Italy’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is known for elegance, but Broad Arrow’s upcoming auction is bringing something a little grittier: race-proven motorsport legends with enough history to make any collector’s heart skip a beat.
Leading the pack is the 1990 Citroën ZX Rallye Raid, a Paris-Dakar veteran that took on the toughest terrain on Earth. It raced across the Sahara, tackled the grueling Paris-Tangiers-Dakar Rally, and helped Citroën clinch the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallying. Restored to its 1990 Pharaohs Rally spec, it even comes with Citroën Sport racing suits—because why not dress the part when you park this beast in your garage? Estimated at €475,000-€525,000 (US$510,000–US$565,000), it’s a rare chance to own a true off-road warrior.
For something a little more refined, there’s the 1936 Fiat 570 Bertone Barchetta Special, the very first car designed by Nuccio Bertone. Built from a Fiat 500 A Topolino, this little racer competed in the Mille Miglia and helped launch Bertone’s legendary career. Even after decades of racing and concours appearances, it remains a stunning piece of Italian automotive history. Price? Somewhere between €325,000 and €375,000 (US$350,000–US$400,000).
The 1966 Fiat Abarth OT 1300 is another motorsport icon. A road-legal racer that battled through three Targa Florio races—winning its class in its debut—it features Abarth’s signature periscope-style air duct. After 40 years in storage, this car is ready for a new lease on life, with an estimate of €400,000-€450,000 (US$430,000–US$485,000).
For historic racing fans, there’s also the 1965 Elva BMW Mk 8, a lightweight track machine that finished 10th at the Road America 500. Set to race again before heading to auction, this piece of motorsport history is expected to fetch €175,000-€225,000 (US$190,000–US$240,000).
Taking place May 24-25 at Villa Erba, the auction will feature up to 70 rare and collectible cars. Got a spare few hundred thousand lying around? It might be time to start bidding.
Images: Broad Arrow Auctions.
