The sale of nine modern classics is expected to raise more than $590,000 at RM Sotheby’s London auction on October 24 with that money going toward an effort to plan more than 300,000 trees around the world, the auction company has announced.
Sale of the cars, consigned by a single owner and being termed “The Forests Collection,” will benefit the “Trillion Trees” environmental charity partnership and are being offered for bidding without reserve. The initiative features the work of the World Wide Fund for Nature, BirdLife International and the Wildlife Conservation Society and the goal of restoring one trillion trees by 2050.
The Forests Collection sale will go toward reforestation of land in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.
The collection includes a trio of Porsche 911 in GT3 specification, a 1998 Mini Cooper, 2013 Land Rover Defender, 1991 BMW E30 M3, 1970 Meyers Manx dune buggy, a 55,000-mile 1993 Mazda RX-7 and a 2016 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S.
The auction takes place at the Olympic in West Kensington, a new venue for RM’s annual London sale.
“The Forests Collection is headlined by a stunning 2018 Porsche 911 GT3, a sensational homage to Porsche’s competition heritage, with the example on offer presented in Paint-to-Sample Sepia Brown, a color made famous on 911s of the 1970s,” RM Sotheby’s said.
“Delivered to its first and only owner in April 2018, this 991.2-generation GT3 boasts a number of desirable options, including a manual gearbox, Alcantara upholstered lightweight bucket seats, Clubsport package, and black 20-inch GT3 center-lock wheels.
“Since leaving the Porsche factory in Stuttgart last year, the GT3 has covered just under 1,500km and is presented for sale in ‘as new’ condition.”
Also offered are a 70,000-kilometer 2000 Porsche 911 GT3 in silver and a 2001 911 GT3 RS race car in N-GT specification.
The Meyers Manx is presented in metallic orange and reportedly has undergone a $60,000 restoration.
RM Sotheby’s car specialist Will Smith termed the Forest Collection, “an on-trend selection of vehicles available means that there will be something for everyone, from the latest high-performance Porsches to classic designs from Land Rover, Mini, Harley-Davidson and of course, the Meyers Manx dune buggy.
“With all proceeds going towards this great cause, this collection presents bidders with the perfect opportunity to acquire a special vehicle while doing their bit to conserve our environment.”
Added Anna Kitulagoda, head of the Trillion Trees program at WWF, “We are incredibly grateful for this generous donation to support Trillion Trees. The outcome of the funds donated will enable us to restore over 400 hectares of degraded land to healthy native forest ecosystems across four countries in East Africa.
“Our goal for a trillion trees is a big one, but it’s achievable and necessary. We want to ensure that we have more of the right trees in the right places and protect our forests. We know that this can make a major contribution to achieving our global commitments on human development, biodiversity and climate change.
“This is an urgent priority, and we hugely value and appreciate the support that enables more critical work to get rapidly underway.”
I don’t know how one could possibly spend $60k restoring a dune buggy built on a VW Beetle platform, but it’s ok- someone will buy it just to say "I bought it". Money for reforestation is well spent, yet I wonder how they’re going to prevent the impoverished locals from simply cutting down the saplings for firewood. Mayhap better to provide the local population with power first? Just a thought.
Regardless, I would love to cherish- and flog the bejeezus out of- the sinister triple black ’01 911 GT3 RS with the Euro yellow headlamps pictured. If the Boogeyman were real, I’m sure this is what he’d drive, and quickly, too. All those kids to scare, so little time. Bwahahaha!