The rate of development at Porsche was relentless during the 1960s with replacements of existing models already being developed even before the latest cars hit the track. A great example of this was the 910, which was a development of the 906 and raced as a works car for less than a year before it was superseded. Compared to the 906, it was lower and more slippery. The first cars were used to win the European Hill Climb Championship from the second half of 1967. During the early races of 1968, the 910s won the two-litre class at events like Daytona and Sebring, while flat-eight engined examples won the Targa Florio and Nurburgring 1000km outright. Before the 1968 Le Mans, the 910 was already replaced by the 907, which had been purpose built for the flat-eight engine. In its brief racing career, the 910 did elevate Porsche from a contender for class victories to a scratch winner. The example highlighted was a works car and is still raced to this day. This weekend, we will get another opportunity to see the car in action at the Dix Mille Tours and then again the weekend after when it will be raced in the Goodwood Revival. As always, you can expect in-depth coverage both events, perhaps even with some more Porsche 910 images!
Among the most unusual of Porsche Le Mans victories was scored in 1994 with the Dauer 962 LM Sport. Using a maze in the newly introduced GT1 regulations, this was a thinly disguised Group C racer based on Dauer's road going version of the successful 962C. The race winner was the brainchild of Porsche legend and regulation whisperer Norbert Singer. The two cars featured were both raced at Le Mans in 1994 and finished first and third. The maze was quickly closed and the Dauer Porsches were not raced again but not before giving the legendary 956/962 series a formidable farewell win.

The Monterey auctions have come and gone and as the dust settles we take a look at the results. All eyes were on the RM Sotheby's sale, which featured the highly anticipated Ferrari 250 GTO. As expected, it changed hands for a world record smashing $48 million. Also contributing considerably to the $157 total were the Aston Martin DP215 and Ford GT40 Mk2 that sold for $21.5 and $9.8 million respectively.
The $116 million Gooding Pebble Beach Auctions were headlined by the magnificent Duesenberg SSJ that sold for twice the estimate at $22 million. Perhaps the most desirable of all Duesenbergs, this SSJ was originally owned by Gary Cooper and was offered on the market for the first time since 1949. Also doing remarkably well was the Porsche RS Spyder that found a new owner for $4.5 million.
Bonhams kicked off the auction with the one-day Quail Lodge Auction. Close to $38 million worth of machinery changed hands with the sale topped by this fabulous Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Competizione at $3.5 million and the Mercedes-Benz we featured last week at $3.2 million.

Over the weekend on the Monterey Peninsula, Bugatti, Ferrari and Lamborghini all launched new high performance models while Mercedes-Benz revealed a new show car. The most powerful of the bunch is definitely the Bugatti Divo. Named after former Bugatti racer Albert Divo, it shares the same 1,500hp drivetrain with the Chiron it is based on but it is refined in every other aspect to make it faster. The Divo is 35kg lighter and produces 90kg more downforce, and as a result is 8 seconds faster than the Chiron around the Nardo test track. With a price of Euro 5 million, it is the most expensive production car to date but all 40 cars due to be produced have already been sold.
Ferrari, meanwhile, took the wraps off the Spider version of the highly acclaimed 488 Pista. Like its fixed head counterpart, the Pista Spider boasts a 720hp version of the twin-turbo V8 engine, which helps the new Ferrari accelerate to 100km/h in just 2.8 seconds.
A few weeks ago, Lamborghini announced that a new production car record was set at the Nurburgring but it took until this weekend before the car used, the Aventador SVJ broke cover. It lapped the famous track in just 6:44.97 minutes, eclipsing the time set by the Huracan Performante. Compared to the Aventador SV, the new 'Jota' is lighter and more powerful. Interestingly, it has the same power to weight ratio as the Pista Spider and also accelerates to 100km/h in 2.8s. Production of the fast Lamborghini road car yet is limited to 900 examples.
As a tribute to the record breakers based on the legendary Silver Arrow Grand Prix cars of the 1930s, Mercedes-Benz revealed this Vision EQ Silver Arrow at Pebble Beach. This all-electric machine combines its thoroughly modern underpinnings with a design inspired by the W125 Streamliner of 1937. The all-electric drivetrain of the show car is good for an impressive 750hp but is still good for a 400km range.

For several years now, the Monterey Peninsula Car Week has not just been about classic cars. Major manufacturers use the influx of the world's richest car collectors and international media to launch their latest show and production cars. This year is no exception with three interesting machines breaking cover at Pebble last night.
The most striking of the three is this Audi PB18 e-tron. Inspired by the Le Mans winning R18, it is effectively an all-electric racing car for the road. It is powered by three electric motors, one at the front and two at the back, which together can produce up to 764bhp. The lines of the PB18 were penned in Audi's new Malibu design studio and include a particularly interesting 'shooting brake' tail. The interior is adaptable as the driver can sit in the middle if there are no passengers or move over to one side to make room for a second person. For now the car is just a design study but with its all-electric e-tron powertain it should fit nicely at the top of Audi's future line-up.
Following up on the highly acclaimed Prototype 9 launched last year, Japanese luxury manufacturer Infiniti have now returned to Pebble with the Prototype 10. It is once again a minimalistic show car but this time it at least has fully enclosed wheels. Where last year's show car heralded the era of 1950s open wheel racing, the Prototype 10 is a tribute to California Speedsters of the same era.
BMW used the opportunity to finally reveal the third generation of the Z4. Compared to its predecessor, the roadster is completely redesigned and features a fabric instead of a metal foldaway roof. At the launch, the Z4 will be available in M40i trim, which means it is powered by a 340bhp version of BMW's familiar turbocharged straight six engine. Full technical details and specifications will follow at the Paris Motor Show next month.

The third major sale staged on the Monterey Peninsula this weekend is the annual Gooding & Co. Pebble Beach Auctions. The two-day sale features a colourful mix of collector cars. Undoubtedly the famous livery of all is carried by this Gulf Oil sponsored Mirage GR8 Cosworth. It is the sister car to the 1975 Le Mans winner and was extensively raced throughout the second half of the 1970s. Among its subsequent owners was Rosso Bianco Museum and the ROFGO Collection. The GR8 has however been consigned by the Cluxton family, who raced the car in period and re-acquired it in 2014.
As at Bonhams and RM Sotheby's, Ferraris also headline the Pebble Beach Auctions with this fabulous 275 GTB/C, which has a $12-14 million estimate. It is one of twelve built and had none other than Pedro Rodriguez as its first owner. Following its contemporary racing career, it has been part of some of the biggest private collections. Owned by the same collector since the early 2000s, chassis 09063 has not been seen in public in recent years. Another major Ferrari consigned to the sale is this 250 GT Tour de France. Originally sold to an Italian gentleman racer, it has been owned by the late Fred Peters since 1966. He campaigned the car extensively before finally having it restored in 2014. The 250 GT Tour de France has now been consigned by his estate and looks set to sell for over $6.5 million.
One of the most recent competition cars in the sale is the virtually brand new Porsche RS Spyder. Acquired new by a stillborn racing effort, it was not raced in period. The current owner only exercised the Porsche a handful of times. As such, this is a unique opportunity to by a nearly perfect example of the dominant prototype racer of its era.
One of our favourite cars in the sale is this lovely Siata 208 SC Corsa Spider. The car was built by Bertone with a one-off body style and was raced in period by Nuccio Bertone himself. Freshly restored, the Siata won its class at Pebble last year and should sell for around $2 million.

Winning Le Mans outright once turns a car into an instant legend but scoring back-to-back victories is a feat only a handful of cars have achieved. It was long believed that no Ferrari had done this but recent research by Ferrari Classiche has revealed that this 275 P had not only won Le Mans in 1964 but had already done so in 1963. At its first victory, it had been entered with the identity of an earlier car, for which the entry had been filed but which could not compete due to sustaining accident damage. Since 1970, it has been part of the late Pierre Bardinon's Mas du Clos collection and it first made headlines last year when it was announced as the headliner for Artcurial's 2018 Retromobile auction. After a dispute between the Bardinon heirs, the 275 P was withdrawn from the sale. Chassis 0816 is now back on the market with RM Sotheby's as a private treaty sale. RM Sotheby's commissioned the additional Ferrari Classiche research, which also found the car to be the winner of the Sebring 12 Hours in 1964. No price has been revealed but we expect Ferrari's only two-time Le Mans winner, which has not been on the market since 1970s, to sell for an amount well into the eight figures.
A well known two-time Le Mans winner is this Porsche 956, which won the epic endurance race in 1984 and 1985 as a private entry by Joest Racing. The first win was less of a surprise as Porsche had decided not to field its works team, leaving its many privateers to fight the quick but frail Lancias for the outright victory. The 1985 win was certainly more of an upset as Joest Racing managed to beat the might of the Porsche factory team with their brand new 962Cs. Despite scoring back-to-back victories, Joest Racing could not afford to park 956-117 and it continued to race until the end of the 1986 season. Fittingly, it scored a win in its very last outing before joining Reinhold Joest's private collection. It remained their until very recently, when it joined the stable of a prominent British racer.

Today we take a look ahead at next week's Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction. The annual sale is headlined by this lovely Ferrari 250 GT SWB. It was sold new to the United States and has been owned by some of the great American collectors like Harley Cluxton, Robert L. Bodin and Chip Connor. Chassis 3337GT has benefitted from a recent restoration to its original colours.
Bonhams have also consigned a fine selection of pre-War cars, which includes this one-off Mercedes-Benz 540 K. Using the highest specification chassis, it was clothed by the Mayfair Carriage Company with a body styled like the famous Trossi Roadster. While it is not known who commissioned the car but chassis 154080 has had some reputable recent owners like the Imperial Palace Collection and General William Lyon.
Ten years older still is this Bentley 6.5 Litre Barker Sports Tourer. Delivered new to the UK, it is believed to be one of jus two examples bodied by Barker in this style and the sole survivor. After spending most of its life in South Africa, BR2354 was recently repatriated and beautifully restored to its original colours.
Also benefiting from a recent restoration is this unique Talbot Lago T26 Saoutchik Coupe de Ville. Built for the 1950 Paris Auto Salon, it was a price winning car in period but has been hidden away from the public eye for most of its life. Not shown yet since its restoration, the unique T26 should provide an automatic entry into all major events.
Other highlights consigned to the sale include this Siata 208 S and Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Competizione.

Every year, the world's leading auctioneers manage to pull out all the stops for the annual sales on the Monterey Peninsula. Set to break some records this year is the RM Sotheby's sale in downtown Monterey. The sale's absolute headliner is this Ferrari 250 GTO. It was raced in period by works driver Phil Hill and was subsequently updated to 1964 specification with the wind-tunnel honed body designed by Pininfarina. Following its contemporary racing career, it has been owned by many leading collectors including the consignor, who campaigned the car extensively since acquiring the car in 2000. The pre-sale estimate of 3413GT is a staggering $45-60 million. If it sells, it will be the most expensive car ever sold at auction.
Also estimated to sell for eight figures is the unique Aston Martin DP215. Built in 1963 for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it was the ultimate development of the successful Aston Martin racing program of the 1950s and early 1960s. It was damaged in period and over the next four decades the subsequent owners restored the car and it was most recently reunited with its original engine. The one-off DP215 has a pre-sale estimate of $18-22 million.
Due to sell for a slightly more 'reasonable' price is this Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR road car. Originally sold in Germany, it was later part of a collection in Hong Kong for over a decade. Chassis 09 of 25 road cars built is now legal to use in the United States under the Show and Display exemption. The same $4.25 - 5.25 million can also get you this Maserati A6G/54 2000 Zagato Coupe. Compared to the other 19 examples built, this car features a unique grille and was raced in period at the Mille Miglia. Chassis 2124 was recently restored to its original livery and shown at Pebble Beach and Villa d'Este.
The full 150-strong lot list of the two-day auction can be found here.

At last month's Goodwood Festival of Speed, there was a lot more to admire than just Porsches and today we have highlighted a further four very interesting machines that were gunned up the hill in front of Goodwood House.
The earliest and most valuable of the quartet is this Ferrari 250 GT SWB Comp/61. One of less than two dozen built for the 1961 season, the Comp/61 one or SEFAC Hot Rod was the ultimate development of the 250 GT SWB before Ferrari switched to the 250 GTO for 1962. The featured example was sold new to Count Volpi for his Scuderia Serenissima and was later comprehensively restored by Ferrari Classiche.
Formula 1 cars always take centre stage at Goodwood and in 2018 this BRM P160 was one of the most intriguing. Raced in 1973 with the familiar BRM V12 engine, it was later also fitted with the latest evolution of the Weslake V12 engine for testing. Although, it ran only once in this guise, the signs of the Weslake installation are still visible on chassis P160/07 today.
We have a soft spot for the Group 5 silhouette racers of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Few were quite so extreme as the Ford Zakspeed Capri. One of half a dozen built and raced by Zakspeed, this car was used by Klaus Ludwig to win the 1981 DRM Championship in dominant fashion.
Grabbing the limelight in the Michelin Supercar Run was the Brabham BT62. Designed and built in Australia, it is the first product of the company that was restarted by the late Sir Jack Brabham's son David. The first examples of this wild track-day machine feature liveries inspired by Brabham's Grand Prix wins and accordingly, the BT62 seen in action at Goodwood featured the colours of the BT46B driven to victory in the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix by Niki Lauda.

Major events like the Le Mans Classic feature many regular faces and machines but there is always some 'new' blood to keep things interesting. At last month's edition, we were pleasantly surprised by the mighty Maserati 450S brought by a German historic racer. Freshly restored, this well known car had not been seen in action since the early 2000s when it was raced by fellow German Dr. Thomas Bscher. Chassis 4506 was acquired new by John Edgar and raced with great success by the late, great Carroll Shelby. At some point in its life, it also featured a tarmac-shredding 6.2-litre version of the quad-cam V8 that had originally been developed for powerboat racing.
Rarer still was the Howmet TX brought by the Ascott Collection. This particular car was originally intended to be raced in the Can-Am series but was rebuilt by the original designer Bob McKee to sports car configuration. The turbine-engined Howmet was raced with great verve at Le Mans and was one of the star cars of the event.
Although perhaps unfamiliar at first glance, this Porsche 935 K3 had in fact competed in the Le Mans Classic before. The unfamiliarity came courtesy of a fresh livery, which matched the one used by the car during the 1981 season when it finished second overall in the Sebring 12 Hours and replaced the Coca Cola livery sported by the car in 1980. The striking blue with gold and red stripes of the K3's current paint-scheme together with the flame-belching engine worked particularly well during the night sessions.

Among the many anniversaries celebrated at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month was the 70th of the legendary Jaguar XK engine. For the occasion a dedicated class of six-cylinder engined Jaguars was present, with cars ranging from early XK120s through to a Lightweight E-Type. While almost all of these cars were Goodwood regulars, we were particularly impressed by the Jaguar C-Type in the line up. One of just three built to lightweight specifications ahead of the 1953 season, chassis XKC 051 was driven to the outright victory at Le Mans that year. It has been owned by some very noteworthy collectors and we had not seen it since 2003. Also featured are the two sister cars, one of which sold at auction for a staggering $13.2 million back in 2015.
Audi, meanwhile, have offered a first glimpse of the PB 18 e-tron show car due to be revealed during the Pebble Beach week later this month. The supercar concept is a further proof of the German manufacturer's new, electric direction.