One of only 10 'Democracy Cars' built by BMW in 2004 to commemorate a decade of democracy in South Africa will go under the hammer on April 28 at BonhamsCollector’s Motor Cars and Automobilia Sale at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon.
Signed on the interior by South Africa's first fully democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, the 2004 318i Sports Saloon is estimated at $5,000-$8,300 and is to be sold without reserve.
It is one of 10 special vehicles BMW South Africa built to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Mandela’s election on April 27, 1994. They were all signed by the former president, then exported to Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the UK and the USA, to be auctioned for the benefit of various charities including the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.
The car being offered at this sale is the UK ‘Democracy Car,’ which previously fetched £38,000 at an auction at Madame Tussaud’s in London in June 2005. The proceeds were at the time split between the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and the UK children’s charities Norwood and Shine.
The car, a manual transmission model finished in silver with black leather interior, switched hands in 2006. Currently displaying a total of 46,000 miles on the odometer, the car is described as in generally very good condition. It has been maintained by BMW North Oxford and comes with a full service history.
Other interesting highlights in the sale include a 1987 Lamborghini LM 002 '4x4' off-road vehicle — in baby blue — and estimated to sell between $130,000 and $200,000. Never mind its brutal styling, it holds the unofficial title of 'world's fastest off-roader,' according to Bonhams, and the first LM 002 is reputed to have been sold to HRH King Hassan of Morocco. This example (pictured below), one of only 328 LM 002s produced between 1986 and 1992, first belonged to Italian racing driver Mario Ricci.
Meanwhile, a beautiful lot worth watching out for is a 1967 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2-Litre 2+2 Coupé (est. $75,000-110,000). Causing a sensation at the 1961 Geneva Salon with its instantly classic lines and 150mph top speed, this model (pictured below) has a long wheelbase, featuring greater headroom, more luggage space, improved heating/ventilation and the space to accommodate an automatic gearbox.
