimate of £5,000,000 will be the minimum needed to take this home, I’m sure.

While the previous car has one of the most beautiful bodies ever mated to a chassis, I’m a sucker for a Kamm tail. This car has been extensively modified to appear as a 330 LMB with covered tail lights, nose and side vents, and that lovely Kamm tail with spoiler. There were only four 330 LMBs built so an authentic one would be astronomically expensive. The last competition-modified 250 GT/L sold for around $900K, so I fear this one may not meet reserve. It’s certainly a discount compared to the $50 million+ you’d pay for a real 330 LMB, however.

What’s a Jaguar XK 140 doing on this list? This custom coachbuilt one has an apparently 1 of 1 body designed by one of my favorite Italian stylists: Giovanni Michelotti. While I don’t consider it an example of his best work, it certainly stands out. Restoring a car that has but one example must be challenging. With the average price of an XK140 being around £80,000 you can’t be faint of heart or wallet to acquire this unicorn, which is guided at £300-350,000.

Last but not least is this 1 of 7 Aston Martin Vanquish Speedsters built in right-hand drive, this custom coachbuilt Aston features signature Zagato coachbuilding style, Vulcan-style rear lights and headrest fairing evoking the builder’s iconic double-bubble rooflines. It’s too new to import to the USA, so I imagine this beauty will stay in England, but it’s certainly a car I wouldn’t mind driving from the right seat.

If this sale is anything like RM’s Dare to Dream Collection event, it should pay off nicely for the auction house. We’ll try pull together a post-event recap with highlighted results in next week’s Market Monday. Until then, have a great week!

Wolf and Mare provides car finding, appraisals, and auction services for buyers and sellers of collector European cars. If you’re interested in acquiring an overseas car, give us a call or drop a line!