It’s that time of the year when nearly every auto enthusiast has his attention focused on London, England, where one of the biggest auction houses in the U.K, RM Auctions is all set to host the highly prestigious Salon Privé & Concours d’Elegance events. This one of a kind auction event will witness the presence of some of the most remarkable vehicles that made their mark in the automobile history. The auction scheduled to take place onJune 23rd, 2011 is to be carried out during the luxury car show Salon Privé and Concours d’Elegance and the sale process will be only inclusive of the ‘best of the best’ in vintage automobiles.
Established in the year 1991, RM Auctions has dedicated its efforts towards the discovery of exquisite and rare vintage cars and it also carries out various other roles such as restoration, private treaty sales, auctions, estate planning and financial services. With its offices in Canada, the United States, UK, and Germany, RM Auctions has been at the forefront of classic car sales, bringing in some of the most gorgeous vintage cars. As per estimates gathered till the year 2010, RM Auctions had made a combined sale of $160 million throughout its operational history, with the most expensive car auctioned, which is a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa that was sold for a whopping $ 12,402,500 in May 2009.
1. Â 1939 Aston Martin 2 litre \’Brooklands\’ Speed Model:
Introduced in the year 1939, the Aston Martin 2 litre \’Brooklands\’ Speed Model is the very first racing car designed by the legendary British luxury auto manufacturer before the outbreak of the all-consuming Second World War. The Brooklands was revealed at the Brooklands outer circuit and carried a narrowed Speed Model chassis and was designed a two seat racer. The 1939 Aston Martin 2 litre \’Brooklands\’ Speed Model was rebuilt using the car’s original 140 bhp engine and the rebuild also saw the return of hydraulic brakes, close ratio electron racing gearbox and Speed Model rear axle. This timeless piece of auto history is expected to fetch between $523,684 – $621,922.
2. Â 1993 Rolls-Royce Corniche IV Cabriolet:
Powered by a V-8 engine with an output of 6,700 cc, the stunning 1993 Rolls-Royce Corniche IV Cabriolet will be making a royal appearance at auction. This marvelous royal ride was the last model to be rolled out of the Corniche design and only 219 models were ever built of this magnificent car. The Corniche IV Cabriolet features Bosch engine management system, four-speed automatic gearbox, front & rear independent suspension system, as well as four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes. The 1993 Rolls-Royce Corniche IV Cabriolet is expected to go under the hammer between $94,959 – $114,606.
3. Â 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Tourer:
Another marvelous addition to the sizzling Salon Privé & Concours d’Elegance events by RM Auctions is the classic 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Tourer. A magnificent piece of royal auto timeline, this Rolls Royce Phantom is said to be in excellent condition and considering its age, the vehicle is in remarkably good shape. Featuring elegance royale, the Phantom I Tourer was one of the few cars that offered their occupants with opulent luxury in an open roof configuration. The vintage 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Tourer is expected to fetch between $163,742 to $229,261.
4. Â 1955 Bentley’s R-Type Continental Fastback:
With more beauty than one can handle, the 1955 Bentley’s R-Type Continental Fastback, with chassis no. BC7E will definitely be alluring a lot of vintage car enthusiasts. This gorgeous car is powered by 4,566 cc inline six-cylinder engine, giving an output of 158 bhp and comes with a four-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes and anti-roll bar among other features that were considered state of the art in accordance with the year of the car’s production. The R-Type Continental Fastback was considered to be the world’s fastest sports saloon in the 1950s. This beautiful piece of automotive history went under a thorough restoration process in the year 2008 and was then tested to its paces, covering an astounding 1,600 miles in just two weeks. The 1955 Bentley’s R-Type Continental Fastback will be auctioned off for a price tag that hovers between $532,095 and $695,817.
5.  1926 Rolls Royce Experimental Phantom 1 Continental, ‘10 EX’:
Featuring exquisite ‘Torpedo’ coach work from the legendary Barker, the historically invaluable 1926 Rolls Royce Experimental Phantom 1 Continental, ‘10 EX or more commonly known as Continental 10 EX will be making its presence felt at the auction in its striking white & blue color combination. The only prototype model ever to have been preserved by Rolls Royce was later sent to the Lawrence of Arabia on loan basis. The 10 EX was the platform on which Rolls Royce designed its extremely popular 15 EX, 16 EX and 17 EX cars. The 1926 Rolls Royce Experimental Phantom 1 Continental, ‘10 EX is expected to fetch a sum between $654,924 and a whopping $1,309,817.
6. Â 1929 Bentley Speed Six ‘Le Mans’ Style Tourer:
Featuring a “Speed Six†SOHC inline six-cylinder engine, with an impressive output of a 6,597 cc and 180 bhp, the 1929 Bentley Speed Six ‘Le Mans’ Style Tourer carries the breathtaking coach works by the legendary designer, Vanden Plas. Also, this magnificent vintage car has its original four-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel mechanical drum brakes. This iconic piece of automotive history was designed and developed by  Norman Smith in the UK about 45 years ago. After being acquired by U.S owner, the Bentley went through some rather exquisite refurbishing that included the installation of a fire extinguisher as well as a modern oil filter. At the auction, this magnificent Bentley is expected to be sold for an amount between $736,248 to $932,581.
7.  1966 Jaguar E-type Fixed Head Coupé:
Powered by a 4,200cc overhead valve twin cam inline 4.2-liter six-cylinder engine, the extremely elegant 1966 Jaguar E-Type Fixed Head Coupe produced 265 bhp and came with a four-speed manual synchromesh gearbox. This incredible vehicle was one of Jaguar’s most successful sports car replica of the Jaguar D-Type and this fabulous car could reach a top speed of an astounding 150 mph, while able to accomplish a 0-60 mph sprint in just seven seconds. A recent restoration effort carried out by Classic Showcase completely refabricated the  entire vehicle, while retaining its original specifications to the letter. The 1966 Jaguar E-Type Fixed Head Coupe is expected to go under the hammer for $65,435 to $81,794.
8. Â 1959 Jaguar XK150 3.8S Roadster:
Considered as the pinnacle of Jaguar XK-Series in the 1950s, the 1959 Jaguar XK150 3.8S Roadster which is going to make an appearance at the Salon Privé this year still has its original matching numbers and factory colors. The XK150 features a DOHC inline six-cylinder engine with triple SU carburetors and produced an admirable 265 bhp, while giving the drivers the thrill of a classic four-speed manual gearbox with Laycock de Normanville overdrive. This particular XK150 was the 63rd XK150 Roadster that was offered to the customers with optional accessories such as the likes of fog lamps, a dual exhaust system and square-pad disc brakes. The 1959 Jaguar XK150 3.8S Roadster will be up for auction with an estimated price of $294,478 to $392,629.
9. Â 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Vantage Convertible:
Kept under the watchful and extremely caring sights of the legendary actor turned diplomat, Sir Peter Ustinov, the 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Vantage Convertible features a DOHC inline six-cylinder Vantage engine with an output of 240 bhp. This classic beauty has spent the better part of its life in a private Swiss collection and also carries with it a copy of the original Aston Martin build sheet. The DB4 Vantage Convertible is one of the only 70 Vantage convertibles to have been built by Aston Martin. The DB4 Vantage was delivered to Sir Peter Ustinov at the Montreux Palace Hotel in Switzerland in the year 1962. This magnificent vehicle is expected to fetch between $409,319 – $523,900.
10. 1961 Sunbeam Alpine Harrington Coupé:
Making its debut at the 1961 “Works†Le Mans, the 1961 Sunbeam Alpine Harrington Coupé was designed to be a full-fledged racing car with exclusive racing body modifications carried out by Harrison Coachworks of London, England. Powered by a OHV inline four-cylinder engine and carrying a four-speed manual gearbox as well as independent front wheel suspension, this racing legend was later restored to its glory by Rod Jolly. Thereafter, the Sunbeam Alpine went on to race in the  2000 and 2003 Goodwood Revival Meetings and Le Mans Winners Parade. This stunning vehicle is expected to bring in a revenue of $94,943 – $114,586.
