The LeVett Collection, from Mohr Imports

Our friends at Mohr Imports are proud to present the LeVett Collection, a group of 15 cars assembled over six decades that reflect the tastes of the late Dennis “Denny” LeVett, an entrepreneur, investor, hotelier, and dedicated automotive enthusiast perhaps best known on the Monterey Peninsula for partnering with entertainer Doris Day to preserve the Cypress Inn, a hub for artists, actors, and enthusiasts in Carmel-by-the-Sea. LeVett was a fixture at Monterey Car Week and deeply involved in Concours for a Cause. And many of his collection of red, Italian-leaning automobiles were regularly exercised up and down 17-Mile Drive on their way to more casual events over the years.

Mohr Imports has taken on the project of re-homing his much loved collection, and will be listing all of the cars below at no reserve. Furthermore, the LeVett estate will be donating an amount equal to the BaT buyer’s fee from each sale to the Doris Day Animal Foundation, a cause near to Mr. LeVett’s heart given his close relationship with Ms. Day. The first lots from the LeVett Collection will be going live shortly, and additional auctions will appear in the days to come. A preview of all 15 cars continues below.

Let’s start with the Italians, who form the backbone of the collection. In fact, LeVett’s phalanx of Ferraris represents the Dino in all of its evolutions, from the 1960s up until Enzo’s death.

1967 Fiat Dino Spider and 1969 Ferrari Dino 246 GT

Ferrari’s official partnership with Fiat didn’t happen until 1969, but the V6 released in the 206 Dino couldn’t be used for Formula 2 competition until 500 copies had been built—a quantity that outstripped their production capacity. Thus, Ferrari got together with the Agnellis in 1966 to boost production, and in turn, Fiat got Vittoria Jano’s brilliant narrow-angle V6 under the hood of their sexy new Pininfarina roadster and Bertone coupe. A 1969 246 Dino and a 1967 Fiat Dino Spider are represented in the collection, both in red over black with matching 14″ Cromodora wheels. The Fiat was acquired by LeVett in 2002, and the Ferrari is an L-Series example that LeVett had owned since 1986. It comes with a Marcel Massini report, and has appeared at several shows during Monterey Car Week and Concours on the Avenue.

1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4, 32k-Mile 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB, 1987 Ferrari 328 GTS, and 1989 Ferrari Mondial T Cabriolet

Jano’s V6 sprouted two more cylinders for its 1975 evolution, and the mid-engine V8 Ferrari has been a staple of the lineup ever since. These four cars represent the V8 Ferraris built under Enzo’s supervision. The Bertone-designed 308 GT4 was refinished in red prior to LeVett’s 2017 acquisition, and during his stewardship received partial interior refurbishment. A few needs remain, providing an opportunity for a new owner to make it their own. The 308 GTB is of nearly identical spec to its older sibling—finished in Rosso Chiaro over tan and equipped with the same Weber-carbureted, four-cam V8. The difference, of course, is the Pininfarina bodywork that just looks right in every way. This example is a driver (of course!), and was added to the collection nine years back.

The 328 GTS worked out many of the quirks of the earlier 308s and preserved their spirit while providing a slightly more refined driving experience, with a larger 3.2-liter variant of the fuel-injected F105 found in the previous 308 Quattrovalvole. LeVett’s car was of the archetypal spec—Rosso Corsa over black with a removable roof—and shows 58k miles after 11 years in the collection. It is fresh off of a belt service and rides on new Pirellis. The Mondial T Cabriolet is from 1989, the year after Enzo’s death. The “T” specification was the final iteration of the Mondial, and while it did feature revised bodywork, the model was no mere facelift. The 3.4-liter, 300-horsepower V8 was reoriented longitudinally while the gearbox remained transverse, forming the T-shape that defined the model. It too is finished in Rosso Corsa, while tan Connolly leather lines the 2+2 cabin.

1959 BMW Isetta 300

The Isetta is an honorary Italian, designed by Iso and licensed to several different manufacturers, most notably BMW. This makes it an ideal car with which to transition to the German section of the collection. The Isetta before us today is a four-wheeled 300 model powered by a 298cc airhead twin. The car was added to the collection in 2019 and was shown at Monterey Car Week in subsequent years.

1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet, 54-Years-Owned 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL, and 1994 Mercedes-Benz E320 Cabriolet

Mr. LeVett preferred his Benzes with two doors and no roof. His earliest car is a 220 SE, one of 1,112 fuel-injected cars built during the model’s three-year run. Refurbished in 2009, it has also been refinished in this unique strawberry metallic shade. The car entered the collection in 2022, and comes with refurbishment records as well as a facsimile data card and production literature from Mercedes-Benz. Its sibling is an early 190SL that has been part of the collection since 1972 and shows its age gracefully. A new fuel pump was fitted in preparation for the sale.

At 32 years of age, this soft-top W124 is the youngest Mercedes in the collection, which it joined in 2007. This driver is finished in Imperial Red over beige leather and features amenities that were high-end staples back in 1994, like heated seats with memory settings, a trunk-mounted CD changer, and a factory cellphone. Approximately 17k of its 64k miles were driven by Mr. LeVett, and it looks just right cruising under the cypress trees in the Del Monte forest.

This final batch gives the collection a bit more breadth:

1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider Veloce

The boat-tail Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce is a quintessential Italian sports car, with covered lights, a 1,779cc twin-cam four, and a five-speed gearbox to help it keep up the pace on modern roads.

1947 Fiat 500A Topolino Trasformabile Project

This little mouse is a project car that was purchased by LeVett in 2007 and was shown at The Quail and Concours for a Cause during his ownership. The car features a retractable “Trasformabile” cloth roof and was serviced by Sports Car Shop in Monterey, California, though it has been parked for many years since.

B18-Powered 1953 MG TF Project

The MG TF is also a project, but it should be hard to kill a red-block Volvo B18 like the one that was placed under the bonnet by the previous owner. A British-Swedish hot rod T-series sounds like a hoot and we hope to hear from its new owner once it’s back on the road.

1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup Project

This Model A pickup is the sole prewar vehicle in the collection. Its healthy shine condition attests to its upkeep in various collections, and it has been a display piece for many years.

1989 Bentley Mulsanne S

If red sports cars aren’t your thing and you’ve made it to the bottom of this post, we have a reward for you—a 1989 Bentley Mulsanne S in Horse Chestnut Metallic (hey, it’s a reddish brown) over Parchment Connolly leather. The Mulsanne S carries the short wheelbase, tauter suspension, and select styling details of the Bentley Turbo R, and ought to attract plenty of attention without sacrificing the comfort of its occupants. The big Bentley has been a California car since new.

A video preview from Mohr Imports is above, and the full list of cars in the LeVett Collection are below. Links to live auctions will be added as they become available.