Artcurial’s Retromobile auction is “the Official Sale” of the Retromobile show in Paris at the Porte de Versailles Paris Expo center, a lavish, enthusiastic, celebration of all things old cars.
Retromobile covers thousands of square meters of enclosed exhibition space with just about every kind of exhibitor from tightly focused one-marque clubs and tables covered with old gauges, horns and owner’s manuals through high end dealers with scads of Ferraris to Citroen, Peugeot and Renault manufacturers’ displays citing their heritage, competition success and current models.
Artcurial’s auction blends it all, but retains a French focus on marques, models and coachbuilders who have since the automobile’s earliest days expressed the centrality of France to the automobile’s history and development.
This year Artcurial put on a two-day auction with varied marques and models on Friday, February 9 (the cars reported in some detail here) and Saturday, February 10, with motorcycles and a single collection of predominantly French marques.
Artcurial this year, with the support of Ed Fallon and Rebecca Ruff, extended unusual access to the preview and to the Friday pre-sale lineup helping to make this the most thorough (even if far from exhaustive) coverage of this important auction.
The results expressed in dollars are exaggerated by a sorry US$ which is down 15% from last year (and made hotels, meals, taxis and Valentine’s Day chocolates more expensive.) The weather was abominable, with snow on two days of Retromobile week that brought Paris to a near-standstill.
There were barely 3 inches of damp snow (that made beautiful snowballs), but it was described as “the most snow in 31 years” and no one in Paris knew how to deal with it.
This is the Louvre plaza in snow.
And Artcurial suffered from the withdrawal of its headline lot, the Le Mans-winning Ferrari 250/275 LM s/n 0816, explained thusly: “Thursday 25 January, the heirs of Pierre Bardinon have informed Artcurial Motorcars that, due to the ongoing proceedings concerning the estate, they are suspending the sales agreement for the Ferrari 275P for Retromobile, signed with the Auction House on 31 July 2017.”
The lawyers win again.
But … keep in mind … five days in Paris is a fabulous experience. In several years of doing this I have never encountered a rude Parisian – despite their reputation. It is a pleasant, walking-friendly (even in slushy snow) city with marvelous discoveries down every street and in every establishment.
There is some marvelous stuff in Artcurial’s Retromobile auction of which only a few can be described in detail.
Keep in mind in reviewing the reports that follow that: A) the US$ is down 15% from last year; and B) Artcurial’s buyer’s commission is 16% of the first €900,000 (US$1,241,460 at the [wholesale] exchange rate on the date of the auction.) The French 20% VAT on the buyer’s commission is not included in the results reported, assuming a U.S. buyer who exports an acquired lot and claims the VAT refund.
| Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Sold < Low Est | Sold > High Est | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ | Exchange Rate |
| 2018 | 142/175 | 81.1% | 45.1% | 23.2% | $246,477 | $95,020
[38.6%] |
$34,999,679 | $1.2226 |
| 2017 | 117/154 | 76% | 47.4% | 18.4% | $296,910 | $111,186
[37.5%] |
$34,738,526 | $1.0650 |
These are the cars, sorted in lot number order.
Lot # 5 1960 Lotus Elite Series 2 Coupe; S/N 1257; Dark Green/Black leather; Estimate $97,808 – $122,260; Older restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,582 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $99,275 – Silver painted wire wheels, Dunlop tires. – Erratic, aged paint, sound but used upholstery, scuffed bright trim. A sound but well-used older restored Elite. – Not, exactly, exorbitant, but generous for its condition, this price is above the curve for Elites.
Lot # 13 1937 Horch 853 Sport Cabriolet; S/N 853493 ; Engine # 851071; Black/Brown leather; Natural cloth top; Estimate $733,560 – $978,080; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $647,978 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $751,654 – Body color wire wheels, dual sidemounts, spotlight, Horch-branded headlight lenses. – Delivered in Norway and requisitioned by the Germans in 1943, based at the Luftwaffe airfield in Trondheim and used as a parade car by Crown Prince Olaf upon the German surrender in 1945. Several owners since then, but never restored. Repainted long ago. Shrunken top and original trim, aged original upholstery with pulled seams. Sound but aged interior wood trim. Aged original chrome and ancient repaint. An important survivor, largely original with a colorful history. Volante Collection (Martin Waltz). – The challenge for the new owner is to compromise this Horch’s originality with using it. Sitting on the seats will further deteriorate their stitching; making it run, drive and stop without affecting originality will challenge any mechanic’s skills and the electrical system remains a constant fire hazard. It is by any standard a marvelous automobile with style, flair and performance. It will never again be this original and on account of its history trying to preserve it is the way to go, a factor built into its price today.
Lot # 14 1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Liter Coupe, Body by Vanvooren; S/N B132LS; Engine # F4BH; Dark Blue/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $336,215 – $427,910; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $285,547 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $331,234 – RHD. Marchal headlights and fog light, sliding sunroof, fender mirrors, wheel discs, blind quarter coachwork, inset rear-mounted spare. – Very aged but sympathetically treated original upholstery, sound paint and orderly but aged engine and chassis. A rare and distinctive combination of performance chassis and bespoke coachwork. Volante Collection (Martin Waltz). – Sold by Mecum at Monterey in 2012 to the present owner for $349,800 and bought here for, give or take a little bit, the same price in essentially the same condition, a reasonable accommodation among the seller, the buyer and the marketplace.
Lot # 15 1937 Hispano Suiza K6 4-Dr. Sedan, Body by Vanvooren; S/N 15114; Engine # 333174; Black/Brown leather; Estimate $220,068 – $317,876; Recent restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $293,424 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $340,372 – RHD. Marchal headlights, body color wire wheels, suicide rear doors, dual carbs. – Very good paint and chrome. Appealingly preserved original interior. Crisp, sharp instruments and panel but set in older interior wood trim. Handsome pillarless Vanvooren coachwork. Reportedly a quarter-million Euros was spent on restoration and preservation. Known history from new. Volante Collection (Martin Waltz). – This is an outstanding example of careful conservation and restoration to usability. It might serve as the definition of the term ‘sympathetic restoration’ it’s that good. The bidders responded to its character, style and performance with a generous but not unrealistic price barely more than what was reputedly spent on its restoration.
Lot # 16 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet, Body by Vanvooren; S/N Engine No. 546; Engine # 546; Dark Blue, Black fenders/Blue leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $794,690 – $1,161,470; Recent restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $672,430 RHD. Body color wheel discs, Scintilla headlights, trafficators. – Rebodied postwar by Vanvooren with coachwork from s/n 57757, the 1938 Paris Show car, on an unnumbered chassis. Very good paint, upholstery, top and brightwork, largely original underbody and engine compartment, a restoration that heavily weighted preservation at a reported cost of three hundred thousand Euros. – A somewhat mysterious Bugatti with an unnumbered frame and engine from another Type 57. This coachwork originally was powered by a supercharged Type 57C engine. The qualifications and cosmetic issues were a burden too heavy for the consignor’s expectations and it reasonably went unsold. Volante Collection (Martin Waltz).
Lot # 23 1926 Bugatti Type 40 Grand Sport; S/N 40131; Engine # 31; Blue/Black leatherette; Black cloth top; Estimate $244,520 – $317,876; Rebodied or re-created, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $232,294 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $269,461 – RHD. Silver wire wheels, single sidemount, Marchal headlights, cycle fenders, later carburetor. – An engaging little car, built up with a variety of original Bugatti parts including the engine, gearbox, front and rear axles. The frame is stamped with a partially illegible Bugatti number. Reproduction body. The dashboard Bugatti plate is 40131. corresponding to the engine’s original chassis. It was competently built and equipped, then driven and enjoyed. – The utility and enjoyable quality of this Bugatti outweighs the distributed origin of the largely Bugatti parts that went into its creation and it brought a generous but not unreasonable price here.
Lot # 24 1929 Avions Voisin C14 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 27966; Engine # 28043; Black/Grey prismatic fabric; Estimate $244,520 – $305,650; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $204,642 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $237,385 – RHD. Black wire wheels, dual rear-mounted spares, three luggage trunks, stayed front fenders. – Restored to consistently high standards with very good paint, brightwork and interior in Voisin’s wonderful prismatic Art Deco pattern. – Even the door handles on Voisins are novel, intriguing and a delight to operate and there really is storage room in the boxes on both fenders and at the back. This C14 was offered at Gooding’s Amelia Island auction in 2014 where it was a no-sale at a reported bid of $170,000 and was reported sold at Bonhams Quail Lodge auction in 2015 for $198,000 ($180,000 hammer.) The deal here appears to have been closed at a compromise all-in price that represents a slight premium over its prior transactions and a reasonable result for both the buyer and the seller.
Lot # 25 1938 BMW 328 Cabriolet, Body by Autenrieth; S/N 85200; Engine # 85424; Blue, Cream/Grey-Blue leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $550,170 – $733,560; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $513,492 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $595,651 – Centerlock disc wheels, rear-mounted spare, overdrive. – Good older paint, chrome and interior. Discolored speedometer dial face. Orderly engine compartment and chassis restored to touring standards. An unusual coachbuilt BMW 328 restored in 2004 and holding up well. – RM sold a similar Autenrieth Cabriolet at Amelia in 2009 for $302,500. It was an even older restoration than this, but done to higher standards. The result here is appropriate for the rarity of the coachwork, the quality of its restoration and its longevity.
Lot # 26 1936 Delahaye 135 Coupe des Alpes Cabriolet Mylord, Body by Chapron; S/N 46673; Engine # 46673; Dark Blue/Black leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $305,650 – $427,910; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $385,119 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $446,738 – RHD. Chrome wire wheels, Marchal headlights, rear-mounted spare, spring spoke steering wheel, floor shift 4-speed, 3-position top. – An unusually attractive car with distinctive steeply canted split front bumpers highlighting the Delahaye grille. A 1990’s restoration by Andre Lecoq with ty–ally excellent paint, brightwork and preserved original interior, showing little age and use despite the two decades since the restoration was completed. – The quality of this car’s Lecoq restoration and the visual appeal of its Chapron design and front end treatment brought a superior but deserved result.
Lot # 27 1927 Avions-Voisin C11 4-Dr. Sedan Lumineuse; S/N 26049; Engine # 26067; Olive Green, Black front fenders/Beige cloth; Estimate $305,650 – $427,910; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $305,650 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $354,554 – RHD. Three luggage trunks, driving light, black fabric-covered roof, folding windows, rear-mounted spare, right c-pillar mounted spotlight. – The same owner since 1973. Dull paint, sound upholstery, orderly chassis and engine. Refinished in its original colors and materials. Restored at the end of last century and said to have been driven some 1,000 km annually which show in the genuine patina of the car. – An unusual, and unusually attractive, combination of restoration and preservation that should be immensely satisfying to own and drive, a combination that shows in the realistic price it brought. Its dull paint and patina, however, would be unlikely to find a similarly-inclined audience in the States.
Lot # 28 1937 Hispano-Suiza J12 4-Dr. Sedan Fastback, Body by Gurney Nutting; S/N 13510; Engine # 321133; Black, Silver/Black leather, Red velour; Estimate $733,560 – $1,100,340; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $660,204 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $765,837 – RHD, Lucas headlights, polished wheel discs, fender skirts with stylized stork embellishment, flag staffs, sliding division. – Bodied for the Maharaja of Indore, one of two identical bodies with the other on a Phantom III. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. The rear compartment swathed in red velour is a bit jarring, but it was built for the Maharaja of Indore. The richly grained and book-matched interior wood trim is beautiful, and beautifully presented. Freshly restored, its style and size make it impossible to overlook. – ‘Imposing’ is an appropriate term to use for this giant Hispano-Suiza and despite its quality it’s huge and not to everyone’s taste or style. The price it brought here is a realistic compromise between rarity, quality and presence.
Lot # 29 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante; S/N 57624; Engine # 448; Red, Black/Brown leather; Estimate $3,667,800 – $4,279,100; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $3,056,500 plus commission of 13.44%; Final Price $3,467,294 – RHD. Alloy body, long wheelbase, supercharged, chrome wire wheels, trafficators, headlights faired into the front fender catwalks, Cibie headlights. – Supercharger installed by the Bugatti factory in 1952 on the matching numbers engine. Restored for Dr. Peter Williamson by Bunny Phillips in the 60’s. Sound paint and chrome. Worn and discolored but sound original upholstery. Edge chips around the body, orderly but aged engine compartment, tired but sound old interior wood trim. Trunk lid is skewed and the rear valence has small dents and waves. A well-maintained but definitely old restoration more than good enough to drive proudly. – Reported sold by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2008 for $880,000, the result here is a home run considering the age of the restoration and its issues.
Lot # 35 1964 Porsche 904 GTS Coupe; S/N 904104; Engine # 6290446; Crimson/Black cloth; Estimate $1,711,640 – $2,200,680; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,956,160 plus commission of 14.25%; Final Price $2,234,913 – Fender mirrors, driving lights, rollcage, wide wheels, fire system, fuel cell, Sabelt 4-point belts – Four owners from new, present owner from 1994. Raced when new by Eddy Meert, then by Robert Dutoit, finishing 6th in the 1964 Tour de France Automobile with Meert. Entered in many historic events and tours by the seller, Jean-Claude Miloe. Now powered by a 2.7 liter six, comes with a 4-cylinder P99057 from 904-059, spare gearbox (the original is in the car) and the original brakes (ventilated discs are installed.) Good cosmetics, but a well-used and Porsche-maintained competition car, not a show car. – With a clear history from new and clear of any significant accidents, this 904 has in its two engines and various spares a variety of potential uses. It will be a delight to drive and the quality of its care is apparent. The new owner got full value for money at this result.
Lot # 37 1959 Porsche 356A Carrera 1600 GS Cabriolet, Body by Reutter; S/N 151584; Engine # 93009; Ivory/Claret; Black cloth top; Estimate $978,080 – $1,467,120; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $635,752 – Bumper overriders, no hubcaps, folding rear seat, headrests, Carrera-Abarth finned front drum brakes, 5-inch wheels, oil pressure gauge – One of 27 built. Restored by Porsche in the very early 90’s and lightly modified for safety since but still in nearly like new condition. Represented as the original engine and gearbox. Jean-Claude Miloe Collection. – The restoration’s age might be an issue, but its quality is not and the seller reasonably declined to part with this matching numbers Carrera GS for the reported high bid.
Lot # 38 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Coupe; S/N 9113600343; Engine # 6630370; Yellow, Green Carrera/Black cloth; Estimate $672,430 – $794,690; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $550,170 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $638,197 – Green center Fuchs wheels, one-piece bucket seats with headrests, halogen driving lights. – Represented as the original engine and gearbox. Speedometer replaced at 70,738 km. Carbon fiber door and bootlid skins (original lightweight steel parts included. Engine, gearbox, clutch, brakes and suspension rebuilt by Porsche in 2012, stripped and repainted in 2015 and now looks like new. Present owner since 1990. Jean-Claude Miloe Collection. – This is a lot of Porsche and a surprisingly moderate price for it, even with the modifications that add to its driving experience but hit on its correctness. The original pieces come with it, for the puristically inclined, and is it a lot of Porsche for the money.
Lot # 44 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500696; Engine # 1989805500666; Silver-Grey/Claret leather; Estimate $978,080 – $1,222,600; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,191,682 plus commission of 15.69%; Final Price $1,378,698 – Polished Rudge-style wheels, U.S. headlights, Blaupunkt radio, hinged steering wheel. – Represented as matching numbers, Rudge wheels added during restoration at Kienle in the early naughts. Little used since and in impressive, showroom, condition inside, outside, underneath and under the hood showing only a little age and limited use. – It is unclear why with a hammer bid well into the pre-sale estimate range this transaction shows a calculated hammer price of Euros 974,712, but that’s how it works out. It was reported hammered on-site for Euros 930,000. This result is representative for a Gullwing of this quality.
Lot # 45 1965 Maserati Mistral 3700 Coupe, Body by Frua; S/N 109270; Engine # 109270; Ice Blue/Ivory leather; Estimate $146,712 – $195,616; Unrestored original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $177,277 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $205,641 – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, driving and fog lights, Autovox radio, ZF 5-speed, Lucas fuel injection, tool roll, books and manuals. – Stored for many years and looks like it with dull but sound original paint, erratic chrome and creased and lightly soiled upholstery. Recently recommissioned to running condition but still far from being ready to take on the Tour Auto, there is plenty for the new owner to pay for even if a complete restoration would erase its desirable patina. – The lure of originality and preservation are evident in the price of this Mistral, but within reason, at least by recent standards for originality premiums. In other words, it is expensive but consistent with other expensive unrestored cars.
Lot # 46 1966 Iso Grifo GL Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N GL660109; Orange/Pearl White; Estimate $342,328 – $440,136; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $305,650 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $354,554 – 458/500hp Chevy, Edelbrock intake, 4-barrel, MSD distributor and ignition, 4-speed, outside laced chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Pirelli tires, power windows, Becker Mexico cassette stereo. – Good repaint and original interior, freshly serviced. Never completely restored, but consistently maintained in good, usable and presentable condition. – This car was Red when it was sold by RM in Arizona in 2005 for $115,500 and has had significant work since then which has served to keep it in good condition. Its odometer has added just over 4,600 km since then. The result here may reflect a moderate discount for the modifications but it was something of a hot rod when it was built and modifications like this are more or less expected, and these seem to have been done carefully and selectively. It is a sound value at this price as well as being capable of sucking the doors off most of its contemporaries.
Lot # 48 1973 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino Spyder, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 05530; Engine # 0010996; Rosso Cordoba Metallizzato, Black roof panel/Beige leather, Black bars; Estimate $366,780 – $489,040; Unrestored original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $354,554 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $411,283 – Chairs and Flairs. Campagnolo alloy wheels, Daytona seats, Borletti air conditioning, power windows, aftermarket air filters, fire extinguisher. – Sound but aged original paint, surface creased original upholstery, old undercoat in the wheel wells. The engine compartment is orderly and is stated to have much work in 2015 after being stored for a decade. Its age is apparent, but so is its preservation. – This is a surprisingly moderate result for a well-presented highly original Chairs and Flairs 246 GTS. It needs – and deserves – some attention to details to bring it back to factory configuration, but its originality (and the unusual original color) fully support the price it brought.
Lot # 49 1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Alleggerita Sprint, Body by Bertone; S/N AR1493E02258; Engine # AR131559056; Blue/White vinyl; Estimate $232,294 – $293,424; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $220,068 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $255,279 – Plexiglas sliding side windows, no bumpers or hubcaps, 40 DCOE Webers, sliding block rear axle, replacement engine but comes with the original block AR131520107, dash-mounted electric cutoff switch. – Thick old repaint in sound but disappointing condition, sound original upholstery, dash and interior trim with one short tear in the driver’s seat cushion that could be readily repairable. Described as mechanically freshened in the past four years, with an 80-liter stainless fuel tank installed. Unknown race history, but there must be some in the dim and distant past. – Sold here in 2014 from the Solo Alfa collection for $236,884 (Euros 178,800 at the time, this result is Euros 214,560). The recent work (quoted as Euros 23,000) returned little for the seller but the price in 2014 was excessive and this result is more reasonable for what the car is.
Lot # 52 1965 De Tomaso Vallelunga Competizione Coupe; S/N VLD1611; Engine # 8465061; Yellow/Black vinyl; Estimate $244,520 – $342,328; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $299,537 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $347,463 – Lotus Twincam, dual 40 DCOE Webers, 5-speed, Plexiglas side windows. – Thick, erratic repaint over old paint, worn but sound original upholstery. Pretty stripped down in keeping with its character as a competition car, but clean and orderly inside, underneath and in the engine compartment. – Sold by Bonhams at Goodwood in June 2014 for $164,545 (GBP 96,700 at the time, today’s result is about GBP 251,900!) It’s had a modicum of work since 2014 to keep it going, but this is still a tremendous result and a curve-setter for an early Vallelunga.
Lot # 53 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Monospecchio Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFTA17B000063909; Engine # F113A00604; Silver-Grey/Red leather; Estimate $146,712 – $195,616; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $128,373 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $148,913 – Air conditioning, power windows, tools. – Described as engine-out serviced in 2016 and showing 52,738 believable km on the odometer. Quality repaint in the original color, Sound and only lightly stretched original upholstery with some nicks on the interior trim. A quality used Flying Mirror Testarossa. – Even at a good margin under Artcurial’s optimistic pre-sale estimate this is, in today’s shrunken dollars at least, a generously priced Testarossa, a value helped in no small measure by the attractive color and the preservation of the interior.
Lot # 54 1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 17955; Engine # 0228; Blu Dino Metallizzato/Beige leather; Estimate $391,232 – $464,588; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $342,328 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $397,100 – Air conditioning, centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin XWX tires. – First owned by F1 entrepreneur Paddy McNally and later by Hans Thulin’s infamous Consolidator Collection. Extensively serviced since 2014. Good older paint and original upholstery and interior trim only lightly used. Original underneath. Orderly engine compartment. – Sold here three years ago for $532,283 (Euros 482,760 at the time; this result is Euros 333,760.) By any measure the 2015 result was generous in the extreme. The transaction here makes much more sense and is a strong value for the new owner.
Lot # 56 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTC Convertible, Body by Bertone; S/N AR755208; Engine # 13177; Silver-Grey/Saddle leather; Black top; Estimate $91,695 – $116,147; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $81,914 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $95,020 – Dual Webers, Radiomatic radio, steel wheels, hubcaps, leather rim steering wheel. – Tired old paint with minor issues. Good leather upholstery, original carpets hidden under strange mats that cover the center tunnel as well. Scratched, scuffed chrome and stainless. The wavy sills are not encouraging. A sound Alfa showing its age and some indifferent attention. – This result is not as generous as it seems when it is expressed in today’s weak dollars but even at a more reasonable exchange rate it still is all the money in the world (Euros 79,864) for this GTC’s condition.
Lot # 61 1942 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Cabriolet, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 915169; Champagne Gold/Saddle leather; Estimate $1,467,120 – $1,956,160; Concours restoration, 1 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,075,888 – RHD. Turbine wheel covers, translucent sun visors, skirts, ventiports, tiny flag staff on the hood, clear plastic dash knobs, radio, trafficators, tools, jack. – Built as a show car by Pinin Farina in 1946 on one of fourteen 1942 chassis. Displayed outside the 1946 Paris Show (the Italians were not welcome in France in 1946) where it and a sister Pinin Farina Lancia Aprilia attracted more attention than they would have on the show floor. Acquired in 1948 by Leonard Lord, Chairman of Austin, then by Austin Managing Director George Harriman and eventually by Holden Koto, an American designer with Raymond Loewy in England to design a new Austin Seven. Neglected for years but recently restored to its original appearance with concours quality paint, chrome, upholstery, engine and chassis. – Say what you like about the design, it is impressively forward-thinking for 1946 and has been impressively restored appropriate to its importance. The seller’s decision not to let it go for the reported bid could be second-guessed but it is a milestone design that deserves an invitation to Pebble Beach.
Lot # 65 1949 Simca Eight Barchetta, Body by Motto; S/N 145063; Blue/Black; No top; Estimate $275,085 – $336,215; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $244,520 – RHD. Driving lights behind the grille, dual Plexiglas windscreens, passenger’s hard tonneau cover, dual Solex carburetors, Abarth intake, 1,220 cc. – Shaped like a watermelon seed, this car was built by Jean Estager, sold to Max Deblon in 1951 who entered it for Le Mans but did not start although it did race at Montlhéry in 1953. ‘Sympathetically’ restored in the naughts, the paint is dull, the interior is sound and the engine and chassis are orderly. It should be eligible for a wide variety of important events and tours. – It is event eligibility, not history, that makes this Simca ‘Huit’ valuable, but the lack of important or even consistent period competition history creates some question about acceptability, and it is acceptability that confers value. No one has tried to get this Simca into the Mille Miglia, or even historic Le Mans, which creates just enough doubt about its acceptability to make the reported high bid here realistic.
Lot # 66 1981 Citroen CX 2400 Prestige Landaulette, Body by Chapron; S/N VF7MAMV0000MV0185; Engine # M236221780004944; Grey/Taupe leather; Grey top; Estimate $97,808 – $146,712; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $97,808 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $113,457 – Folding rear compartment roof with a clear plastic panel to replace it, automatic, Philips cassette stereo, power windows, air conditioning (with a modern rotary compressor). – A long wheelbase chassis bodied by Chapron for Citroen to lend to celebrities. Marginal quality repaint, sound original upholstery and carpets, orderly engine compartment. The roof frame chrome is peeling. One of the last jobs from the Henri Chapron workshop, reasonably well preserved and maintained. – This is a rather extraordinary automobile, and it is something of a trophy, at least in France, for which a healthy but not unrealistic price was paid.
Lot # 69 1965 Citroen DS 21 Coupe Le Dandy, Body by Chapron; S/N 4350003; Dark Blue, White roof/Beige leather; Estimate $305,650 – $427,910; Unrestored original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $268,972 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $312,008 – Marchal head and fog lights, Pioneer 8-track stereo, wheel covers. – Dull original paint, surface creased and soiled original upholstery and grungy carpets look far more used that the 27,840 km on the odometer would indicate. Sound and solid, but old and not given much attention. – ‘Le Dandy’ is one of the more unusual Chapron creations on Citroen chassis, quite a claim for a series of cars known to be idiosyncratic. The short, blind quarter greenhouse and long, flat rear deck looks like a Gallic Ranchero. There is more neglect than preservation appeal to this Le Dandy and it brought a healthy price consistent with its rarity.
Lot # 82 1960 Triumph TR3A Roadster; S/N TS71238L; White/Black leatherette, White piping; Black leatherette top; Estimate $36,678 – $48,904; Older restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $36,678 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $42,546 – Chrome wire wheels, fender mirrors, overdrive, Moto Lita woodrim steering wheel. – Sound older paint, chrome and interior with minor defects and wear. Orderly unrestored underbody. The engine compartment is not fresh but is very well done and maintained. A sound and attractive TR3A, better than the average driver but not a show car. – The quality of the decade-old restoration shows in how well it is holding up and the bidders paid attention with this generous result. The combination of a strong Euro and a 16% buyer’s premium combine to make this result look far more expensive than it should be.
Lot # 86 1990 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta; S/N ZFFGJ34B000084481; Engine # 21404; Red/Red cloth; Estimate $916,950 – $1,222,600; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $978,080 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $1,134,573 – Air conditioning, Assembly # 01470, no cats, non-adjustable suspension, new PZero tires on modular wheels. – Good original paint, recovered seats and dashboard. Fuel cells replaced and good ’til 2025. 29,258 km from new. Ferrari Classiche certified. – This is unusual mileage for an F40, particularly after spending seven years in Japan where it was barely used at all and this is an appropriate price for it, even with the 16% buyer’s premium.
Lot # 91 2006 Ferrari FXX Berlinetta; S/N ZFFHX62X000145764; Red, White stripe/Black cloth; Estimate $3,178,760 – $3,912,320; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,811,980 plus commission of 13.57%; Final Price $3,193,431 – Assembly # 62512, black calipers and 5-spoke alloy wheels, SF shields, a complete inventory of the originally-supplied spares, accessories and covers. – A preserved display car from new, electronically scanned (there is no odometer) in December and showing 97km from new, never in sixth gear. One of 38 built and never used for the intended purpose. – It is now unlikely this FXX will ever see a track, even for a spirited outing, having been preserved from new, regularly maintained, and now past its developmental purpose. It is an artifact, not an automobile. This result is, by a margin of over $1 million, the most expensive FXX ever sold at auction, a huge premium.
Lot # 92 2007 Ferrari Enzo Berlinetta; S/N ZFFCZ56B000136736; Red/Black; Estimate $2,200,680 – $2,689,720; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,956,160 – Assembly # 04128. SF shields, black calipers – 19,938 km from new, two owners, barely used, regularly maintained and in nearly showroom condition. – Even when converted to today’s weak dollars this is an anemic offer for an Enzo even with 19,000 km.
Lot # 95 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 0849GT; Engine # 0849GT; Black/Turquoise leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $8,558,200 – $11,003,400; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $6,724,300 – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, disc brakes, covered headlights, Marchal fog lights, front bumperettes, halogen headlights, tool roll. – Repainted this color (originally white, later red) at Lecoq about five years ago and reupholstered in the original Turquoise. The paint is, as expected, very good, as it the essentially unused upholstery. The underbody has old but consistent undercoat and the engine compartment is nearly like new. Now reunited with its original engine, internal number 0214C. – This Ferrari crossed the block at Barrett-Jackson WestWorld in 1996 where it was bid to a paltry $275,000 after being sold at Monaco in 1990 for $766,488 in the declining days of the late 80’s Ferrari Frenzy. The bid here in Paris is not unrealistic, just conservative.
Lot # 97 1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Coupe; S/N 52697; Engine # 33592; Silver-Grey/Red; Estimate $220,068 – $342,328; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $195,616 – Hubcaps, whitewalls, Becker radio, white steering wheel. – Very good paint over a surprisingly filler-free body, beautiful upholstery and glass. Sharp engine compartment and underbody. A quality, freshly restored Pre-A coupe represented to have its original engine. – This is neither a cabriolet nor a Super and it should have been on its way to a new owner well before reaching the reported high bid, even taking into account the quality of the restoration.
Lot # 98 1968 Abarth 1000 SP Barchetta; S/N SE04046; Red, Green nose/Black; Estimate $354,554 – $440,136; Competition restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $293,424 – 115hp twin cam Abarth engine, 4-bolt alloy wheels, full width windshield and roll bar, fire system. – Raced by the original owner, Enzo Buzetti, class winner at Mugello 7/20/69, class second in the Targa Florio (16th overall). Restored in 1992 and still in orderly, presentable and probably nearly race-ready condition. Abarth Classiche certified. – While this is a hot little car capable of competing way over its 1-litre head the thought of paying a third of a million dollars for it is also a little over its head.
Lot # 99 1952 Gordini Type 16 Formula 1; S/N 33; Light Blue/Black; Estimate $1,100,340 – $1,711,640; Competition restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $978,080 – Aeroscreen, 2.5 liter Type 23 engine with three dual choke Weber carbs, also comes with a 2 liter Type 20 F2 engine. – Driven by Jean Behra at the 1952 French GP at Reims to first overall and raced through 1955 with 47 World Championship races driven by Behra, Trintignant, Schell and many more legends. Restored by Christian Huet in the 70’s from the original parts, probably hasn’t run since, and still in that aged but complete condition today. – A Grand Prix winning car from the Fifties with traceable history back to the original constructor, Amedee Gordini and attested by Gordini historian Christian Huet is, in fact and even with its aged restoration in need of a complete re-restoration, worth more than the reported high bid here. It is somewhat surprising that it didn’t bring more here in France where Gordini (‘The Sorcerer’) is a legend.
Lot # 100 1955 Maserati A6G/2000 Coupe, Body by Allemano/Zagato; S/N 2108; Engine # 2108; White, Blue stripe/Blue; Estimate $3,056,500 – $3,301,020; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,261,810 – Silver painted wire wheels, beautiful gauges with faces in the color of the exterior stripe. – Represented as the original engine. Displayed at the New York auto show in 1956 with the original Allemano body but the body was destroyed in a fire shortly thereafter. Ultimately restored by Keith Duly with the Zagato body from s/n 2102 and completed in 2015. 2017 historic Mille Miglia participant. A bit mixed up, but beautifully done and with a known history. – At the low estimate, with Artcurial’s buyer’s premium added, this would have been a $3.4 million car. While that wouldn’t be an A6G record it would be a lot for a swapped body car. On the other hand, the reported high bid would have been a nearly unprecedented bargain making the decision to wait for a better offer reasonable.
Lot # 101 1963 René Bonnet Aerodjet LM6 Coupe; S/N 7013; Light Blue/Black leatherette; Estimate $305,650 – $427,910; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $256,746 – 1.3 liter Gordini engine, leather rim steering wheel, fire system, roll cage, driving lights. French titled with the number AER53623 – 1963 Le Mans unclassified but running at the finish driven by Rene Bouharde and Bruno Basini. Comes with the original 1,108cc Gordini engine. Three owners from new, original upholstery. Serviceable and presentable. – A French marque with Le Mans history is worth at least this much at Retromobile.
Lot # 102 1970 Alpine 1600 S Coupe Competition Group 4; S/N 16807; Blue/Black leatherette; Estimate $207,842 – $256,746; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $178,467 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $207,021 – 1,860cc Alpine A110 engine, huge flares over wide, deeply offset wheels and tires, covered headlights, two pairs of driving lights, braced rollbar – Hillclimbed by Pierre Agostini when new with 5 wins and 5 seconds in 20 events in 1972. Later fitted with the flares and wide wheels and tires and now road-equipped. – Purely outrageous in appearance but with an honorable history in the hands of a private entrant, Agostini, without factory support. It was hammered sold on the block with a bid of Euros 150,000 but closed with the result shown here, equivalent to a computed hammer bid of Euros 145,973. It will frighten most drivers off the road when it appears in their rear view mirrors, but will be hard to drive on the narrow old streets of Paris.
Lot # 103 1954 Maserati A6 GCS/53 Spyder, Body by Fantuzzi & Malagoli; S/N 2087; Engine # 2087; Red/Red; Estimate $3,423,280 – $4,401,360; Competition restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,567,460 plus commission of 13.71%; Final Price $2,919,569 – Silver painted Borrani wire wheels, driver’s curved Plexiglas windscreen, side exhausts, left fender side vent, driver’s head fairing, passenger’s seat hard tonneau cover, grille-mounted driving lights, Marchal headlights. – 1955 Mille Miglia participant (dnf) driven by Attilio Buffa who raced and hillclimbed it through 1956, then by others through 1960. Six time historic Mille Miglia participant since 1994. Very good paint and interior. Restored like new with some age and event participation but a wholly satisfying and charming car represented have its original engine with some replaced body panels and upgraded Maserati drum brakes. – Sold by Brooks Auctioneers at Monaco in 1993 for $286,981 (FFr 1,554,000 at the time, an irrelevant historical tidbit today) fresh from restoration. It is ten times as much today, 25 years later, which makes sense. Try to touch a 2-liter Ferrari of the period for this price.