It has been a busy month on the streets of Monaco with three major race meetings staged in the small Principality. We were at the Grand Prix Historique a fortnight ago. The biennial event celebrates the rich history of the Monaco Grand Prix, which was first held back in 1929. The retrospective event saw single seaters and sports cars compete from the 1920s through to the 1980s, spread over eight distinct groups. The well curated entry list featured a spectacular mix of machinery, highlighted by no fewer than Maserati 250Fs, a pair of Matras and five V12-engined Ferraris. The tight track lined by unforgiving Armco barriers represents a real challenge for competitors and it was no surprise that many of the same drivers featured on the sharp end of each of the grids.
Our photographers enjoyed the Monaco sunshine for three days and returned with a 180-shot gallery that serves to illustrate our concise report.

In the build-up to the Monaco Grand Prix, Mercedes-AMG have debuted the PureSpeed Concept. It represents a preview of the first car to be produced in the limited Mercedes-Benz Mythos series. The two-seat roadster is inspired by the Stirling Moss SLR and the current generation Grand Prix cars. As a result, the PureSpeed boasts a cockpit that has no windscreen but features a HALO type roll-over bar. For additional driver protection, the Mercedes-AMG roadster comes with two aerodynamically optimised helmets. The number 10 on the nose is a nod to the Mercedes that won the Targa Florio 100 years ago this year. Mercedes-AMG will build 250 examples of the production version, which are available to the hand-picked Mercedes-Benz customers and collectors.
At the recent World Endurance Championship race, Alpine demonstrated a fully functional version of the Alpenglow. Created to showcase the latest hydrogen technology, this version is powered by a turbocharged, four-cylinder engine fuelled by hydrogen. This is a stop-gap engine, as an all-new V6 is currently under developed, which will power the next iteration of the Alpenglow.
Another Alpine-based machine is this AGTZ Twin Tail, which broke cover on the shores of Lake Como this week. Inspired by the A220 Le Mans racer, it is based on the current Alpine A110. Only 19 examples of the Zagato-penned machine will be built with prices starting at €650,000. The Twin Tail moniker refers to the rear-end of the bodywork, which can be both long and short.

To celebrate the company's 115th anniversary, Morgan teamed up with Pininfarina to create the Midsummer roadster. Limited to just 50 examples, it combines the familiar bonded aluminium chassis with a Pininfarina penned interpretation of the traditional Morgan design. In addition to the striking exterior design, the interior features an abundance of teak wood trim, which extends into the doors. The Morgan Midsummer will be revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer. Production will commence shortly thereafter and then run into 2025.
Bentley are developing an all-new Continental GT. As part of the company's path to electrification, it will be powered by a hybrid drivetrain that will replace the W12 engine used since the original Continental GT was introduced two decades ago. The drivetrain consists of a twin-turbo V8 and electric motor, good for a combined 771 bhp and 1,000 Nm of torque. The Continental GT will officially break cover in June.
Another British car due to be revealed shortly is the latest MINI John Cooper Works. Unlike the other new MINIs, it will be powered by an internal combustion engine. The John Cooper Works will be revealed in full during the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Up next in the busy May schedule is the annual Spa Classic organised by Peter Auto. One of the absolute highlights of the 2024 calendar, it will feature a wide array of sports prototypes, GTs and Touring Cars, and races that will run well into the night. Among the cars that will line up this weekend is this spectacular Nissan R90CK. It was raced in period at Le Mans and Daytona and was then retired to the Nissan Museum. Only recently was it acquired directly from Nissan in highly original condition. Following a sympathetic mechanical restoration, chassis R90C/5 was raced for the first time in three decades at the recent Mugello Classic.
As a spectacular send-off to the W12 engine, Bentley and Mulliner have created the Batur Convertible. It is the third coach-built Bentley of the modern era, the striking drop-top has a foldaway roof that can be deployed or closed in a mere 19 seconds. Production of the Batur Convertible will be limited to just 16 examples.
The latest addition to the BMW Motorsport line-up is the hardcore M4 CS. The regular production model uses the same 543 bhp straight-six engine fitted to the limited M4 CSL. Compared to the existing M4 Competition, the 'Club Sport' is also 20 kg lighter. The order books for the M4 CS will open at the end of the month.

This weekend the streets of Monaco will reverberate with the sound of classic Grand Prix cars and sports racers. To get you in the mood, we have highlighted three particularly iconic machines that will line-up for the various races. No doubt providing one of the absolute finest soundtracks is this Ferrari 312/69 F1. It is one of two V12-engined Grand Prix cars for the 1969 season and features the iconic 'spaghetti' exhaust system. Chassis 0017 was raced in period by Chris Amon and spent many years in American hands before returning to Europe more recently.
Competing in the same category and also set to hit the high notes is this Matra MS120B. Like the Ferrari, it features a three-litre V12 with ditto soundtrack. This particular chassis was raced exclusively by Jean-Pierre Beltoise during the 1971 season. It was later part of a prominent collection of Matra competition cars and has been regularly raced at Monaco since 2008.
Of an altogether different vintage is the Maserati 4CM 1500 featured today. It was a works car in period and was raced at Monaco in 1936. Chassis 1527 was then campaigned by a variety of Italian drivers before and after the War. Now in British hands, it is regularly raced at Monaco and Goodwood.

Bucking the trend, Ferrari continued the company's rich heritage with an all-new Grand Tourer powered by a naturally aspirated V12 engine. Appropriately dubbed the 12Cilindri, the 812 Superfast replacement boasts a clean design with clear references to the 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' with the plexiglass nose. The 6.5-litre atmospheric V12 produces 817 bhp at 9,250 rpm. Along with the Coupe, Ferrari also introduced a Spider version.
As part of the Monaco Historic Grand Prix weekend, Artcurial will stage the W Collection auction on Thursday. This consists of a single collection assembled by Swedish enthusiast Staffan Wittmark with all 44 lots being offered without a reserve. Headlining the collection is the beautifully restored Ferrari 250 GT SWB. It was sold new to the United States and extensively used by its first owners. A relatively recent addition to the W Collection, 3169GT was first seen post restoration in 2023 and has €8.5 - €12 million estimate. Another V12-engined Ferrari on offer is this LWB California Spyder. This car was also originally sold to the United States and has been owned by some very prominent collectors. Chassis 1057GT was completely restored in the early 2010s and is Classiche Certified. Artcurial estimate, the Ferrari will sell for €7 - €10 million.

It will be a busy week for British auctioneer Bonhams with two sales at Grand Prix venues within seven days. First up is the auction during the Miami Grand Prix weekend. Due to cross the block on Saturday is this one-off Ferrari SP30. It was commissioned by an enthusiast from the Emirates back in 2011 but never completed the purchase and it only surfaced in 2018 when it had been sold instead to an American dealer. It was offered at auction following year and the 599 GTO-based machine is now available again, still with less than 200 km on the odometer.
Next week, Bonhams will stage the biennial Grandes Marques a Monaco sale. The most appropriate consignment is this Tyrrell 008 Cosworth, which is the very car driven to victory in the 1978 Monaco Grand Prix. It was later also raced by Desiré Wilson and owned by noted collectors like John Foulston and Nick Mason. Owned for many years by an American enthusiast, chassis 008/3 has been raced in historic events including the Monaco Historic Grand Prix. Another historic racing car consigned to the sale is this Ferrari 250 GT Drogo Coupe. This car started life as a 250 GT Coupe and was re-bodied in the mid-1960s by Drogo after an accident. In recent years 1717GT has been used in historic racing and benefits from a fresh respray. The pre-sale estimate is €2.5 - €3 million.

Goodwood raised the curtain on their motorsport season earlier this month with the 81st Members' Meeting. The two-day event combined a mix of familiar grids with one-off races and demonstrations. The racing roster included crowd favourites like the S.F. Edge Trophy for Edwardian machinery, the Gordon Spice Trophy for 1970s and 1980s touring cars and the Surtees Trophy for mid-1960s sports cars. The 60th anniversary of the Ford Mustang was celebrated with the single-make, two-driver Ken Miles Trophy, while current sidecar racers took part in an elimination shoot-out. The high-speed demonstration runs were also among the absolute highlights, headlined by the Can-Am Challenge Celebration, which included no fewer than seven Shadows. There were also demonstrations with Ferrari and McLaren F1 cars and also for the latest Gordon Murray Automotive models.
We were on hand to enjoy the spring weather and two days of track action. This has resulted in the following 190-shot gallery, which serves to illustrate this concise report.

Shortly after the passing of founder Peter Mullin, the marvellous Mullin Automotive Museum closed its doors. A large part of the collection will be offered this weekend at a dedicated Gooding auction at the museum. Among the highlights of the selection consigned are this Bugatti Type 57 C Gangloff Aravis Cabriolet that was originally sold to French racing driver Maurice Trintignant and the Delage D8-120 Chapron Cabriolet that starred alongside Gene Kelly in the movie An American in Paris. At the Auto China Beijing motor show, Lamborghini revealed the Urus SE. It is the first hybrid version of the popular Lamborghini SUV and combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor that is mounted inside the gearbox. The maximum power produced by the hybrid drivetrain is 800 bhp.
Also launched this week are updated versions of the Porsche Cayenne GTS, the Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe and the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance.

The European historic racing season got under way a fortnight ago with the third annual Mugello Classic. Staged by the Peter Auto organisation, the event saw two new grids compared to the previous years with the Classic Touring Challenge for Pre '60s touring cars and the Gentlemen Challenge for 1950s and early 1960s machinery added to the roster. These joined the familiar grids, with the capacity Endurance Racing Legends field taking centre stage. Headlined by Emanuel Collard reunited with his Pescarolo Courage C60, the grid also boasted a trio of Maserati MC12s, a pair of Bentley Speed 8s, an Audi R8 and a Lotus Elise GT1.
With spring in the air and great grids, the Mugello Classic proved to be more than fitting start to the 2024 racing season. We were on hand from start to finish to capture the event in its entirety, the result is a concise report, illustrated by a class-by-class 200-shot gallery.

Anglo-Canadian auctioneer RM Sotheby's have revealed the full lot list of the two-day Monaco sale. Due to be held during the Grand Prix Historique weekend, the auction has some fascinating consignments. Among them is this Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2, which was the original factory development car for the ten production cars that followed. It was raced in its original guise at select events during 2008 and 2012. Chassis V8 X2 did not appear at Le Mans until 2012, proudly wearing the Gulf works colours. It has recently been restored to its 2012 configuration and is ready to go.
With a €4.5 - €5 million estimate one of the absolute headliners of the sale is this Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet. Originally finished in ivory white with a turquoise interior and covered headlights, it was sold to an Italian enthusiast. It was subsequently sold to France where the engine was damaged and replaced. At some point, it was also re-painted black. In more recent years, 0849GT was re-finished to its original colours and re-united with its original engine.
Another open Ferrari available in the principality is this 365 GTS/4 Daytona. It was also delivered new to Italy where it remained for some years before a lengthy spell in the United States. Repatriated to Europe in the early 2010s, 15383 was then entrusted to a cosmetic restoration. In German hands since 2017, it is now estimated to sell for around €3 million.

Celebrating Abarth's 75th anniversary, Stellantis have assembled a great collection of classic models in the Heritage Hub. Guest of honour is a 1:3 scale-model of the Abarth Classiche 1300 OT, which will enter very limited production later this year. Only five examples will be constructed of the compact sports car that is inspired by the original 1300 OT competition car and is based on the Alfa Romeo 4C platform. The Classiche 1300 OT is now available to order.
Maserati have completed the GranCabrio line-up with the all-electric Folgore version. Although no figures have been released, the drop-top battery-electric vehicle should share the same 751 bhp as the previously introduced GranTurismo Folgore. According to Maserati the GranCabrio Folgore represents the company's voice of the future.
Lamborghini will soon phase out the Huracan but not before producing a small run of STJ models. Powered by a 630 bhp version of the glorious V10 engine, which will also be phased out, the STJ was developed together with Lamborghini Squadra Corse. The name is short for Super Trofeo Jota and accordingly, the STJ features a more aggressive aero package and track-oriented Bridgestone tyres. Lamborghini will only build ten examples of the Huracan STJ, before permanently closing the book on the Huracan.