Broad Arrow’s inaugural auction at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is shaping up to be a blockbuster, leading with a group of competition cars. Among the highlights of the 24–25 May sale at Villa Erba are the Paris-Dakar-competing Citroën ZX Rallye Raid and the very first car built by Nuccio Bertone. Here are the highlights:
1990 Citroën ZX Rallye Raid
Estimate: €475,000-€525,000
Built for Citroën Sport’s Paris-Dakar assault, chassis C05 is one of the ZX Rallye Raid cars that powered the marque to a Cross-Country Rallying World Cup win. Piloted by Alain Ambrosino to sixth in the 1991 Paris-Tripoli-Dakar, it continued competing in the following two seasons, always finishing in the top ten. Its final configuration replicates that used by Ari Vatanen in the 1990 Pharaohs Rally – the car was restored to that spec over two years following its sale from the Citroën Heritage collection in 2011. This period-correct restoration, plus extensive documentation and racing overalls from the 1991 season, position it as one of the most historically significant factory-entered Paris-Dakar cars in private hands.
1936 Fiat 570 Bertone Barchetta Special
Estimate: €325,000-€375,000
This Fiat 570 Barchetta represents the beginning of a design legacy. The first car ever built by Nuccio Bertone after taking the reins of Carrozzeria Bertone, it was bought and modified by Nuccio himself, then raced under the Squadra Corse Stanguellini banner. Its debut yielded a 12th place finish and set off a short but competitive motorsport career including four Mille Miglia entries, and a second in class in 1948. Found again by Bertone in the 1990s, it was restored under his direction – though he sadly died before its completion. It remained with the Bertone family until 2021 and has since made appearances at concours events including Villa d’Este.
1966 Fiat Abarth OT 1300
Estimate: €400,000-€450,000
A Targa Florio veteran with three classified finishes and a class win to its name, this OT 1300 captures the spirit of underdog brilliance that made Abarth a legend. Featuring a 147bhp rear-mounted engine and the famed ‘Periscopio’ roof intake to cool the driver, it is the archetypal 1960s Italian GT – light, loud and quick. This car, chassis 0047, was owned in period by Vincenzo Osella, who would go on to lead Abarth’s racing division and found his own F1 team. After retiring from competition in the late 1980s, the car was stored for four decades and remains in original, barn-find condition. Offered now as a rolling restoration project, it offers the rare chance to return an authentic Targa Florio competitor to the road or track.
1965 Elva BMW Mk 8
Estimate: €175,000-€225,000
Fitted with a 2.0-litre BMW engine and Hewland HD5 gearbox, this Elva BMW Mk 8 raced with success in the 1960s. Chassis 80/09 has more recently enjoyed an active historic career under Roger Wills, competing at Goodwood Revival, Members’ Meetings and across Europe. It will return to the Members’ Meeting in 2025 ahead of its appearance at Villa Erba. Originally designed by Frank Nichols as a lightweight, high-grip sports-racer to battle Lotus and Chevron, the Mk 8 remains eligible for some of the most prestigious historic grids. With known ownership history including Dr. Julio Palma and extensive track pedigree, it represents an accessible and authentic route into top-level historic racing.
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