LONDON.- RM Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles, announced the addition of the Harburg Collection, a stunning collection of important competition cars, to be sold at its all-new Paris auction, scheduled 4–5 February 2014, during the world-famous Retromobile show week.

Peter Harburg is a well-known Australian enthusiast and historic race driver who has built a remarkable collection of cars. The selection of vehicles on offer at RM’s Paris sale represent some of the most desirable and iconic racing cars ever made, and it is highlighted by a number of particularly stunning examples from Porsche. The Stuttgart marque has one of the finest and most enviable histories at the highest level of world motorsport, and the Harburg Collection includes no less than five highly significant and historically important Porsche competition cars. Leading the group are two of the greatest endurance racers ever made, an awesome 917/30 and an all-conquering 956.

The 1982 956 Group C Sports-Prototype, chassis 004, was completed on the 14 June 1982 and was shaken down for the first time that very day, before departing immediately for Le Mans. It competed in the 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans as one of the three Works cars. It was driven by Haywood/Holbert/Barth and went on to finish 3rd overall, completing an historic 1-2-3 finish for the Porsche Works team that year. During the same season, 004 achieved a respectable 2nd place in the Spa 1000 kms, in the hands of Bell and Schuppan, and it enjoyed appearances at Fuji and Kayalami. It continued as a Works entry into 1983 and 1984, and amongst other notable outings, it finished 2nd at the Spa 1000 kms, in the hands of Bellof and Bell. Today, proudly presented in correct Rothmans livery, it represents a very rare opportunity at auction, and it will be welcomed at many of the world’s most prestigious motorsport events (Estimate: In excess of €2.200.000).

Another all-time racing great from the Porsche motorsport department was the awe-inspiring 917, which in its various guises won in almost every category of racing into which it was entered. Feared and fabled for its extraordinary power and performance, the 917’s ultimate incarnation came with the development of the 917/30 derivative, which was a 5.4-litre beast that boasted at least 1,100 brake horsepower in race trim, and it was developed exclusively to win the 1973 North American Can-Am series in the hands of Mark Donohue. Only six chassis were built for 1973, and of those, only three were completed for racing. The car on offer, chassis 005, is one of the completed chassis that never saw action in period. It is offered in outstanding original condition and is resplendent in its evocative Sunoco racing livery (Estimate: In excess of €2.200.000).

One of the most beautiful racing Porsches of all time is undoubtedly the 904. First seen in 1962, the 904 was powered by a four-cylinder engine that had a displacement of 1,966 cubic centimetres and delivered 180 brake horsepower. By 1964, the car was launched in uprated GTS specification, and the model was well-established as a highly competitive package that had outstanding handling capabilities. The 1964 904 Carrera GTS, chassis 045, on offer was imported into the UK by AFN Ltd, before being purchased by well-known privateer racer and Works Frazer Nash driver Dickie Stoop. Stoop competed extensively in the car, enjoying great success in the UK and on the continent. His finest moment was his performance in the Snetterton 100 mile race, during which he, in the 904, claimed the two-and-half-litre lap record, won the class, and finished 5th overall (Estimate: In excess of €1.100.000).

Away from the Porsche marque, the Harburg Collection boasts a number of other important competition cars, including a legendary Jaguar D-Type and a very special 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider.

No sports racing car of the 1950s is more evocative than the Jaguar D-Type, and RM is delighted to offer chassis XKD 520, which boasts an extensive early racing history and well-documented provenance. Chassis XKD 520 was the seventh production D-Type made, and it was sold new to Australian Bob Stillwell, who raced the car with great success in the 1956 and 1957 seasons. Highlights included contesting the 1956 Bathurst 500, where he set the fastest sports car speed ever, before securing a number of other high profile victories, including the Bathurst Road Racing Championship. Chassis XKD 520 continued to be raced successfully by a number of subsequent, well-known owner/drivers in Australia and the UK. Described as “one of the best production D-Types in existence”, its upcoming sale in Paris presents an exclusive ownership opportunity for collectors to acquire one of the marque’s finest sports racing cars (Estimate: In excess of €4.100.000).

The 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider, chassis 0498 M, also boasts a fantastic race record. Sold new to Luigi Chinetti Motors in the United States, the car competed in the fourth annual 12 Hours of Sebring, with Piero Taruffi and co-driver Harry Schell behind the wheel, finishing 5th overall. It was then sold to George Tilp, who entered the car in a number of races, where it was campaigned very successfully by Phil Hill, and it also achieved a 2nd place in Caracas, Venezuela, in the hands of Alfonso De Portago. Chassis 0498 M continued to be raced extensively in North America right through to the end of the 1960s. After a long period in storage, 0498 M re-emerged in 1994, before being sold to Australia in November 1998. Restoration of the vehicle began in 2004, before it came into the hands of Peter Harburg, who completed the work. Chassis 0498 is a beautiful and important racing Ferrari, and it is expected to fetch in excess of €1.800.000 when it crosses RM’s Paris auction podium.

Additional highlights of the Harburg Collection include a stunning 1959 Porsche 356 A Carrera 1500 GT Speedster, one of only 35 built (Estimate: €740.000–€1.110.000); the 1950 ex-Briggs Cunningham/Sebring Aston Martin DB2 (Estimate: €277.000–€350.000); a 1987 Porsche 959 (Estimate: €330.000–€380.000); a 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, ordered new by Jaguar aficionado John Coombs (Estimate: €295.000–€333.000); and a 1969 Lola T70 (Estimate: €295.000–€355.000).

RM’s inaugural Paris auction will be held at Place Vauban immediately after the International Automobile Festival, 29 January to 2 February 2014.