The clash of the titans

THIS weekend’s Mecum Monterey Auction in California will be one for the history books. There will be a 1973 Volkswagen Thing, a 1977 AMC Gremlin, vintage 1972 Oldsmobile, a 1965 Apollo 5000GT, a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria Skyliner, a classic 1966 Ford Mustang convertible, and a 1958 Studebaker Scotsman Wagon with a Cyclops Eye speedometer and Rocket Racing wheels. And that’s just the Thursday. 

With the eclectic array of old classics expected to fetch anywhere from €500-€100,000, most of the media attention will doubtless be on the cast of big hitters destined to go for at least a cool million. 

From August 18 to 20 lucky spectators will be able to catch a glimpse of a Ford GT40 Mk1, the very first road car delivered to North America and replete with air con, leather trim, chassis and a special paint finish. Incidentally the model also won four consecutive LeMans. Expected price? Anywhere from €4-5million. 

Boasting an 820hp, 7.0 litre V12 engine, one of only 24 track-exclusive Aston Martin Vulcans ever built will also be on auction in Monterey, easily expected to fetch significantly more than the original €2 million asking price. 

More practically minded oligarchs will edge closer towards a stunning Maserati MC12, which is at once vastly cheaper, and also road-legal, an absolute necessity for those atavistic drivers looking to drive their car rather than simply fawn over it. 

Other contenders include a Bugatti Veyron 16.4, Ferrari 288 GTO, a naked Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach, and a Lamborghini Miura P400. All present owners expect at least €1 million for their treasures. 

Motorcycle-lovers often find themselves given short shrift at these petrol drenched spectaculars. Not so at Monterey where you’ll find a virgin 2014 Lotus C-01, a 1931 BMW R16, a 1966 Rickman Desert Racer, and even an unrestored 1952 Vincent Comet, twin of the fearsome Vincent Black Shadow.