Canadian auctioneer RM Sotheby's have released the full lot list of the upcoming, two-day Monterey sale. As each year, the line-up is very impressive and includes these four truly fantastic Italian sports and racing cars from the 1950s and early 1960s that have rarely been seen in public during the last couple of decades.
Rarest of the bunch is this Ferrari 121 LM, which is one of just a handful of straight six Ferrari sports racers built. These cars were hugely powerful but equally fragile. The consigned example raced in the Mille Miglia and at at Le Mans but was also involved in Ernie McAfee's fatal crash in the Pebble Beach Road Races. Not seen in public for many years, this 121 LM is estimated to sell for $6.5 - 7.5 million.
During the 1950s, Ferrari offered small production bespoke road cars for the American market, which were suitably dubbed 'America'. One of the earliest of these was this 342 America Vignale Cabriolet produced in 1952. It was the first of six 342 Americas built and the only one clothed by Vignale with this Cabriolet bodywork. Chassis 0232AL was recently restored and has not been shown yet at a major event. It is now estimated to sell for in excess of $2.2 million. The model gradually evolved into the 410 SuperAmerica of the late 1950s. One of 12 Series III examples built, the consigned example was sold new to an American based in Switzerland. It has been part of the same, secluded collection since the late 1990s.
Maserati catered for much the same clientele with the 5000 GT. One such customer was Briggs S. Cunningham, who commissioned this unique 5000 GT Michelotti Coupe. His design brief was clear; make the car as close to the 450 S racing cars the mechanicals were derived from. With the help of a wind tunnel, Michelotti succeeded in creating both a very striking machine and the fastest of all 5000 GTs. Compared to the Ferrari's, the unique 5000 GT represents a bargain with an estimate of $1.1 - 1.5 million.

Enjoy the links:

1959 Ferrari 410 SuperAmerica Series III - Chassis 1305SA - Ultimatecarpage.com

1955 Ferrari 121 LM Scaglietti Spyder - Chassis 0546LM - Ultimatecarpage.com

1952 Ferrari 342 America Vignale Cabriolet - Images, Specifications and Information

1964 Maserati 5000 GT Michelotti Coupe - Images, Specifications and Information