Cosmoline dream

We’ve often commented on the self-restraint or sheer lunacy the first owner of a low-mileage car must have, and this case is an especially interesting one. One of only 51 examples built, the RSR was a race car for the road, only available by special order and at considerable cost. What’s more, this Polar Silver example was specified with a leather-trimmed interior, which is particularly unusual for these stripped-out racers. One of only two examples to be trimmed as such, the RSR's Can Can Red leather not only covers the competition seats but also the dashboard, steering column, and steering wheel, with a colour-coded roll cage and Schroth six-point racing harnesses completing the eye-popping interior. What's bewildering is why, after this special-ordering process, the car was placed in a private collection post delivery and never driven, but the result is a very special car indeed. Still wearing the dust and dirt from it’s 24 years in storage and, more importantly, still covered in factory Cosmoline rust-prevention coating, this RSR will be offered at RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba Sale on 27 May, with an estimate of 2–2.2m euros. Not small change, but as the saying goes, try and find another one…

Photos: Tim Scott for RM Sotheby’s