Artcurial Motorcars presents The W Collection: From Stockholm to Monaco, one of the most important private cars collections in Europe, which will be auctioned on the 9th of May 2024 in Monaco, ahead of the Grand Prix Historique.
Estimated at around €30 million, this exceptional collection of 44 rare classic cars recounts the passion of a Swedish aesthete driven by a profound love of cars and aesthetics. The collector has decided to sell his entire collection, with no reserve price.
The story of this collection begins over half a century ago, with a young man of humble origins who lived in the colourful landscapes of his native Stockholm. At the time, Sweden was one of the world’s leading importers of prestige sports cars, and his passion for automobiles was born as he encountered some of the world’s most exclusive cars.
He was not only behind the development of a famous international clothing brand in Europe, but also a passionate car enthusiast. He laid the first stones of what will become The W Collection: From Stockholm to Monaco with an initial Swedish acquisition, symbolising his taste for rarity and excellence: an elegant Volvo P1800 S, which will be exhibited during the sale in tribute to his early days.
Over the years, this self-taught collector has primarily been attracted to clean designs and exceptional craftsmanship – common characteristics of the rare cars he had always admired and started to collect. Perfect examples of his pristine taste, four Mercedes Benz vehicles are included in this collection, including the iconic 1955 300SL (€1,400,000 – €1,800,000) with its gull-wing doors and Rudge hubs, or two 300L Roadsters restored in Germany, one from 1957 (€1,000,000 – €1,300,000), the other from 1963 (€2,400,000 – €2,900,000), fitted with disc brakes and an aluminium engine block.
Throughout his journey, this enthusiast gathered no less than 33 Porsches (356 models and a majority of 911s) and about ten Ferraris, all meticulously restored by top Italian craftsmen and each holding their Ferrari Classiche certification.
These include iconic pieces such as a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso two-seater touring coup. (€1,400,000 – €1,800,000), a 1966 275 GTB (€1,900,000 – €2,500,000) and its elegant 1965 275 GTS spider version (€1,500,000 – €1,800,000) with a rare hard-top, as well as an extremely coveted 1967 330 GTS (€1,800,000 – €2,200,000).
The W Collection: From Stockholm to Monaco stands out not only for the precision in selecting these timeless pieces but also for their exceptional condition, whether they are restored or in their original state. These rare cars, some of which have received awards at elegance competitions, encapsulate a lifetime of passion and receive immense care and attention.
The collector has exclusively worked with the best workshops for the restoration of his precious pieces – Italian craftsmen for Ferrari and German for Porsche and Mercedes. The two Stars, a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT California LWB (€7,000,000 – €10,000,000) and a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB (€8,500,000 -€12,000,000).
Public Exhibition in Monaco 8th – 9th May 2024. Auction on May 9th 2024, 4 p.m at Fairmont Monte Carlo Hotel.
