The Bonhams Greenwich 2026 sale, held on May 31, was broadly successful in terms of cars sold – of the 52 lots up for grabs, a mere seven cars failed to find new owners.
However, although the US market has been buoyant this year, it didn’t lead to the feeding frenzy seen elsewhere, largely due to very few Ferraris or any hypercars being on the lot list. No cars broke top estimate, and 15 lots finished within their pre-sale estimates. The extensive use of no reserve caught out some contenders quite badly, even if a fair proportion of the below-estimate sales were within ten percent of low estimate.
Let’s dive into some of the highlights and lowlights of the Bonhams Greenwich 2026 sale.
The leading result was the above project 1957 Porsche 356A Carrera GT. Chassis 101385 left the factory on August 9, 1957 and was supplied through Intercaribbean of Cuba to a Cuban lawyer and amateur racer. It is understood to have been used successfully in local competition during 1958, before being sold the following year and shipped to the US via Jacksonville, Florida. After that early period, the car slipped largely out of sight until the early 2000s.
The seller bought it as an almost complete project, although without its original engine, and then began a restoration that would run for more than 15 years. The process involved studying Carrera GTs in both Europe and the US, checking factory documentation and speaking with former Porsche department managers in an effort to bring the car back as closely as possible to its original specification.
It was sold with a Type 547/3 four-cam engine P90156/666, previously installed in the 1960 Porsche RS-60 Werks Prototype Spyder, chassis 044, although a rebuilt 1582cc Porsche pushrod unit was under the hood for testing. Against an estimate of $500k-$700k, the 356A Carrera GT sold for $511k.
Sold for $291k against a $250k-$300k estimate, the no-reserve 1956 Porsche 356A T1 Speedster by Reutter had been through a lengthy refurbishment completed in April 2023. The work included stripping the body to bare metal at The Tin Man’s Garage, where its original red paint was uncovered, before repairs were made to previous back-end damage. The rear clip, passenger-door skin, floors and battery box were replaced, and the car was later refinished in black by Posematos’s Bodyworks and Restorations.
Chassis 83066 was first supplied through Hoffman Motors of New York on March 12, 1957. Its factory red over black leatherette specification was confirmed by a 1975 Porsche letter signed by Jürgen Barth, and the original windscreen still retained Northwestern University parking decals from 1966 and 1967. Although the original engine was no longer with the car, it was fitted with a correct-type Type 616/1 flat-four rebuilt to 1720cc with Wilhoit cylinder heads, JE forged pistons, a DPR 74mm counterweighted crankshaft and an LN Engineering camshaft. It used dual Solex PBIC carburettors. The gearbox, drum brakes, wiring harness and instruments had also been rebuilt or restored.
The 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Limousine sold for $123,200 against a $100k-$140k estimate at no reserve. It had been under single ownership since 1978 and had spent much of its life in Southern California, contributing to its preserved condition. Mileage was recorded at less than 98,000km.
The car was originally built as a six-door Pullman and specified with air-conditioning, a privacy partition, sunroof, leather trim in the driver’s compartment and velour upholstery in the rear. At some point early in its life, two of the six exterior door handles were professionally removed, creating the visual effect of a four-door Pullman. Other factory equipment included wood trim, a rear bar and cocktail compartment, privacy curtains, vanity mirrors, rear radio controls and a Becker radio.
The 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet, chassis 11102712002325, was delivered new in 1971, originally finished in 744 Dunkelblau, or Dark Blue, with Black leather interior trim. More than ten years ago, it underwent a comprehensive restoration, during which it was repainted in Black and retrimmed in Cognac leather. The work also covered the interior materials, wood veneers, chrome trim and switchgear. It sold for $274,400 against a $280k-$320k estimate.
The 1991 Lamborghini Diablo pictured above was finished in Midnight Blue Metallic over tan leather, a rare factory-correct combination. Its history included registrations in Quebec, Alberta and Ontario before the car arrived in Florida only recently. It was accompanied by a service file documenting maintenance carried out during its life.
Estimated at $300k-$350k, it failed to sell. Other no-sales included a 1961 Porsche 356B Super 90 Cabriolet, estimated at $200k-$250k; a 1997 Porsche 993 Carrera S, estimated at $170k-$200k; a 1968 Mercedes-Benz 250 SL, estimated at $120k-$150k; a 2005 Porsche 996 Turbo Cabriolet, estimated at $110k-$130k; a 1992 Maserati Shamal, estimated at $100k-$120k; a 2002 Bentley Azure Convertible, estimated at $75k-$85k; and a 2017 Ford F-650 Ramp Truck, estimated at $75k-$85k.
There was an interesting British connection with this 1935 Riley Elf. The 1935 Riley Imp Roadster, chassis 6027370, was delivered new in April 1935 and registered AJH 531. Its early history was supported by UK registration documentation, including an extract from the original registration book. By 1957 it had been acquired by Willow Garages, and by the 1970s it had moved to Jersey.
The car later passed through several noted owners, including vintage-car enthusiast Jamie Doggart, and appeared at the Coventry Rally in 1984. Its most prominent ownership link came in 1994, when it was acquired by Bernie Ecclestone. During the 1990s, the Riley underwent restoration by DJ Johnson, covering mechanical and cosmetic work. It was fitted with a later Riley Merlin M2954 twin-cam four-cylinder engine and four-speed manual gearbox. Estimated at $80k-$100k, it sold for $84k.
The 1967 Morgan Plus Four Low-Line Super Sport Two-Seater, chassis 6388, was built in left-hand-drive, US-market specification and originally finished in Westminster Green with black leather. It was dispatched on December 20, 1966 and sold new by Louwman & Parqui in Holland. It later moved to the US, passing through owners in Louisiana and Massachusetts before being acquired in April 2023.
Service records covered around 30 years, with Morgan Motors of New England carrying out mechanical work in 2024. By sale, it showed around 43,650 miles, retained largely original paint and came with a rare hard-top, soft-top, tonneau and side curtains. It sold for $78,400 against a $70k-$90k estimate.
There were several hard-luck stories due to the extensive use of no reserve, but the heart has to go out to the vendor of the above 1957 BMW Isetta 300. Extensively restored around ten years ago, it was estimated at $40k-$60k, and sold for 45 percent below low estimate for just $22,400.
Further details
For more details on the Bonhams Greenwich 2026 sale, head here.
