A unique 1956 Lister-Maserati 2.0-litre sports-racing two-seater was the top seller, achieving an impressive £575,000, in the Bonhams Motor Cars private sale held last weekend (28/29 March).
The Lister was originally destined to come under the hammer at the Bonhams Goodwood Members’ Meeting Sale scheduled for the weekend but, with the other lots, was offered for private sale after the auction was cancelled due to the latest developments regarding COVID-19.
The period racing car was built for and first campaigned by Archie Scott Brown, the Paisley-born racing driver who enjoyed much success on track, despite being born with only one hand, and earned the nickname ‘King of Drift’ from Juan Manuel Fangio.
Scott Brown secured a first and second place in 1956 at Brands Hatch with the Lister, which has more recently competed in the Le Mans Classic, Monaco Historique and Goodwood Revival meetings.
Other period racing cars which sold at the weekend included:
- A second Lister from the 1950s, a Jaguar-powered c.1958 3.8-litre ‘Knobbly’ Sports-Racer, winner of the 2018 Stirling Moss Trophy.
- A 1937 Lagonda LG45 4½-litre Fox & Nicholl 1936 Le Mans Team Car Replica, which has been extensively campaigned in historic events such as the Le Mans Classic.
- The ex-Tommy Hitchcock 1964 Brabham BT8 Sports-Racing Prototype, with extensive in-period competition history, including the Lavant Cup race at Goodwood.
Other lots sold were two of Ferrari’s finest from the 1970s: a 1971 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ Spyder by Autokraft, arguably the best-known professional conversion of the Pininfarina-styled coupé, and a right-hand drive 1974 Dino 246 GTS.
Tim Schofield, Head of Department Bonhams Collectors’ Motor Cars, New Bond Street, said: “We are very pleased to have successfully sold these motor cars over the weekend.
“Due to the continually changing and challenging circumstances over the past few weeks we have had to quickly adapt our sale format. The results show that, despite the current situation, there is still an appetite to buy good quality classic and historic competition cars among collectors and enthusiasts.”
Revised plans for Bonhams Motor Cars summer sales will be issued shortly.
