by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
- Unique coachbuilt ‘Boat Tail’ makes its first-ever public appearance at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on 2 & 3 October 2021
- Boat Tail on view to guests and media for two days only on the Mosaic Lawn within the grounds of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este, on the shores of Lake Como, Italy
- Exhibited four years after the first coachbuilt Rolls-Royce of the modern era, Sweptail, was launched at the same event in 2017
“It is a wonderful privilege to reveal this unique Rolls-Royce to the world for the very first time. Although images have been widely shared, the car itself has not been displayed in public before. The Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza is the perfect occasion, bringing together leading international media alongside knowledgeable motoring experts and discerning luxury aficionados, on the glamorous shores of Lake Como. There is also a pleasing symmetry in that we launched the first coachbuilt Rolls-Royce of the modern era, Sweptail, at the 2017 event.
“It is a truly historic moment for the marque. We are leading a modern coachbuilding movement that takes the wider luxury industry into an entirely different space, where hyper-personalisation and contemporary patronage provide essentially limitless possibilities.”
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Rolls-Royce’s coachbuilt masterpiece Boat Tail makes its global public debut at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on 2 October 2021.
The car will be unveiled at 11.30 local time on the Mosaic Lawn by Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. It will then be available for guests and journalists to view for two days only, before returning to the privacy and seclusion that have surrounded it since it was formally revealed in May 2021.
Images of the car have been shared and admired around the world; however, this is the first time Boat Tail itself has been displayed in public. It is a unique opportunity for guests and journalists to examine the car’s remarkable coachbuilt construction and extraordinary Bespoke detailing, which were designed and hand-built at the Home of Rolls-Royce in a highly demanding technical and creative project lasting almost four years.
Boat Tail marks a seminal moment in the annals of Rolls-Royce, demonstrating the marque’s commitment to coachbuilding as a central part of its future direction and portfolio. It continues and accelerates a contemporary coachbuilding movement that began with Sweptail, the first coachbuilt Rolls-Royce of the modern era, which also made its first public appearance at Villa d’Este back in 2017.
Boat Tail represents a pivotal moment for the wider luxury goods sector. As a truly hand-built, one-of-a-kind creation, in which both the bodywork and interior are designed and produced to the client’s specification, Rolls-Royce Coachbuild redraws the boundaries of luxury and opens vast new possibilities for patrons of contemporary design and fine craftsmanship.
First staged in 1929 on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is one of the most important and glamorous occasions on the international lifestyle calendar. Normally held in May, the 2021 event takes place from 1-3 October 2021, with Boat Tail presented to the world, for the first time, on 2 & 3 October only.
by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
- Hagerty reveals the 10 models that have commanded the highest premium thanks to a big-screen appearance in a Bond blockbuster
- Report confirms an association with the spy franchise is enough to make car values soar
- A starring role in a James Bond movie added on average over 1000 per cent to the value of a car, with one particular vehicle being worth nearly 5000 per cent more
- A Mercedes-Benz used in No Time To Die offered for sale with a 38% premium before the film launches
- Aston DB5 described as the most famous car in the world only makes the fourth-place spot
- Two cars make the ‘best supporting actor’ nominations due to the fact they were never available on general sale
- Read the full report here
It was Auric Goldfinger in the 1964 James Bond movie who was said to have the Midas touch, but Hagerty has found that just an association with the spy franchise is enough to make car values soar.
Our valuation analysts compared the values of real Bond cars which were used during the production of the famous films to the prices of standard examples of the same model and found that a starring role in a James Bond movie added on average over 1000 per cent to the value of a car, with one particular vehicle being worth nearly 5000 per cent more than its road-going equivalent.
Because Hagerty monitors and tracks thousands of auction, dealer and private sales every year, we are able to compare the average sale price of a standard car with the sale price of the same model that has been used during movie making. We converted the prices using the exchange rate for that time, then compared it to the Hagerty Price Guide value for that year. Where the sale was before our records began, we arrived at a value through contemporary sales listings and other valuation resources.
In reverse order, Hagerty reveals the 10 models that have commanded the highest premium thanks to a big-screen appearance in a Bond blockbuster.
- 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1, Diamonds Are Forever
Year of sale: 2004 Standard Hagerty Value: £9200 Bond Car Value: £12,650 Bond Premium: 37.5%
The red Ford Mustang Mach 1 driven by Tiffany Case certainly made a visual impact in the 1971 movie Diamonds are Forever, but it didn’t excite the buyers when offered for sale by Barrett-Jackson in 2004, failing to reach its reserve with a top bid of $23,000 (£12,650).
That was 37.5% more than a standard car was worth at the time, but the no-sale puts the car at the bottom of our list.
- 1991 Mercedes-Benz 190E, No Time To Die
Year of sale: 2021 Standard Hagerty Value: £6500 Bond Car Value: £8991 Bond Premium: 38%
This car is a strange one: it is currently for sale on classified advert site Car and Classic but it’s not yet been seen on screen, starring as it does in No Time to Die, the most recent movie in the franchise due for release on 30th September, and it doesn’t even feature in the trailers. Despite that, the value of this car is nearly 40% higher than a standard car – not a bad mark-up for something that, as far as we know, doesn’t have a huge role in the film.
- 1937 Bentley 4 ¼-Litre Gurney Nutting 3-Position DHC, Never Say Never Again
Year of sale: 2010 Standard Hagerty Value: £133,300 Bond Car Value: £221,500 Bond Premium: 66%
James Bond drove this car in a few scenes in the 1983 Warner Brothers blockbuster Never Say Never Again and it sold for £188,500 when it was auctioned by Bonhams in September 2004. Six years later, the car returned to the sale room, and this time Bonhams achieved £221,500 over two thirds more than a standard car of the time. This one was quite the star, however: not only did it have the Bond connection, but it also appeared in Magnum, P.I. and was a true concours example, having starred at Pebble Beach in 2003 following a restoration that reportedly cost in excess of $450,000.
- 1969 Aston Martin DBS-6, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Year of sale: 1978 Standard Hagerty Value: £3050 Bond Car Value: £8991 Bond Premium: 182%
James Bond has only been married once, and this was his wedding car. Used in a number of scenes in the 1969 movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service this green six-cylinder Aston Martin DBS was exported to Australia where it was sold in 1978 to the current owner, Sigi Zidziunas, who told ABC News in Australia, “It was advertised in the paper as an ex-film car, but I didn’t believe it, because — no offence — who believes used car salesmen?” Even then, it was expensive: advertised at $14,950 AUD, Zidziunas knocked him down to $14,200 – the equivalent of £8991. Standard cars in good condition were then worth £3050 according to contemporary guides: that’s a 182% premium.
- 2008 Aston Martin DBS V12, Quantum of Solace
Year of sale: 2012 Standard Hagerty Value: £70,000 Bond Car Value: £241,250 Bond Premium: 245%
Driven by Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace this 2008 Aston Martin DBS was one of seven used for filming. Sold as a ‘collector’s item’, the auction house Christie’s warned potential buyers that they were responsible for ‘all tests and repairs and any other legally required formalities’ to turn it back into a road car. The caution did not deter buyers: it smashed its top pre-sale estimate of £150,000, selling for £241,250, some 245% over what a standard car was worth at the time.
- 1969 Mercury Cougar XR7, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Year of sale: 2020 Standard Hagerty Value: £55,500 Bond Car Value: £365,500 Bond Premium: 559%
The Contessa Teresa Di Vicenzo, also known as Tracy Bond, drove a stunning car throughout the 1969 Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service including the first scene which it shared with the Aston Martin DBS-6 described above. One of a reported four Cougars used for filming, it was sold at the Bonhams Bond Street Sale in London on 16th December 2020 for £365,500, smashing its pre-sale estimate of £100,000 to £150,000. That’s a huge 559% above the standard price for the model.
- 1965 Aston Martin DB5, Thunderball and Goldfinger
Year of sale: 2019 Standard Hagerty Value: £616,550 Bond Car Value: £4,677,850 Bond Premium: 759%
Billed as ‘The most famous car in the world’ when offered for auction in 2019 by RM Sotheby’s and the iconic Bond car, this was the real deal: one of two cars purchased by Eon Productions for the launch of Thunderball and then converted to ‘Q Branch’ specification for the movie Goldfinger. It sold just over its top estimate for $6.38m, or £4.67m, a mark-up of 759% over a standard DB5. In this case, provenance was everything: a similar DB5 that has been used as a stunt car in the filming of Golden Eye was sold by Bonhams the previous year, but it ‘only’ made £1,961,500, just over three times the value of a standard model. But still, it’s only fourth on the list…
- 2014 Land Rover Defender 110 Double Cab SVX, Spectre
Year of sale: 2018 Standard Hagerty Value: £35,200 Bond Car Value: £365,000 Bond Premium: 937%
Back in 2017, a well-known dealer took me to his storage barn, deep in the British countryside. Swearing me to secrecy, he took me inside and lifted a tarpaulin covering a very special Land Rover, one that had been used in the filming of the movie Spectre. Later that year, RM Sotheby’s sold one of these special Bond SVX Defender 110s for £230,000 and the following July, Bonhams sold another for £365,000. The timing was perfect: production of the original Defender had ended in 2016 but in 2018, the factory had announced a short run of 70th Anniversary specials. Demand for the model went sky-high. The price of the Bonhams Spectre Defender was nearly 940% higher than a standard 110 Defender, but then again, just look at it. It’s as cool as the frozen Austrian landscape where it was filmed.
- 1974 AMC Hornet, The Man With The Golden Gun
Year of sale: 2017 Standard Hagerty Value: £5200 Bond Car Value: £89,105 Bond Premium: 1614%
Ask anyone to name a James Bond stunt, and the corkscrew ‘Astro Spiral’ jump made by Roger Moore’s Bond in the 1974 movie, The Man with the Golden Gun has to be right at the top of the list. The American-made car used was an unlikely hero: an AMC Hornet so mundane that even the US Hagerty Price Guide doesn’t deem it worthy of inclusion. But the actual car used in filming was very special: maintained exactly as it was during filming, it sold at RM Sotheby’s Auburn, Indiana sale in 2017 for $110,000 (£89,105) – over 1600% over the value of a standard car. That puts it in second place.
- 1977 Lotus Esprit S1 ‘Wet Nellie’, The Spy Who Love Me
Year of sale: 2013 Standard Hagerty Value: £12,300 Bond Car Value: £616,000 Bond Premium: 4908%
The most valuable Bond car compared with its standard, road-going opposite number is… the 1977 Lotus Esprit S1 known as ‘Wet Nellie’ that starred in the 1977 movie The Spy Who Loved Me. It sold at RM Sotheby’s 2013 London auction for £616,000, a huge 4908% mark-up over the standard Hagerty Price Guide value of the model at the time. Lost after filming, it was rediscovered in a New York storage container in 1989, having been sold for $100 in a blind auction to the next lucky owners.
In fact, the ‘Lotus’ – which was bought at the sale by Elon Musk – was actually a film prop submarine used just in underwater scenes, and it doesn’t even have wheels. So, is it even a car? Should the lowly AMC Hornet take the chequered flag? We’ll leave you to decide.
Best Supporting Actors
Two other Bond cars have been offered at auction, but they failed to make our list because neither was available to the public, so there is no ‘standard’ value. Both cars starred in the 2015 movie Spectre where they famously chased each other through the streets of Rome. Bond’s Aston Martin DB10 was sold by Christie’s in 2016 for £2,434,500 ($3.5M) and in 2019 RM Sotheby’s offered bad-guy Mr Hinx’s Jaguar C-X75 at an auction in Abu Dhabi but it failed to reach its $800,000 low estimate.
Read the full report here
by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
- The Multistrada V2 is the new gateway to the Multistrada universe: a comfortable, fun to ride, versatile and technologically advanced twin-cylinder bike
- 5 kg lighter than the previous version and with improved ergonomics, the Multistrada V2 is the perfect bike to experience the beauty of travelling every day
- The bike will be available at Ducati dealerships from November 2021, also in a 35-kW version for A2 licence holders
The first episode of the Ducati World Première 2022 web series (link to the video here) is dedicated by the Borgo Panigale manufacturer to the world of travel, with the presentation of the new Multistrada V2.
The ideal bike to enjoy every route, versatile in everyday use and in the city, always with the sportiness and unmistakable style that characterize every Ducati.
With the Multistrada V2 project, the Borgo Panigale company has worked to further evolve the twin-cylinder of the family of Ducati dual bikes, creating a 360° bike, increasingly intuitive, comfortable, fun and accessible.
The new Multistrada V2 is a technologically advanced motorcycle, with an extremely complete electronic package and represents the perfect gateway to the Ducati tourer universe, thanks also to the introduction of the 35-kW version for A2 licence holders.
During the development phases of this bike the main points of focus were ergonomics, weight reduction, engine updates and a series of upgrades that follow the philosophy of “continuous improvement”.
The design of the Multistrada V2 is elegant and sporty at the same time, perfectly in line with the stylistic and recognizable canons of the Borgo Panigale family of dual bikes. A style characterized by fluid lines, clean surfaces and the characteristic and distinctive balance between the important front volume and the slenderness and lightness of the rear. The Multistrada V2 also features new refined graphics, which shows the name of the bike on both sides.
The new Multistrada V2 is equipped with the latest evolution of the 937 cc Testastretta 11° unit. The desmodromic distribution engine, four valves per cylinder, water-cooled, delivers 113 horsepower and approximately 10 kgm of maximum torque*. This twin-cylinder is very linear, manageable and smooth at low revs, and is equipped with a torque that is always ready and vigorous, which if necessary can release all Ducati’s typical sporty and adrenaline-pumping character. Consistent and robust, the engine has extended maintenance intervals, with oil change every 15,000 km and valve clearance check every 30,000 km.
The evolution of the Testastretta 11° mounted on the new Multistrada V2 features important improvements: new connecting rods, new 8-disc hydraulic clutch and an updated gearbox, which guarantees greater fluidity and precision in shifting, also facilitating the engagement of neutral. An even more appreciable progress in use in conjunction with the quick shifter, now with a further optimized operating strategy.
The bike’s chassis is agile and intuitive, with a 19″ front wheel that ensures a smooth, comfortable ride, always with the right level of reactivity and precision. Extremely versatile, the bike is also ideal for urban use, thanks to the effectiveness of the Ducati Skyhook Suspension EVO semi-active suspension system (standard on the S version), which can absorb roughness and unevenness of the ground and always guarantee the ideal set-up of the vehicle, improving safety and comfort.
Important development work has been made on the ergonomics of the bike, to make it more comfortable and more intuitive, able to put any rider at ease in any situation. The height has been reduced to 830 mm, with a redesigned shape of the saddle which is now narrower and more compact between the rider’s legs to allow you to easily touch the ground with your feet thanks to an inseam arch of only 1790mm.
These changes provide safety when the bike is stationary and improve confidence when manoeuvring at low speed even with a passenger and full cases. Furthermore, in the Ducati Performance catalogue a low seat and a lowered suspension kit are available which, combined, allow you to reach a height of 790mm.
The work on the seat also focused on riding comfort: the new shape of the saddle provides a flat area that guarantees the rider freedom of movement in the longitudinal direction, improving the level of comfort and allowing anyone to find the optimal position.
The riding position is now more comfortable with the new footpegs inherited from the Multistrada V4 which, thanks to a 10 mm increase in distance from the seat, ensure the right amount of room also for taller riders, preventing them from bending their legs excessively, and thus allowing a more restful position during long journeys.
Another key area of improvement is the reduction in the bike’s weight, which, through work on many elements, has resulted in a reduction of 5 kg in weight compared to the Multistrada 950.
The engine update has produced a saving of about 2 kg, including the clutch (1.5 kg) and its cover, gearbox drum and connecting rods. Various parts of the vehicle have been lightened, including the mirrors, derived from Multistrada V4, the front brake disc flanges and the rims: the new Multistrada V2 mounts rims derived from the Multistrada V4, which are about 1.7 kg lighter, thus generating an important improvement in the dynamic behaviour of the vehicle. Spoked wheels are also available in the Ducati Performance catalogue, which have been significantly lightened.
The Multistrada V2 is equipped as standard with a state-of-the-art electronic package that offers everything you need to travel in comfort and safety. The package includes ABS Cornering, which guarantees a high degree of safety when braking even when cornering, Vehicle Hold Control, which makes starting on sloping roads easy, Ducati Traction Control, the four Riding Modes (Sport, Touring, Urban, Enduro) completely configurable by the user and the new featured Ducati Brake Light system which, in the event of sudden braking, automatically activates the flashing of the rear light in order to signal the condition of sudden slowing down appropriately.
In the S version the journey becomes 5-star thanks to a benchmark full-optional package for the segment, which sees the addition of the Skyhook electronic suspension, Cruise Control, full-LED headlight equipped with Ducati Cornering Lights function which optimizes the illumination of the roadway based on the lean of the motorcycle, Ducati Quick Shift Up & Down, Hands Free system, a high resolution 5” colour TFT dashboard with intuitive interface and backlit handlebar controls.
The colour range consists of the classic “Ducati Red” colour with black rims, available for both Multistrada V2 and Multistrada V2 S, together with the new “Street Grey” livery with black frame and “GP Red” rims, which can only be ordered for the version S.
For the Multistrada V2 family there are two trim levels that can be ordered directly from the factory. The Essential trim is available for both Multistrada V2 and Multistrada V2 S, while the Travel trim, with side bags, heated grips and central stand, can only be ordered for the S version.
The Multistrada V2 will be available in dealerships in the Ducati network starting from November 2021.
The Ducati Performance catalogue also includes a series of specifically designed accessories to enhance the character and qualities of the Multistrada V2.
On all models of the Multistrada family, Ducati offers the exclusive “4Ever Multistrada” warranty, valid for 4 years with unlimited mileage that relies on the service offered by the entire network of dealers of the Bologna-based company**.
The dynamic video presenting the Multistrada V2, filmed on the roads of Tuscany in full “Extraordinary Journey” style, is available on the Ducati YouTube channel.
by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
- Rolls-Royce Motor Cars showcases a highly Bespoke hand-painted bonnet at this year’s London Craft Week
- Remarkable piece of craftsmanship on display at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, London, for duration of London Craft Week
- Rolls-Royce offers press and members of the public insight into the world of the leading House of Luxury via LinkedIn stream on 5th October.
“Bespoke Craftsmanship is at the centre of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. We are really proud to be displaying this highly Bespoke bonnet in the window of our new flagship residence in the heart of Mayfair. Inspired by Rolls-Royce’s very own English honeybees, this remarkable bonnet is testament to Rolls-Royce’s peerless craftsmanship.”
Bespoke craftsmanship lies at the very heart of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, with creativity nurtured and expressed at every turn.
A highly skilled artisan from the marque’s Exterior Surface Finish Centre, Allie Knight, has demonstrated her unique talent on a befitting canvas – a Rolls-Royce Phantom bonnet. Showcased at the marque’s new global flagship premises in Berkeley Street, Mayfair, the bonnet will be on display for the duration of this year’s London Craft Week.
Since 2016, the marque’s Global Centre of Luxury Manufacturing Excellence, located on the Duke of Richmond’s Goodwood Estate on the edge of the South Downs National Park, has been home to the Rolls-Royce Apiary – six colonies totalling about 300, 000 English honeybees.
The bees forage across the site, and on the Goodwood Estate, to produce what has become known, worldwide, as ‘the Rolls-Royce of Honey’. These honeybees and the Phantom Rose – an English Tea Rose bred especially for Rolls-Royce and found only at the marque’s headquarters – have been the inspiration for this highly Bespoke bonnet.
For the duration of London Craft Week, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, London, will be transformed to showcase the breadth of character afforded by pinnacle contemporary craft. A global public debut of this highly Bespoke and unique Rolls-Royce bonnet will be displayed in the window of Rolls-Royce’s flagship showroom, in the heart of Mayfair. A unique Champagne cocktail, incorporating Rolls-Royce’s very own, rare honey, has been designed in collaboration with Perrier Jouët for this occasion.
On 5th October, Allie Knight will be offering a rare insight into the world of the leading luxury marque via a LinkedIn stream at 13:00 BST. During the session Allie will reveal the story behind her work on the Bespoke bonnet.
by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
- All of the exclusive units forming part the GTA project have now found homes with 500 car enthusiasts
- The Alfa Romeo performance icon – the most powerful car ever produced by the brand – completes its journey to become a collector’s car
- Reserve list now open for customers still interested in playing a part in the GTA story
To all intents and purposes, the Giulia GTA is now a collector’s car.
Presented to the international press last May, the 500 numbered units have all now been sold to customers from all over the world, including significant numbers from China, Japan and Australia, making it a commercial success on an international level.
A story of authentic passion, it was a project with a strong emotional element that produced a car not just for enthusiasts of the brand, but also for those of sports cars in general. When Alfa Romeo decided to pay tribute to its fans as part of its 110th anniversary celebrations, thoughts immediately turned to the 1965 Giulia GTA, one of the most iconic and successful cars in the brand’s history.
A project inspired by the 1965 Giulia GTA
The Autodelta Racing Team developed the 1965 GTA at Balocco, where a team of mechanics worked overtime on a project that made an iconic car a true track vehicle. Similarly, the team that created the present-day Giulia GTA worked on the project in an unconventional way, aiming to bring back to life a memorable chapter in the glorious history of Alfa Romeo. The engineers and mechanics developed the project – codenamed ‘the Monster’ – in the very same places where the ’65 Giulia came to be. In honor of that spirit, the GTA now proudly bears the same historic Autodelta badge. The 1965 Giulia GTA was issued in 500 units, the number required for type approval as a sports car in the Group 2 Turismo class, and the same number of exclusive units are now reserved for the brand’s true fans.
The affinities don’t stop there and extend to the technical side of the project. In terms of ‘alleggerimento’ (lightening), the teams worked on specific design cues for both cars, including the handles, windows and wheels (the latter made of magnesium alloy in the 1965 GTA, its present-day counterpart boasting a specific design and a single locking nut inspired by Formula 1– a unique solution among on-road saloons). Worthy of note are the lightweight materials used in the bodywork (Peraluman 25 in the 1965 GTA, extensive use of carbon fibre in the current model).
A further affinity in terms of aerodynamics lay in the addition of air intakes to both models. This field was only in its early days in 1965, while today’s GTA has benefitted from the collaboration with Sauber Engineering and its 50 years of experience in motorsport, an active participant in the design, prototyping and production of the aerodynamic components, thanks to its own wind tunnel – one of the most advanced in Europe.
One last affinity between the two models is the support provided for the project by professional drivers: the drivers Teodoro Zeccoli and Andrea de Adamich, whose greatest successes were in the Giulia GTA; and the two Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN F1 drivers Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Räikkönen, who played an active role in track testing sessions, during which they provided invaluable indications, especially on the car’s aerodynamic components and handling.
The consistency of work with the past has thus made it possible to maintain a specific feature that has always been the hallmark of an Alfa Romeo creation: functional beauty. The car’s style must correspond to an overarching tenet of beauty, to transcend the passing of time, while maintaining functionality to the advantage of aerodynamic and mechanical efficiency, skillful;y combining form and function This maxim is fully epitomised in the new Giulia GTA.
Alfa Romeo will be opening a reserve list for any customers still interested in purchasing a Giulia GTA, which will be fulfilled in the light of any cancellations. To register interest or for more information please visit www.alfaromeo.co.uk/models/new-giulia-gta.
