A Comedy of Errors
A two-destination, five leg, international trip? What could go wrong? So much that the experience became, in the end, a Comedy of Errors (credit to William Shakespeare). The itinerary was ambitious, particularly in the time of Covid 19: Boston-Ft. Lauderdale, then on to Monaco via Newark and Nice, return via Newark to Boston. Boston-FLL on […]
RM Sotheby’s, Grimaldi Forum, Monte Carlo, Monaco — May 14, 2022
RM Sotheby’s returned to the seafront Grimaldi Forum during the GP Historique week in Monaco. Located only a block from the GP circuit’s Portier corner, the music of historic GP cars is a delightful counterpoint to viewing and selling the cars in the auction. Grimaldi Forum is a modern exhibition hall, ideally suited for […]
Bonhams, Monaco, May 13, 2022
Bonhams returned to Monaco in 2022 during the resumption of the Monaco GP Historique, putting Covid behind them with a new location in the Fairmont Hotel. It was an auspicious start to re-establish the Monaco presence, time to begin a new tradition. The Fairmont is certainly that: First class, luxurious, even posh and part of […]
Monaco GP Historique, May 10-12, 2018
On alternate years the Auto Club de Monaco strangles the city of Monte Carlo in advance of the FIA Formula 1 Grand Prix for a few days of delicious exercise of historic cars on the Monaco GP course. It is one of the most evocative events on the historic racing calendar: running flat out in […]
Coys, Espace Fontvieille, Monaco, May 11, 2018
This is a rather useless auction report, and a wasted half-day on a tightly-scheduled trip to Monaco during the GP Historique. The pointlessness is on account of Coys of Kensington’s nearly opaque operation. Many of the cataloged lots have no chassis numbers, and there was no on-site list to make up for that lack of […]
Bonhams, Villa La Vigie, Monaco, May 11, 2018
For years Bonhams held its Monaco auction at the Exposition de la Collection de Voitures Anciennes de S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco, a charming and convenient but cramped location in the shadow of the royal palace. That changed in 2018 with the new location at Villa La Vigie. Perched high up on a headland adjacent […]
RM Sotheby’s, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco, Monte Carlo, May 12, 2018
RM Sotheby’s biennial visit to Monaco during the GP Historique turned in creditable numbers despite missing on the headline $7 million Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France. RM’s Monaco history has been erratic, sometimes featuring a large consignment of moderately priced cars such as 2016’s Quattroroute Collection and sometimes including a big buck consignment such […]