Teutonic exotics star with RM Sotheby's at Tegernsee

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Tegernsee, situated just to the north of the border with Austria, stands out as being surely one of the most beautiful towns in all of Germany. While its namesake lake glistens like a jewel in the Bavarian Alps, visitors are able to strike out on foot to enjoy the mountain scenery, enhance their cultural knowledge with a visit to the imposing Schloss Tegernsee, once a mediæval Benedictine monastery, or rejuvenate themselves in the salubrious spa waters for which the town is perhaps most famous. Those of our readers who are partial to a spot of shopping would do especially well to pay a visit on July 27th, when you might be able to drive home in an exquisite post-war thoroughbred motor car, thanks to RM Sotheby's.

As befits its location, the Tegernsee auction will contain a number of high-profile historic German cars, among which the undoubted star is the 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder. One of just 90 made, the 550 Spyder may be most famous for its tragic connection with James Dean, but it ought to be celebrated more for its participation in such internationally-renowned events as the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Le Mans 24 Hours and Carrera Panamericana. This example, Chassis 550-0038, is typical of the model, having raced extensively in period with some success. Originally painted white with burgundy highlights, it was one of two despatched new to Portugal. Its first owner, Fernando Mascarenhas, took it racing around Europe, and it is believed to have achieved podium finishes at its first two races, at Barajas and Monsanto, but in August, 1955, it suffered an accident in the Nürburgring 500 Kilometres race, which forced its retirement.

The car was repaired and, in 1958, sold to Cypriano Flores, who continued to race it around Portugal. When Flores died, his son Caeser inherited it and returned it to Porsche for restoration from 1992 to 1994. Although the colour was changed to silver and the beige vinyl upholstery was replaced with black leather, it remains a matching-numbers car with the bulkhead, dashboard and rear clamshell all understood to be original to it. Having not been driven since the restoration, it will require something in the way of a mechanical overhaul. It carries an estimate of €3,500,000-4,200,000 (£2,950,000-3,530,000).

We are also very much attracted to the 1956 BMW 503 cabriolet which, is estimated at €300,000-400,000 (£250,000-340,000). This was one of just 78 503 cabriolets made and 13 which were sent to the U.S.A. Originally painted Steingrau with red upholstery, it was despatched to Hoffman Motors in New York in early 1957 and was sold to Mr. Fred B. Phillips of Topanga, California. He kept it until 1982, when he sold it to Franz von Uckermann of San Francisco, who repainted it in a metallic red. He retained it until 2017,when it passed to its third and present owner, who had it restored in the Netherlands, opting to have it resprayed in BMW's elegant Fjord Blue.

Those with broader Continental tastes will find much to admire in the selection of Italian cars also on offer, one of the main attractions being the 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C, estimated at €2,500,000-3,000,000 (£2,100,000-2,520,000). Originally finished in Amaranto red with beige leather upholstery, it was supplied through Belgium's Garage Francorchamps to Freddy Damman, who kept it until 1968, when it was shipped to America to be enjoyed by Walter D. Ward of Los Angeles. Repainted metallic brown in 1978 and retained by Ward until 1989, in subsequent ownership it has been restored to its original specification and won a number of concours awards.With its "long-nose" Scaglietti body and six Weber carburetters, it represents one of the most desirable of Ferrari's 1960s road cars.

Those who prefer the elegance of an earlier age can choose between a 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport coupé by Touring, for €530,000-700,000 (£450,000-590,000) or a 1949 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport coupé by Jean Barou, for €1,400,000-1,600,000 (£1,180,000-1,340,000). The Talbot-Lago is a particularly special machine, being the only T26 Grand Sport ever bodied by Barou. Its first owner was one M. Ravoux, general manager of Clovis Frères, a transport company in Oyonnax, eastern France. It is thought to have participated in the Course de Côte de Macon-Salutré at some date after July, 1954, but by the 1960s it was being stored in a disused dance hall in Lons-le-Saunier, where it formed part of a mysterious collection of cars also including Bugattis, Amilcars, Delahayes and a Salmson. A collector, Jean Tua of Geneva, bought it 1968 or '69 and kept it until 1997. Moving then into the collection of Egon Zweimüller, it was repainted in its present silver and shown at the 1998 Bagatelle Concours d'Élégance. In the present ownership since 1999, it has only covered around 1,200 miles since 1997.

They are just a few highlights, of course. Bidders may alternatively be interested in some of the following:

• 1959 Porsche 356A 1600 coupé. €140,000-200,000 (£120,000-170,000)
• 1965 Aston Martin DB Short Chassis Volante. One of only 37 "interim" models built on a DB5 chassis but with new DB6 styling details. €1,000,000-1,400,000 (£840,000-1,180,000)
• 1966 Lamborghini 400GT. €350,000-450,000 (£290,000-380,000)
• 1973 Dino 246 GTS. €300,000-400,000 (£250,000-340,000).

To us, driving any one of those machines through the Bavarian Alps would be heaven. For more details of the auction, click here.

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