This weekend’s motoring extravaganza at Monterey in California is one of the annual highlights for any motoring enthusiast. Even for us in South Africa, it is fascinating to watch the auctions, the results and the concourse.
One of the main focus points this year is a special collection within RM Sotheby’s auction. Called The Pinnacle Portfolio, this collection is almost entirely made up of supercars – you can view the collection, and the estimate prices, here.
Read below the top 5 picks from members of the CAR team. Which five would you pick?
Steve Smith – Editor
1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione
For me, the 250 series coupes are the most beautiful Ferraris ever made. This would be my pick of them all though. The California is too flashy and I prefer the SWB’s stout and purposeful looks to the longer GTO.
1984 Ferrari 288 GTO
As schoolboys, my mate Rory and I would debate which supercar deserved The Best Car In The World crown. He had a poster of a white Lamborghini LP500 S on his wall… the 288 GTO adorned mine.
1967 Toyota 2000GT
Not only rare (the only 351 were made) but a very significant Japanese car, this beautiful GT showed the rest of the world they were capable of far more than just small, practical passenger vehicles.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Alloy
Another rare beast – they only made 29 alloy-bodies Gullwings – and it’s the car I would most want to own in the world. I’m a sucker for old Mercs having once owned and stupidly sold a ’66 230s ‘Fintail”.
1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV
With its simple lines and balanced proportions, the Miura remains the most beautiful supercar ever made. Its low-slung stance and mid-engined layout were real game changers too… it became the blue print for all to follow.
Sudhir Matai – Associate editor
My first four car choices were made within three seconds: Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Alloy, Ferrari 288 GTO, McLaren F1 LM and Ferrari F40. They were chosen for unparalleled beauty, rarity, race heritage and raw power, respectively.
The fifth option took me a while longer. A classic Ferrari is always attractive but there are already two Horses in the stable. I do like the Beetles from Stuttgart, but in this company they seem to pale in comparison. I think the Bugatti Veyron SS is the one to go for as it is the high-water mark in terms of automobiles. With outlandish power and top speed it should have a place in any exotic car collection.
Peter Palm – Road test engineer
1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione – Red Classic Ferraris are fine, but I like to be different and yellow stands out. Being a racing model adds to the exclusivity.
2005 Maserati MC12 – Again, there are far too few exciting Maseratis. This one will totally turn heads. Up the Trident!
1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti – This model just looks so sleek, low and racy – gorgeous!
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider by Scaglietti – There is something about a convertible prancing horse. Not crazy about the colour, but very elegant.
1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone – The car that shut Enzo up for a short while. A great effort and so much more fun than a tractor. Thanks, Ferruccio.
Nicol Louw – Technical editor
Ferrari 288 GTO
I watched Magnum P.I. as a child and always wanted his 308 until I got older and learned about the real gem of that era – the stunning 288 GTO. Basically a 308 on steroids and turbos…
Ferrari F40 LM
If I only had a one-car dream garage then this car would probably be in it. Beautiful, old-school and still fast!
Ferrari F50
A road car with true Formula One technology including that glorious 4,7-litre V12 engine. Slightly slower than a F40 but we will not tell anyone…
Maserati MC12
It would have been a perfect opportunity to bolster the exotic Ferrari collection above with the Enzo but why not something different – an Enzo in Maserati clothing!
McLaren F1 LM
I wanted to slot in a classic but how can you not pick this car? A ground-breaking supercar for the time with a top speed of over 370 km/h! Best is you can take two “passengers” – do not think my wife will approve…
Kyle Kock – Journalist
1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV
Imagine the bark of that carb-fed V12 reverberating off the cliff face in Misty Cliffs, or on Clarens Drive… Set the tone for supercars that came after it.
1985 Ferrari 288 GTO
The 288 GTO is the ultimate thoroughbred in my book – being the forefather of the F40. Could still slaughter many of today’s “sportscars”
1996 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3,8
For what you’ll be paying, I doubt anything will come close in terms of driver enjoyment, pedigree, perceived value. A daily driver or weekend toy – or both.
1998 McLaren F1 LM
Two geniuses (Dennis and Murray) came together to create this last true example of mastering the normally aspirated engine in a supercar. THE legendary supercar…
2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport 300
My desires end here. I used to think that the “regular” Veryron’s 400 km/h top speed was something, but just sit back and think about what a sensory overload 430 km/h in the SS must be…
Wilhelm Lutjeharms – Journalist
It is too easy to pick the halo four, supercar Ferraris – for obvious reasons. However, the first one I’ll grab is without a doubt the McLaren F1 ‘LM Specification’. Next up will be the Lamborghini Miura P400 SV, both for its rarity and the fact that it was the first true supercar. The next two is the ultimate supercars of the late 1980’s, the Porsche 959 and the Ferrari F40 – even though the latter is the rarer race spec LM specification. Finally, it has to be the Jaguar XJ220, at the time the fastest production car and special in the sense that Jaguar never (unfortunately) entered this segment again.
Remember, you can watch this auction live by following this link.