A 1945 Supermarine Spitfire MK XVI is to star in Bonhams & Goodman's inaugural sale of Collectors' Motor Cars and Aircraft in New Zealand on the 14th September.
The sale comes in a double anniversary year for military aircraft - it is the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Force at the end of the First World War, and it is also exactly 70 years since the Spitfire first became operational in 1938.
Bonhams & Goodman are delighted to be offering the 1945 Supermarine Spitfire MK XVI in their inaugural sale of collectors' motorcars in New Zealand. The Spitfire is the ultimate WWII fighter aircraft and its battles with the Messerschmitt 109s during the war combined with its easily recognisable wing shape and distinctive engine note (courtesy of, in most cases, a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine) earned it a legendary status during the Battle of Britain, a reputation that still stands today. It is believed that there are around 44 airworthy Spitfires surviving to this day although a number of air museums have examples on static display.
Tim Goodman, Chairman of Bonhams and Goodman, comments: 'We are greatly honoured to be asked to sell such a distinguished and historic aircraft. As Bonhams is the last of the great international fine art auction houses to remain under British management, the sale of an aircraft so linked to the history and very survival of Great Britain has enormous significance for us here at Bonhams and Goodman.'
This historical aircraft (RAF Serial No. TE 330) was constructed at the Castle Bromwich works in late April 1945 and was accepted by RAF Cosford. After seeing active service with the RAF it was flown in the 1957 Battle of Britain Memorial flight before being donated to the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1959. It was displayed at the USAF academy in Colorado Springs until around 1997 when the Aircraft found its way to New Zealand via the Hong Kong based businessman James Slade. In 1997 an ongoing restoration of the aircraft was begun and in 1999 it was purchased by the present owners who have continued to restore the aircraft to its current near complete condition.
Rarely do original Spitfires surface on to the open market. 'We are very excited to have discovered this important aircraft in New Zealand,' enthuses Robert Glover, National Head of Collectors' Motor Cars at Bonhams & Goodman. 'Whilst we are more used to selling machines with four wheels and no wings, aircraft design and motor car design are inextricably linked, indeed a large number of aircraft collectors are also motor car collectors. It is fitting that this year celebrates 70 years since the Spitfire started production of which this aircraft is such an important part of its history.'
AUCTION:
Collectors' Motor Cars and Aircraft
Sunday 14 September
The World of Wearable Arts and Classic Car Museum
95 Quarantine Road, Annesbrook
Nelson, NZ
For all media enquiries, Julian Roup on 0207 468 8259 or
press@bonhams.com alternatively please contact Kieran Grogan, Marketing and Media Relations in Sydney
+ 61 (0) 38530 3905 or + 61 (0) 409 708 109 email
kieran.grogan@bonhams.com
For enquiries relating to the sale itself, please contact Tim Evill, National Head of Collectors' Motor Cars, New Zealand
Tel: +64 (0) 218 388 71 or email
tim.evill@bonhams.com
Bonhams & Goodman is the largest Australian owned, internationally operated general fine art auction house. The business conducts some 100 auctions each year with auction sales totalling over AUD$50M per annum.
Bonhams & Goodman employs 15 internationally trained specialists, in house, covering more categories than any of its rivals including Australian and Aboriginal Art and Artefacts, Fine Jewellery, Collectors' Cars, Sport and Entertainment Collectables, Australian, European and Asian Decorative Arts and Objects, Books, Maps and Manuscripts.
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America and in August 2003, Goodmans, a leading Australian fine art and antiques auctioneer with salerooms in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, joined the Bonhams Group of Companies. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further seven throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston in the USA; and Switzerland, France, Monaco, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to [url=http://www.bonhams.com]http://www.bonhams.com[/url] (May 2008)
