John Surtees' BMW Breezes into Bonhams

by Bonhams
October 13, 2020

RARE 503 CABRIOLET OFFERED AT GOODWOOD SPEEDWEEK SALE

A very rare and desirable 1957 BMW 503 3.2 Litre Cabriolet, offered directly from the family of the late John Surtees CBE, will go under the hammer at the Bonhams Goodwood SpeedWeek Sale on Saturday 17 October, with an estimate of £220,000 – 260,000. It is the first time this motor car is offered at auction.

John Surtees, the only world champion of both Formula One and Motorcycle Grand Prix racing and nicknamed 'figlio del vento' or 'son of the wind', acquired the 503 circa 1990 and was its second owner.

The elegant 2+2 Grand Routière was produced in 1957, the year Surtees was the reigning 500cc Motorcycle World Champion, having won his first world title in 1956 for MV Agusta.

The 503 was designed by Count Albrecht von Goertz, formerly of the Studebaker studio, to appeal primarily to the lucrative US market. This example, one of only three right-hand drive cabriolets produced, was built especially for and delivered to Mrs Aldington of the family that owned AFN Ltd of Isleworth, the BMW importer of the period.

Powered by an all-alloy 3.2 litre V8 engine (140 bhp with a top speed of 118mph), housed in an all-aluminium body, the exclusive cabriolet was fitted with the first power hood to appear on a German motor car and electric windows.

John Surtees bought the BMW from AFN Ltd when the company was sold to Porsche. As Surtees said: 'A friend of mine, who was well aware of my keen interest in BMWs, phoned me to say they had something that was ideal for me.

'I purchased the car and fortunately it was in very sound condition having just been stored at the back of the workshop.'

In his ownership, 'the 503 was restored to a condition that satisfied me. It looks superb, runs likewise and everything that was original works, including the foldaway roof operated by an hydraulic pump.'

John Surtees used this BMW as his personal car until his death in 2017.

The 503 is accompanied by a comprehensive history file, with details of works carried out during John Surtees' ownership and a V5C Registration Certificate in the name of the eight-time World Champion, whose titles included the 1964 Formula One World Championship driving for Ferrari.

Photo credit: Bonhams
posted on conceptcarz.com

1939 Lagonda V12

Chassis Number: 14069

Sale Date	Result	Pre-Auction Estimates		Auction House
March 2007	$451,000	$300,000 - $350,000		RM Sothebys
October 2020	£230,000 ($297,419)	£200,000 - £300,000		Bonhams

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	Vehicle	Sold	Estimated Sale Value	Average
	1960 MGA FIA COMPETITION ROADSTER Chassis#: GHN/91842	$32,716 £25,300 no reserve	£14,000-£20,000	$29,944*
	1958 ALBATROSS CONTINENTAL MKI SPEEDBOAT Chassis#: 1087	$14,871 £11,500	£13,000-£15,000	N/A
	1983 FORD FIESTA 1300 GROUP 1 SALOON Chassis#: VS63XXWPFBCU79326		£35,000-£45,000	N/A
	1957 AUSTIN HEALEY 100/6 CONVERTIBLE WITH HARDTOP Chassis#: BN4-0-31508	$40,895 £31,625	£30,000-£40,000	$38,872*
	1933 RILEY 9HP 'BROOKLANDS SPECIAL' Chassis#: 6023934		£45,000-£55,000	$35,949*
	1935 ROLLS-ROYCE 20/25 OPEN TOURER Chassis#: GBJ38	$40,152 £31,050	£27,000-£34,000	$57,814*
	1965 PORSCHE 356C COUPÉ 'OUTLAW' Chassis#: 131232	$63,945 £49,450	£40,000-£50,000	$97,100*
	1962 LAND ROVER SERIES IIA 109' SAS MILITARY 4X4 Chassis#: 25113989D	$35,690 £27,600	£38,000-£45,000	N/A
	1939 Lagonda V12 Drophead Coupe Chassis#: 14069	$297,419 £230,000	£200,000-£300,000	$427,373*
Sales History	Vintage Motor Cars at Amelia Island 2007	£451,000	£300,000-£350,000
	1959 Aston Martin DB4 Series I Sports Saloon Chassis#: DB4/148/R	$356,903 £276,000 no reserve	£250,000-£350,000	$341,574*
	1952 Lagonda 2.6-Litre Drophead Coupé Chassis#: LAG/50/450	$52,048 £40,250 no reserve	£50,000-£60,000	$60,213*
	1952 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe Coupé Chassis#: 0R0772604F54Y	Sold for Confidential Amount no reserve	£50,000-£70,000	$17,545*
	1973 Aston Martin V8 Sports Saloon Chassis#: V8/10535/RCA	$81,790 £63,250	£70,000-£80,000	N/A
	1990 Fichtel & Sachs-BMW Group C3 Sports Prototype Chassis#: C3 ES 902		£70,000-£80,000	N/A
	1929 Austin Seven Ulster Replica Chassis#: 134035	$26,768 £20,700	£18,000-£25,000	N/A
	1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Roadster Chassis#: 9500100	$104,097 £80,500	£70,000-£80,000	$109,818*
	1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Sports Saloon Chassis#: LML/539		£180,000-£220,000	$612,667*
	1968 Porsche 911S 2.0-Litre Targa Coupé Chassis#: 119310317		£90,000-£140,000	$106,140*
	1971 Fiat Dino 2400 Coupé Chassis#: 135BC0004792		£55,000-£65,000	$92,950*
	1957 BMW 503 Chassis#: 69141	$297,419 £230,000	£220,000-£260,000	$221,241*
	2008 Bentley Azure Convertible Chassis#: SCBDC48H29CH13767	$111,532 £86,250	£90,000-£110,000	$103,455*
	1997 Aston Martin V8 Volante LWB Convertible Chassis#: SCFDAM2C5WBR89005	$93,212 £72,083	£85,000-£95,000	N/A
	1938 Lagonda V12 'Le Mans'-style Sports Tourer Chassis#: 16015	$267,677 £207,000		$204,183*
	1956 Bentley S1 Continental Coupé	$257,547 £199,166	£195,000-£295,000	$222,369*
	1957 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT 6th-Series Coupé Chassis#: B20 3857		£170,000-£180,000	$225,543*
	1997 Bentley Continental T Coupé Chassis#: ZCBZU23C7VCH53467	$81,790 £63,250	£60,000-£80,000	$87,673*
	1960 Jaguar XK150S 3.8-Litre Coupé Chassis#: T825215DN		£110,000-£130,000	$126,268*
	1924 Vauxhall 30-98 OE-Type Velox Tourer Chassis#: OE 188		£200,000-£250,000	$687,066*
	2016 Miller Racing Special Re-creation 'The Craftsman' Chassis#: H8900		£120,000-£160,000	N/A
	1964 Lotus Elan 26R Hardtop Coupé to FIA Specification Chassis#: 26/3926	$52,048 £40,250	£40,000-£60,000	$55,472*
	2001 Renault Clio Sport V6 Hatchback Chassis#: VF1C61A0623966		£38,000-£42,000	N/A
	1984 Jaguar XJ13 Re-creation by TWR Replicas Chassis#: SAJJNACC7CC116203			N/A
	1988 Ford Sapphire RS Cosworth Chassis#: WFOFXXGBBFHM36563		£40,000-£45,000	N/A
	1973 Jaguar E-Type Series III V12 Roadster Chassis#: 1S2566		£90,000-£100,000	$60,302*
	2018 Ferrari 488 Spider 70th Anniversary Chassis#: ZFF80AMC000234246		£190,000-£230,000	$343,750*
	1938 Bentley 4¼-Litre Coupé Chassis#: B8MR		£140,000-£160,000	$178,611*
	1954 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Series 2 Coupé Chassis#: AR1900C 01713		£175,000-£225,000	$247,965*
	1954 Jaguar XK120 SE Drophead Coupé Chassis#: S678338		£75,000-£95,000	$96,853*
	1965 Porsche 911 'SWB' Coupé Chassis#: 302204		£115,000-£170,000	$181,716*
	1936 Alvis 4.3-Litre SA Drophead Coupé Chassis#: 13178	$111,532 £86,250	£90,000-£120,000	N/A
	1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports Tourer Chassis#: B52GA		£320,000-£350,000	$158,848*
	1936 Lagonda LG45 Sports Tourer Chassis#: 12087	$223,064 £172,500	£170,000-£190,000	$441,445*
	2015 Aston Martin AM Works 60th Anniversary LE Vanquish Volante Chassis#: SCFFPLCGU7FGK02481		£160,000-£220,000	$203,500*
	1970 McLaren M8C Can-Am Sports Prototype		£260,000-£300,000	N/A
	1972 Aston Martin V8 Series 2 5.7-Litre Sports Saloon Chassis#: V8/10620/RCA		£135,000-£155,000	$73,796*
	1968 Porsche 911 2.0-Litre Targa Coupé Chassis#: 11860047	$56,510 £43,700	£100,000-£170,000	$106,140*
	1952 Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica MkII Sports Chassis#: 421/200/FN176A		£300,000-£400,000	$803,000*
	1965 Attila-Chevrolet Mark 3 5.0-Litre Sports-racer Chassis#: 302C		£90,000-£110,000	N/A
	1995 Ferrari 456 GT Coupé Chassis#: ZFFSP44C000100729	$48,331 £37,375	£40,000-£45,000	$70,582*
	1926 Hispano-Suiza H6B Coupé Chassis#: 11608		£350,000-£400,000	$497,559*
	1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre Vanden Plas-style Tourer Chassis#: B-137-MX	$215,629 £166,750	£220,000-£240,000	$295,814*
	1967 Porsche 912 'SWB' Coupé Chassis#: 12802007	$34,203 £26,450	£37,000-£55,000	$48,969*
	1990 Aston Martin Virage 6.3-Litre 'Wide Body' Coupé Chassis#: SCFCAM15LBR50009	$62,458 £48,300	£40,000-£60,000	$42,616*
	1932 Richard Bolster Special Monoposto Chassis#: RB1		£140,000-£170,000	N/A
	1939 Citroen 'Light Fifteen' Roadster with Dickey Chassis#: 104003		£70,000-£90,000	N/A
	1939 MG VA Drophead Coupé Chassis#: 2323		£50,000-£60,000	$47,375*
	1969 Cooper-Chevrolet T90 Formula A/5000 Racing Single-Seater Chassis#: F1C/3/69		£85,000-£115,000	N/A
	1982 Ferrari 512 BBi Coupé Chassis#: ZFFJA09C000040331		£200,000-£250,000	$199,963*
	1989 Porsche 911 Turbo LE Coupé Chassis#: WP0ZZZ93ZKS000803	$163,581 £126,500	£135,000-£175,000	$158,843*
	2005 Ferrari F430 F1 Spider Chassis#: ZFFEZ59C00144647		£70,000-£80,000	$122,279*
	2006 Aston Martin DB9 Volante Convertible Chassis#: SCFAC02A6GB05600	$36,434 £28,175	£25,000-£35,000	$61,307*
	1955 Jaguar XK140 SE Coupé Chassis#: S804459		£80,000-£100,000	$109,019*
	1992 Ferrari Testarossa Coupé Chassis#: ZFFAA17C000090563	$104,097 £80,500	£90,000-£120,000	N/A
	1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal Coupé Chassis#: 1426502		£65,000-£75,000	$59,634*
	1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Saloon Chassis#: SHS43	$35,690 £27,600	£20,000-£30,000	$104,822*
	1927 Rolls-Royce 20hp Panel Brougham de Ville Chassis#: GAJ15	$62,458 £48,300	£50,000-£60,000	$65,071*
	1963 Jaguar E-Type 'Series 1' 3.8-Litre Coupé Chassis#: 860970		£120,000-£160,000	$102,987*
	1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Tourer Chassis#: 45GN	$148,710 £115,000	£115,000-£150,000	$175,010*
	1973 Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 Berlinetta Chassis#: 17327	$68,536 £53,000	£60,000-£80,000	$60,527*
	1989 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Convertible Chassis#: SAJJNADW3DB157017	$32,354 £25,020	£24,000-£28,000	$12,289*
	2013 RUF CTR3 Clubsport Coupé Chassis#: WO9BM0382DPR06019		£600,000-£900,000	N/A
	1964 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider with Hardtop Chassis#: AR191207		£80,000-£100,000	$100,865*
	1961 Jaguar Mark 2 3.8-Litre Sports Saloon Chassis#: 219866DN	$57,997 £44,850	£40,000-£60,000	$33,999*
	1926 Bentley 6½/8-Litre 'Le Mans' Tourer Chassis#: WB2565		£600,000-£800,000	$465,617*
	1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon Chassis#: BC27C		£800,000-£1,000,000	$183,459*
	1931 Invicta 4½-Litre S-Type Low Chassis Sports 'Simplon' Chassis#: S90		£1,000,000-£1,200,000	$1,029,174*
	1936 Railton Eight Drophead Coupé Chassis#: 642134	$47,587 £36,800	£30,000-£50,000	N/A
	1987 Cadillac Allanté Convertible Chassis#: 1G6 VR3 171 H41 005 30	$16,358 £12,650 no reserve	£10,000-£15,000	$5,673*
	1959 Jaguar XK150 3.4-Litre Roadster Chassis#: S830451		£80,000-£100,000	$104,758*
	1961 Emeryson 1.5-Litre Formula 1 Single-seater Chassis#: 1004	$208,193 £161,000	£150,000-£200,000	$189,457*
	1987 Ferrari 328 GTS Targa Chassis#: ZFFWA2C000069231	$141,274 £109,250	£90,000-£130,000	$75,101*
	1992 Ferrari 512 TR Coupé Chassis#: ZFFLA0B000092766		£80,000-£120,000	$180,393*
	2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Coupé Chassis#: WDD 199 3761 M000524		£220,000-£280,000	$269,783*
	1997 Ferrari 456 GT A Coupé Chassis#: ZFFWP50L0000109951		£80,000-£120,000	$55,971*
	1959 Ford Zephyr MkII 2.4-Litre Competition Saloon Chassis#: 178163		£40,000-£60,000	N/A
	1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS Chassis#: 07362	$387,938 £300,000	£300,000-£350,000	$352,506*
	1991 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta Chassis#: ZFFGJ34B000088446		£900,000-£1,300,000	$1,300,006*
	1969 Aston Martin DB6 Volante Chassis#: DBVC/3734/R		£550,000-£650,000	$294,778*
	1967 Ferrari 330 GTS Chassis#: 10113	$1,641,495 £1,269,400	£1,200,000-£1,500,000	$1,610,557*
	1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Coupé Chassis#: 194375S103663	$61,424 £47,500	£50,000-£70,000	$78,405*
	1962 Lotus Elite Coupé Chassis#: EB 1611		£70,000-£80,000	$76,702*
	1960 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Roadster with Hardtop Chassis#: 121-040-10-019958	$200,758 £155,250	£100,000-£120,000	$113,895*
	1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale Coupé Chassis#: AR 380785	$101,294 £78,333	£75,000-£85,000	$80,984*
	1972 Ferrari Dino 246GT Berlinetta Chassis#: 03478		£250,000-£300,000	$276,671*
	1966 Aston Martin DB6 Sports Saloon Chassis#: DB6/2450/R		£230,000-£260,000	$269,707*
	1954/86 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé Evocation Chassis#: 11202110008954	$267,677 £207,000	£200,000-£250,000	N/A
	1969 Ferrari 365 GTC Chassis#: 12747	$687,038 £531,300	£500,000-£600,000	$587,599*
	1972 Maserati Ghibli SS 4.9-Litre Coupé Chassis#: AM115/49.2472		£200,000-£250,000	$223,012*
	1964 Aston Martin DB5 Sports Saloon Chassis#: DB5/1436/R		£700,000-£800,000	$641,554*

* - average sale at auction based on historical auction sales data.

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