No bargains for these rare beauties

The 1974 Carrera RS Porsche is one of only six right-hand-drive examples made.

The Carrera RS Porsche that the late Formula One champion James Hunt used as his drive car is up for grabs in Britain - one of a handful of standout exotics for sale in 2010.

The 1974 model, one of only six right-hand-drive 3-litre examples made as part of the Porsche RSR homologation process, is expected to fetch around $850,000.

But a couple of Ferraris are likely to be knocked down for far more than the Porsche estimate. One, a rare 1962 short-wheelbase Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina, could fetch upwards of $8 million at auction.

The other, a 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder, was once owned by Ford family member Edsel Ford II.

The Porsche RS - chassis number 99 - was sold new to Britain's Lord Hesketh, owner of the Hesketh Formula One team that Hunt drove for in the mid-1970s.

It was given to Hunt as part of his salary package in 1974 and he retained use of the car through to 1976, when he won the world driver's championship.

Specialist British car dealer Nick Whale says the car retains the patina of age so highly sought by collectors.

"Hunt was an enigmatic champion, and this car was with him during the peak of his career," says Whale.

"Not only is this one of the rarest road-going Porsches of all time, but with its unique provenance it represents a very rare opportunity."

The Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina will go under the hammer in Monaco on May 1. Just six short wheelbase Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolets were built by Pininfarina, each powered by a 3-litre V12 engine producing 180kW.

The auction car is the last one built. It was also Ferrari's display model at the 1962 Geneva and New York motor shows.

The yellow Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder will be sold at auction in Florida in March. Edsel Ford II is one of the car's three documented owners.