Even a bon vivant and motor racing legend on the scale of Sir Stirling Moss needs a little retail therapy from time to time. A few years back, when the already 80-something stepped into an empty elevator shaft and fell three stories, he dreamed of only one therapy – a 1961 Porsche RS61, chassis 718-070 – to get him back on his feet. He’d driven one at the Nurburgring through rain, sleet, and snow paired with fellow Briton Graham hill and remembers the experience with great fondness. Never one let something like a fall down and elevator shaft to get in the way, Sir Moss used a proxy to bid on the Porsche as it crossed Gooding’s stage during the auction at the Amelia Island Concours D’Elegance. After some very heated bidding, Stirling purchased the car with a high bid of $1.705MM.
Now, it seems, he’s moved on to other favorable pursuits and will be selling the Porsche, one of his favorite toys. He says it’s one of the best driving Porsches ever, even better than contemporary 911s, with all their creature comforts and driver aids. Light, nimble, and quick, the car comes with a considerable provenance. Its original owner was American Bob Holbert (father of Al Holbert). It was then owned by club-enthusiasts Tom Payne and Millard Ripley, in succession. The car has 13 race wins and 20 podiums to its illustrious credit.
All said, if you are interested you may have to make a few choices. London-based auction house Bonhams will be auctioning the car this summer at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Beginning bids are expected to be somewhere in the neighborhood of US$ 2.5 million. How high do you think it will go?