Gallery: our favourite cars on sale at Monterey

With only a few weeks to go until bidding commences for hundreds of cars at the auction houses in Monterey, California, anticipation is building rapidly.

We’ve already seen a handful of exciting offerings – these Ferraris for instance, or this Porsche Carrera GT – but in reality these examples only scratch the surface of what will be available to potential buyers next month.

Knowing there was more to uncover, we delved into the listings of some of the major sellers and picked out a few favourites to keep an eye on.

So sit back, relax and enjoy the following gallery of gorgeous machinery...

Image credit: Darin Schnabel ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £838,000 - £1,147,000

Fast fact: The 3.0-litre engine produces 215bhp.

Image credit: Darin Schnabel ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £15,236,000 - £19,045,000

Fast fact: Won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1956

Image credit: Patrick Ernzen ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £1,000,000+

Fast fact: In 1960, the Monoposto set a 72-hour record covering 8,352.16 miles with an average speed of 116.11mph.

Image credit: Piotr Degler / Gooding & Company

Estimate: £230,000 - £380,000

Fast fact: GM ordered 100 of these in response to Ford’s Cobra programme, but only 11 were ever built.

Image credit: Pawel Litwinski

Estimate: £1,147,000 - £1,524,000

Fast fact: The only known owner was Carroll Shelby himself, who took care of the car until he passed away in 2012.

Image credit: Darin Schnabel ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £1,524,000 - £1,828,000

Fast fact: This 280bhp, 3.3-litre V12 Ferrari has undergone a full restoration in preparation for sale.

Image credit: Darin Schnabel ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £190,450 - £247,600

Fast fact: This example is the 520^th 4.2-litre E-Type ever built.

Image credit: Patrick Ernzen ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £342,800 - £400,000

Fast fact: This model was originally ordered with nearly every optional extra available at the time in 1966, including air conditioning, a heated rear screen and front safety belts. Fancy.

Image credit: Robin Adams ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £2,858,000 - £3,239,000

Fast fact: This example is one of only 31 Mk I road cars.

Image credit: The Jim Click Ford Performance Collection

Estimate: £61,000 - £92,000

Fast fact: A five-speed gearbox was fitted in 2007, but the original four-speed transmission has been retained and is included in the sale.

Image credit: Pawel Litwinski

Estimate: £31,000 - £38,000

Fast fact: A tuned, 55bhp version of this car won the Nürburgring 500km race in 1963.

Image credit: Pawel Litwinski

Estimate: £170,000 - £210,000

Fast fact: This car’s early history is unknown, although it is thought to have been restored by renowned Ferrari and Maserati restorer Bob Smith Coachworks in Gainesville, Texas.

Image credit: Richard Truesdell

Estimate: £114,320 - £152,400

Fast fact: When it was built, the two-rotor engine squeezed out 108bhp of performance, and could do 0-60mph in 8.2 seconds.

Image credit: Gooding & Company

Estimate: £122,000 - £137,000

Fast fact: On two occasions, this model has won the National Corvette Restoration Society’s Top Flight Award for its high quality refurbishment.

Image credit: Mathieu Heurtault / Gooding & Company

Estimate: £533,500 - £628,800

Fast fact: Only 250 miles have been added to the odometer since this Dino underwent a restoration which began in 1985.

Image credit: Clint Davis ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £686,000 - £914,500

Fast fact: One of only four examples ever made, this car was raced by Graham Hill at the Indianapolis 500 in 1968.

Image credit: Stephen Kim ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £533,500 - £686,000

Fast fact: Accompanied by a restoration file with invoices totalling more than £267,000, the sellers believe this is the best example of the 206 GT in existence.

Image credit: Mike Maez / Gooding & Company

Estimate: £762,000 - £990,800

Fast fact: Used as a back-up car for Bud Moore Engineering in 1971, this model has since featured in several classics, winning the Trans Am race of the 2015 Monterey Historics event.

Image credit: The Jim Click Ford Performance Collection

Estimate: £571,600 - £648,000

Fast fact: Now 45 years old, this GTB/4 has done just 22,216 miles since new.

Image credit: Robin Adams ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £1,676,700 - £1,981,500

Fast fact: Of 150 SVs built, it is thought only 30 were equipped with air conditioning because it was such an expensive option.

Image credit: Brian Henniker / Gooding & Company

Estimate: £609,700 - £685,900

Fast fact: This GTB/4 is powered by a 352bhp, 4.4-litre V12, and was said to draw “endless oohs and ahhs” from onlookers by Cavallino in 1991.

Image credit: Robin Adams ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £106,700 - £137,200

Fast fact: 564 Boras were built between 1971 and 1980, with just 275 receiving the top-spec 4.9-litre engine. The top speed well exceeded 170mph.

Image credit: Karissa Hosek ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £140,000 - £170,000

Fast fact: According to the listing, this model was fitted with a loudspeaker, making it the perfect car for your next political rally.

Image credit: Bonhams

Estimate: £76,000 - £99,000

Fast fact: Around £5,000 has been spent servicing this Pantera’s V8 engine.

Image credit: Pawel Litwinski

Estimate: £46,000 - £57,000

Fast fact: The British Racing Green exterior has been coupled with a ‘Cinnamon’ coloured interior, with the majority of the restoration work focussed on the fuel and cooling systems.

Image credit: Pawel Litwinski

Estimate: £61,000 - £76,000

Fast fact: This car was designed by Marcello Gandini, one year after he created the Lamborghini Miura.

Image credit: Pawel Litwinski

Estimate: £914,500 - £1,1432,200

Fast fact: Around 160 Periscopica models were produced between 1974 and 1977. This model is the 77^th car of that run.

Image credit: Mathieu Heurtault / Gooding & Company

Estimate: £190,500 - £247,700

Fast fact: This magnificent 911 has done 16,698 miles since it was sold in February 1977. That works out as an average of 1.16 miles per day.

Image credit: Marcel Lech ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £53,000 - £69,000

Fast fact: In 1983 the Turbo II cost roughly £17,000, which equates to around £41,500 in today’s money.

Image credit: Bonhams

Estimate: £285,800 - £343,000

Fast fact: This car underwent a full restoration in 2001, with minor modifications including drilled pedals and an aluminium gear knob.

Image credit: Mike Maez / Gooding & Company

Estimate: £266,750 - £323,900

Fast fact: Of 28 examples sold in the US, this is the only one finished in ‘Irish Green’.

Image credit: Anna Taylor / Gooding & Company

Estimate: £990,800 - £1,219,500

Fast fact: This car was once driven by American racing driver Derek Hill at Laguna Seca, with father and 1961 F1 world champion Phil Hill in the passenger seat.

Image credit: Karissa Hosek ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £1,295,600 - £1,600,500

Fast fact: Hitting the brakes at around 250mph, the Veyron will come to a complete halt in less than 10 seconds.

Image credit: Robin Adams ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Estimate: £323,900 - £419,200

Fast fact: This model is virtually new having completed just 315 miles since it rolled off the production line.

Image credit: Darin Schnabel ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s