A rare collection of 23 classic cars is up for auction this weekend in Johannesburg, with the star item being a 1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV, projected to sell for between R10 million and R12 million.
The Aspire Collectable Cars auction, taking place both live and online, will be hosted at Rosso Sport Auto in Bryanston on Saturday at 11 AM.
This right-hand drive Diablo SV is one of only 346 ever manufactured globally, with an estimated four examples present in South Africa.
Originally launched in 1990 to succeed the renowned Countach, the Diablo was among the world’s fastest production cars at the time, achieving a top speed of 320 km/h.
The auction catalogue also includes rare classics from other prestigious marques such as Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and MG.
Noteworthy among them is a 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB Vetroresina, one of only five known in South Africa.
The 308 GTB, crafted by Pininfarina, is one of Ferrari’s most iconic models and marks the Italian brand’s first use of fiberglass instead of steel or aluminum for a road car.
This model is expected to fetch between R3 million and R4 million.
Also featured is an extremely rare 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 Evo 1 sedan. The 16-valve 190E, tuned by Mercedes-Benz and Cosworth, gained fame for its performance in the Group A-based German Touring Car Championship (DTM).
Believed to be the only one of its kind in South Africa, this vehicle’s dashboard is signed by multiple DTM champion Bernd Schneider and is estimated to sell for between R3.5 million and R4 million.
Leading the British offerings is a meticulously maintained 1963 Jaguar E-Type roadster, with an estimated value of R3.1 million to R3.5 million.
At a lower price point, there is a 1967 MGB GT coupé, expected to sell for between R180,000 and R240,000.
This auction marks the first vehicle sale hosted by Aspire Art, an art auction house that has recently diversified into collectible cars.
Marelize van Zyl, CEO of Aspire Art, commented that rare cars captivate collectors much like fine art does.
“Rare classic cars have become sought-after assets among discerning investors, frequently outperforming other luxury assets such as wine and watches in value appreciation,” she stated.
Aspire Art board member Jake Gore noted, “There has been growing demand in South Africa for high-quality, rare, authentic and historically significant cars.
“As a dollar-denominated asset, they are easily exportable and have become increasingly attractive assets for local and international buyers.”
Gore added that the auction’s curated collection comprises high-quality vehicles, each with carefully researched provenance and history.
