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McLaren F1 GTR Longtail to be offered at Bonhams' Quail Lodge auction

The last McLaren F1 GTR Longtail ever produced will sell at the California golf club

Paul Fraser Collectibles, Sunday 22 July 2012

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The last McLaren F1 GTR Longtail ever produced will appear at Bonhams' forthcoming sale at the Quail Lodge Golf Club in California.

The McLaren endurance racer is fast becoming the collector's car of the 1990s

The August 16-17 auction will see an array of the finest collector's cars offered, as well as a great selection of motoring memorabilia and petroliana.

Included among the memorabilia is a fine wood and gold bangle which was presented to the five time grand prix world champion driver Juan Manuel Fangio by Howard Augustine "Humpy" Wheeler, one of the foremost NASCAR racing promoters. It will auction with an estimate of $15,000-17,500.

However, the ex-GTC Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren will undoubtedly provide the biggest draw, its importance to racing history signified by the fact that Bonhams has not disclosed an estimate. Like the Ferrari 250 GTO and the Porsche 917 before it, the McLaren F1 GTR has become the ultimate endurance-racing collector's car of 1990s and is sure to see huge bids from discerning collectors.

Also featuring will be the ex-North American Racing Team 1972/75 Ferrari 365 GTB Daytona Spyder, which has been rebodied from its standard production form by the renowned Italian coachwork company Michelotti. One of three examples built for Luigi Chinetti Sr's team, it is expected to sell for $1.9m-2.4m.

One of the auction's most exciting lots will be provided by an 1895 Buffum Stanhope, which is the world's oldest four-cylinder car and also the oldest American car ever offered at auction. Not only this, the magnificent vehicle also stands as the oldest American gasoline car in private ownership, providing an incredible opportunity for collectors of early motor vehicles.

The Buffum is estimated at $250,000-350,000, with a strong result expected due to the recent success of vintage cars at auction. On July 2, a 1910 Panhard-Levassor sold 10% above estimate, while the 1929 Birkin Bentley beat the previous world record for the marque by 78.6% on June 29.

The first half of 2012 has also seen excellent results for classic cars overall, with the well-respected HAGI index reporting a 10.33% increase in value.