A stellar lineup of approximately 160 supercars, sports cars, collector off-roaders and classic cars will lead a mainly European All Star cast on the block at the third annual Creative Rides collector car auction at Montecasino in Johannesburg in September.
And according to Creative Ride CEO Kevin Derrick, the weekend car spectacular starting on the morning of September 7th and running through to late afternoon on the 8th, will deliver an assembly of the most impressive cars seen in one place in South Africa.
“Every year the quality of the collector autos under the hammer at our Montecasino showcase gets better and better, and every successive year we set new South African auction price records for classic cars.
“This year will be no different. The catalogue of reserved and unreserved lots is magnificent and I have no doubt that new record sale prices will be reached on many lots.”
Derrick says this year it’s also far more difficult to highlight stand-out classics on the block, because there are dozens from which to choose.
“I have some personal favourites in the catalogue, though, that I believe bidders are going to battle for at the auction. They’re such special cars that our entire global audience – which has now grown to more than 50 countries as a result of Creative Rides’ online auctions – will want for their collections.”
Among Derrick’s choice lots are:
- A 1958 Mercedes Benz 220S Ponton, and rarer than this, buyers will battle to find across any model. Produced in limited numbers, the 220S coupe and cabriolet were produced from 1956 until 1959 and just 3 429 were ever made, of which only 23 were right-hand drive. The model on auction is not only one of those 23, but is also a stunning cabriolet in immaculate silver, boasting a red roof and red leather interior. The two-door coupes were designed by Sindelfingen, Mercedes-Benz's coachbuilding arm, and cost approximately 75% more than their four-door counterparts because of their exclusive hand-crafting. The 220S was fitted with the well-proven M180 six-cylinder engine, displacing 2195cc and developing 106 bhp at 5200 rpm thanks to twin Solex 32 PAJTA carburettors.
- A 2006 Lamborghini Murciélago, which in good condition is valued in the region of R3.9 million, according to Hagerty.com. The Murciélago hit the road in 2001 as the next chapter of sleek, scissor-doored supercars from Lamborghini. As the successor to the Diablo, the Murciélago was an improvement in every way. Styled by VAG’s Belgian designer, Luc Donckerwolke, the Murciélago furthered Sant’Agata’s tradition of handsome wedges first presented in the Countach nearly 30 years earlier, and in keeping with Lambo’s flagship models, power came from a stonking V-12. In 2006, the year this car was produced, Lamborghini upgraded the Murciélago to the LP-640 variant boasting 632 hp from 6.5 litres, with the E-gear paddle-shift automated manual. Between 2001 and 2006, total worldwide production of the original 6.2-litre Murciélagos was on 1 921 units.
- A 1938 Mercedes Benz 170V Cabriolet, believed to be the only one of its kind in South Africa. In its heyday this two-door, four-seater cruiser was estimated to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 53 seconds. This gorgeous four-speed manual transmission, inline four-cylinder, has a stylish silver and black exterior that compliments the deep red interior seats and trim.
- A 2012 Mercedes Benz Unimog, which is the ultimate off-road vehicle and will take you – in style – all the way through Africa and beyond. It comes fitted with every gadget and accessory possible, such as roof-mounted solar panels, CCTV, satellite TV, flat screen TV, 2 winches, extra-long range fuel tanks, numerous storage boxes, roof-mounted storage racks with boxes, double-cab interior, sound system, cab-to-rear direct access, double bed, kitchen with fridge/freezer, induction stove, shower, toilet, cupboards, off-grid battery and inverter systems and air-conditioning for the cab. Unimog production started in 1948, with production moving to the Mercedes-Benz truck plant in Wörth am Rhein in Germany in 2002. Overlanding in a Unimog epitomises the glamping concept; allowing flexibility to follow the road less travelled and find adventure in remote corners of the world – all with ice in the freezer.
- A 1973 Lamborghini Espada, which believe it or not, is a Lamborghinis that comes with more than two seats. One of the Lambo ground-breakers in this field was the Espada, a four-seater grand touring coupe built between 1968 and 1978. The Lamborghini Espada was unveiled at the 1968 Geneva Auto Show, after company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini demanded that Marcello Gandini of Bertone design a four-seater to expand his lineup. During its 10-year production, the Espada received engine and interior modifications with each new series, but the design of the bodywork was almost untouched. Thanks to its large passenger compartment, the spacious boot and the powerful V12 engine, the Espada was the embodiment of the Italian Gran Turismo. And according to lamborghini.com, with a total number of 1 227 units made over a decade, the Espada became Lamborghini’s bestseller from when it launched in 1968. It’s rare, and very desirable.
- A 1973 Maserati Merak, of which according to the 'Catalogue Raisonné 1926-1990' by Gianni Cancellieri, only 430 were made that year. The Maserati Merak was introduced at the 1972 Paris Auto Show, over a year after the Bora. The model was named after Merak, a star in the constellation of Ursa Major. The Merak shares the front part of its bodyshell with the Bora up to the doors, but the front ends differ, mainly by the use of dual chrome bumpers on the Merak in place of twin trapezoidal grilles on the Bora, but the similarities end at the B-pillar. Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign was commissioned to transform the Bora into the Merak. Unlike its bigger sister, the Merak doesn't have a full glass fastback, but rather a cabin ending abruptly with a vertical rear window and a flat, horizontal engine cover pierced by four series of ventilation slats. Giugiaro completed the vehicle's silhouette by adding open flying buttresses, visually extending the roofline to the tail. The Merak sports a V6 engine with a chain-driven double overhead camshaft.
