No, it wasn’t at the Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées, it wasn’t during Rétromobile, nor in fact was it even in France. Les Grandes Marques du Monde á Paris was literally aethereal and online only.
It also didn’t share the usual exceptional collection of rare, valuable and famous European cars and obscure French marques and models for which this venue is well-known. The cars were scattered across the Continent for previewing by appointment. Previewing was in many cases essential as many of the lots on offer had short and sketchy written descriptions and were not supported by the detailed photography that is crucial for an online only auction.
It also was devoid of the historic and grand setting of the Grand Palais, but that will be true also for the next few years as the historic structure is rebuilt. The Bonhams auction and other events will move to a new temporary “grand palais” in 2022 et seq located on the Champ de Mars, framed by the Eifel Tower.
Thirty-three of the sixty-seven lots offered by Bonhams in this year’s Grandes Marques auction are reported here. There were no lots bid to $1 million or more. The top sale was a surprising Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Turbo-Look cabriolet once owned by fabled footballer Diego Maradona, a result more notable for its celebrity history than its innate value.
The total sale was one-fifth of last year’s total reflecting the smaller consignment, their caliber and the absence of any $1 million lots of which there were six last year with three sold including the top lot Bugatti Type 55 for $5,050,340 (which would have been $5,474,000 in 2021’s weaker dollars).
A telling commentary on the market, particularly for late model Ferraris, is that two of the lots sold at the median transaction of $75,268 were a dramatically expensive 1964 Morris Mini Cooper and a scantily documented 1997 Ferrari 456 GT. A sign of Yin and Yang converging?
And we all look forward to returning to Paris in 2022 when Bonhams will be in the temporary grand palais, Rétromobile will be back at Porte de Versailles accompanied by Artcurial Motorcars and RM Sotheby’s will return to Place Vauban. The Paris experience will not be complete, however, until the renovated and reconstructed Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées reopens in 2024-2025.
Here are the numbers:
| Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Sold < Low Est | Sold > High Est | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ | Exchange Rate |
| Virtual, 2021 | |||||||
| 37/67 | 55.2% | 46% | 13.5% | $117,118 | $75,268
[64.3%] |
$4,333,355 | $1.19 |
| Live, 2020 | |||||||
| 64/100 | 64% | 75% | 1.6% | $332,497 | $141,410
[42.5%] |
$21,279,792 | $1.0979 |
Observations are by Andrew Newton and Rick Carey based on the Bonhams website descriptions and photos. Photos are courtesy of Bonhams. The descriptions are sorted in lot number order.
Lot # 110 1961 Lotus Elite Coupe; S/N 1336; Engine # 9631; Old English White/Black leather; Estimate $101,150 – $148,750; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $95,200. – 1,400/100hp Coventry Climax four, dual Webers, ZF close-ratio gearbox, painted wire wheels, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob. – Sold new in California. Later body-off restored in Europe with Climax FWB crankshaft and connecting rods as well as forged pistons for an estimated 100 horsepower, about 25 more than stock. Clean paint, body, and wheels. Factory gaps (aka uneven). The metal dash is tarnished and gauges look older. Light age on the steering wheel, but clean upholstery and carpets. Clean, sorted engine bay. A lovely, fully restored Elite that was a quick car in 1960 and is even quicker today with that hot engine. – With not only a fiberglass body but also an entirely fiberglass monocoque structure underneath, the Elite was a fragile car even by Lotus standards. But the Elite’s racing pedigree and significance to the marque has made them collectible enough for long enough that most examples like this one have had a thorough restoration. Chassis 1336 sold for Euros 89,600 ($102,300 at the time) at RM Paris in 2015, and Elites are more valuable today than they were six years ago. Even if the car has aged a bit since then, it deserved more than this reported high bid.
Lot # 111 1964 Morris Mini Cooper 1275S 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N KA2S4L553426; Engine # 9FSAY34673; Tweed Grey, Old English White roof/Dove Grey, Dark Grey; Estimate $35,700 – $47,600; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,450 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $75,268. – 1,275/76hp, 4-speed, oil cooler, extra fuel tank, Minilite wheels, Dunlop SP Sport tires, reversing light, heater, Smiths tachometer, leather-wrapped steering wheel. – Delivered new to Sweden, which still drove on the left side of the road at the time (the Swedes switched in 1967). Used as a race car when new and not registered for the road until 1973. Restored in 2018. Represented as matching numbers. Very clean restored engine bay. Very good interior with light wear on the carpets. The original Minilite wheels are a little beat up but rare. Straight body. Redone underneath. A clean, correct, genuine 1275 Cooper S that like all hot Minis looks like a barrel of laughs. – This is a massive price for a miniature car, but classic Minis have consistently appreciated for several years now. Plus, a real-deal 1275 Cooper S with known history and its original engine just isn’t as easy to find as one might think. The presumably original Minilite wheels are an added bonus. The bidders recognized this as a gem from their computer screens, ignored the minor flaws, and paid absolute top dollar in a frenzy of bidding on the last day that took it from cheap to expensive.
Lot # 112 1990 Lotus Omega 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N SCC000019L1175629; Engine # C36GET30L50002; Imperial Dark Green/Anthracite leather; Estimate $71,400 – $95,200; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $53,550 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $61,583. – 3.6/377hp twin-turbo six, ZF 6-speed, limited-slip. – Represented as the second oldest Omega. Used as a promo car and displayed at the 1992 Paris Motor Show. Showing 103,000 km (64,001 mi). Repainted front bumper and rebuilt brakes, but otherwise only represented with “general maintenance”. Showing light general age under the hood and on the upholstery that matches the age and mileage, but no cause for concern. – The Vauxhall Lotus Carlton (sold as the Opel Lotus Omega in Europe) is one of the all-time great sleepers. It looks like a slightly gussied up four-door commuter car, but has a twin-turbo straight-six with 377hp and 419 lb-ft, the 6-speed gearbox from the Corvette ZR-1 (which in 1990 boasted 370hp from its 4-cam fuel injected V8), and thoroughly upgraded suspension and brakes. At a time when German OEMs were limiting their sedans to 155 mph, the Carlton/Omega Lotus would do 176, making it the world’s fastest four-door for several years. Some people wanted it outlawed, a suggestion that was debated in Parliament. Just 950 were built (320 Carltons, 630 Omegas), but few led pampered lives and in the UK they were one of the most stolen cars of the early ’90s. Over the past couple of years Carlton/Omegas have started to sell for more money, including one sold by Silverstone in 2018 for £78,750, another one sold by Silverstone in 2019 for £58,500, and one Coys last February for Euros 63,000. This one fell short of its presale estimate, but the result is a reasonable balance between its early build date/factory promo appearances and its age/mileage.
Lot # 115 1968 Alfa Romeo Giulia Junior Duetto Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N AR1670175; Engine # AR00530M2329; Red/Black vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $47,600 – $71,400; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $45,220 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $52,003. – 1,290/89hp, dual Weber carburetors, 5-speed, silver steel wheels, hubcaps, covered headlights, no radio. – Described as restored in 2018 and appears to have been done to usable driver condition with an orderly engine compartment, sound interior, good-fitting top. Not many photos, however, and difficult to assess its detail condition. Described online as “Osso di Seppia” which Google translates as “cuttlefish bone”, an apt description of the Duetto’s profile. – Whether it’s a cuttlefish bone or a Duetto this is still the essential 105-series Alfa Giulia spider, even with the tax-saving 89hp 1,290cc engine. It’s still a delight to drive and even 89hp is sufficient urge to keep up with traffic. One of quite a few cars in this sale with too-brief descriptions and too few photos, it was available for inspection in Belgium and the price it brought suggests the bidders took advantage of the inspection opportunity in arriving at this generous price.
Lot # 116 1987 Ferrari 512 BBi Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFJA09B000047075; Red, Black lower body/Black leather; Estimate $190,400 – $238,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $190,400 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $218,960. – 4,942/340hp, 5-speed, 5-spoke centerlock alloy wheels, tri-ear wheel nuts, Michelin XWX tires, Borletti air conditioning, power windows, leather rim steering wheel, Pioneer cassette stereo. – Present ownership since 2014, represented as recently belt serviced but also stated to need a new major and cam belt service. Clean, orderly engine compartment. Good original upholstery lightly patinaed appropriate to the 44,151 km displayed on the odometer. There’s a tiny chip on the right rear corner but otherwise the paint is good and bright. Reassuring in appearance yet confusing in its service history. – The Berlinetta Boxer benefited from Ferrari’s Formula 1 experience with horizontally-opposed 12-cylinder engines in the late Sixties. In addition to the confusion over its service status, it is also confusing that it is called a 1987, when 512 BBi production ended in 1984. 1987 was well into the era of its successor, the Testarossa. Under the confusing circumstances it did well to bring this price.
Lot # 118 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 5501048; Engine # 1219215501071; Silver/Claret leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $95,200 – $13,090; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $101,150 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $116,323. – 1,897/105hp, Weber 40DCOE carburetors, 4-speed, steel wheels, hubcaps, narrow whitewalls, Becker Europa multi-band radio. – Restored in the Netherlands early in the century. Good paint and upholstery. Good looking engine compartment, tight fitting top. A competently restored and well-maintained 190SL, but also one that’s not too good to be driven and enjoyed. – However it’s not as good as the price it brought. Although 190SLs have regained some strength in the market recently, this much money could have bought a better-restored example with rebuilt correct Solex carburetors rather than this expediently restored Weber carbureted example.
Lot # 120 1993 Porsche 968 Club Sport Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ96ZPS815626; Engine # 42P02672; White/Black cloth; Estimate $59,500 – $83,300; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $59,500 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $68,425. – 2,990/240hp, 6-speed, Recaro competition seats, 17-inch wheels, factory cassette stereo. Comes with an extra pair of Recaro seats. – Rare stripped out Club Sport version, which was sold without insulation, power windows, rear seats, or a steering wheel airbag. Represented with 73,073 km (45,405 mi). Last serviced three years ago. A few bits of paint have come off the rear badge. A few small rock chips on the nose. The interior looks spotless. Some dirt and wear under the hood. Overall, the condition matches the mileage. – The classic Porsche trend of sportier but more uncomfortable cars selling for big premiums extends beyond 911s. This 968 Club Sport, which is among the quickest and most desirable of the four-cylinder front-engine transaxle cars (924, 944, and 968), sold for over twice as much as a base 968 in this condition ordinarily would.
Lot # 122 1995 Honda NSX Coupe; S/N JMMNA11500T100133; Engine # 2000112; Formula Red, Black roof/Black leather; Estimate $65,450 – $89,250; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $59,500 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $68,425. – 2,977/270hp, 6-speed. – Sold new in France. Represented with 23,092 km (14,349 mi). Last serviced three years ago. – It’s unclear whether this car has been sitting since its 2018 service or if it will need some sorting, but Hondas are robust and this NSX’s low mileage is a plus. This is a straightforward, appropriate result for it.
Lot # 123 1965 Sunbeam Tiger Mark IA Roadster; S/N B382000594LRXFE; Midnight Blue, Silver hardtop/Grey vinyl, Black cloth inserts; Estimate $59,500 – $95,200; Modified for competition during restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $38,080. – 260, Holley 4-barrel carburetor, 4-speed, Minilite-style alloy wheels, four driving lights, hardtop, 4-point Sparco belts, roll cage, Mallory tach, oversize conventional fuel tank, FIA HTP and ACI-CSAI documented. – Sound older paint, interior and historic rally preparation with some shortcuts and plenty of use. Weak chrome. The best part may be the hardtop which is half covered with historic rally tech stickers. Represented as recently repainted and the engine, brakes and suspension rebuilt. It’s definitely used but also ready for more. – The estimate is reasonable for a rally competition modified Mark IA Tiger, but the bidders didn’t like it. The bidding stalled at Euros 25K (about $30,000) four days earlier and only advanced to this bid on the day before the auction ended, a good sign that no one much cared for it, even with the hardtop.
Lot # 124 1926 Salmson Type AL GSS Sports Tourer; S/N 99; Engine # 99; Blue/Dark Red leather; Estimate $119,000 – $166,600; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $119,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $136,850. – RHD. 1,086cc twin cam four-cylinder, dual SU carburetors, 4-speed, single sidemount spare, vee windshield, black cloth tonneau cover, Marchal headlights, 4-wheel drum brakes, siren, modern parking lights and turn signals. – Used in competition since new, erratically documented in period photographs and magazines. Metal hood and fenders, fabric covered passenger tonneau. Presented in aged and used condition with road grime on the chassis and an engine that has been driven but also looked after, the best way for a competition-oriented voiturette to be kept. – Eligible, and even sought, for many enjoyable events, this diminutive Salmson is a sound value at this price. It offers performance, rarity and a (loosely) documented period competition history in a car that can be used as-is with charm and patina that would be ruined by restoration attempts.
Lot # 125 1992 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione ‘Giallo Ferrari’ 4-Dr. Hatchback; S/N ZLA831AB000576286; Giallo Ferrari/Black leather; Estimate $89,250 – $113,050; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $89,250 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $102,638. – 1,995/210hp turbocharged inline 4-cylinder, 5-speed, alloy wheels, Michelin tires, air conditioning. – Two owners from new, and fastidious ones they must have been because the car is immaculately turned out. Excellent original paint and barely patinated leather upholstery. The engine compartment looks like it could have just come out of the showroom. Represented as 53,750 km from new, but looks like less. – A superior Delta HF Integrale Evo in a limited edition configuration with luxury appointments and a credit to the two owners who maintained it in impeccable condition. It brought a superior price that is fully deserved for its condition and configuration.
Lot # 127 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark I 2.6-Litre Sports Saloon, Body by Mulliner; S/N LML678; Engine # VB6E501407; Light Green/Olive Green leather, Ivory piping; Estimate $113,050 – $172,550; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $119,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $136,850. – RHD. 2,580/125hp, 4-speed, silver painted wire wheels, Lucas headlights and fog lights. – Three owners, only two of them registered, since new, odometer shows 75,770 believable kilometers. Represented as matching numbers. Dull, chipped old repaint. Good but aged replaced upholstery and carpets. Mostly original and oil misty engine compartment and chassis. A sound and usable highly original example that runs but needs comprehensive mechanical attention before taking to the road. – The new owner faces a conundrum. A restoration to show quality might be worth a quarter million dollars or even a little bit more, but there’s only a little over a hundred thousand left to get there after paying this price for it. The other hand is to give it the mechanical work it needs (which won’t be inexpensive either) freshen it up and try to resuscitate the paint and preserve it as a rewarding weekend driver, which seems much more reasonable with this transaction as the starting point.
Lot # 130 1971 Citroen DS21 I.E. Decapotable, Body by Chapron; S/N 01FA6402; Engine # 560014903; Gris Nacré/Red leather; Black Skai top; Estimate $178,500 – $297,500; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $178,500 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $205,275. – 2,175/109hp fuel injected four, semi-automatic gearbox, Robergel spoked wheels, Blaupunkt radio, dash clock. – One of 1,365 Chapron convertibles originally built, but unlike the more common “Cabriolet Usine” (factory convertible) this car sold directly from Chapron, not a Citroen dealer. Features extra stainless body side trim, Robergel spoked wheels, Skai imitation leather soft top, and “trompe l’oeil” (optical illusion) paintwork on the dash that looks like wood veneer. Represented as one of four semi-automatic Chaprons built on the fuel injected DS21 I.E. platform. Mechanically overhauled in the 2000s but the body and interior were largely left alone. Worn, cracking original leather and discolored carpets, but the dash and switchgear look sound aside from some pitting around the gauge bezels. Tidy engine bay with some dirt and grime from light use. Lightly oxidized exhaust. Some of the brightwork looks a bit tired, and the panel fit appears uneven in the photos. A sound, rare car that’s showing its age. – It may be a little bit tired, but the Henri Chapron convertibles are the ones with two doors and a top that goes down, so they’re the most desirable versions of the “Dee Esse.” This is an appropriate price that fell into Bonhams’ reasonable estimate range and should leave both parties happy.
Lot # 132 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series II Coupe; S/N DB4296L; Engine # 370317; Silver/Black leather; Estimate $535,500 – $714,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $499,800 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $574,770. – 3,670/240hp, dual SU carburetors, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Vredestein tires, woodrim steering wheel. – Polished cam covers and carburetor dashpots in a tidy and well-presented engine compartment with some fluid residue. Good paint and upholstery. The chrome is sound but not uniformly high quality. There are many photos but many of them are repetitive and fail to show detail. None are from under the car. On top of a minimal written condition statement, that makes it hard to assess condition. There is mention of a “Professional condition/valuation report”, but it is from 2015 and not quoted or shown in photos. – Bidding started slowly but added Euros 100,000 in the last day to reach this generous result. Note, however, that it’s not generous if the car was good, it is generous only based upon the thin description and photography.
Lot # 133 2017 Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera Sciàdipersia Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N ZAMVL45B000181682; Orient Night Sky (Deep Blue)/Dark Blue leather, Bright Blue accents, Beige trim; Estimate $452,200 – $690,200; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $380,800. – 4.2/396hp V8, paddle shifted automatic, power everything, CD stereo, panoramic glass roof, matching Dark Blue/Bright Blue leather Foglizzo luggage, 5-spoke alloy wheels, PZero tires – This is rather elaborately named, but the VIN translates to a 2005 Maserati GranTurismo coupe, the chassis upon which it is based. “Sciadipersia” translates to “Shah of Persia” and the design is loosely based upon the Maserati 5000 GT built for the Shah (AM103.002), fortunately without the inelegant snout that bifurcated the top of the Shah’s 5000 GT grille. 11,060 km on the odometer are believable and the condition is barely used aside from some stone chips on the nose. Fan shroud signed by the Touring artisans. The only Sciadipersia coupe built by Touring, the others are cabriolets. – The original cost was Euros 760,620, probably only from the Touring invoice and not including the cost of the underlying 2005 GranTurismo. Its counterpart, AM103.002, the Shah’s 5000 GT with gear cam drive 450S engine, was offered by Sotheby’s at Maranello in 2005 where it was bid to Euros 620,000 ($750,000 at the time) but didn’t sell. While the two are far apart in years and pedigree the contrast is informative.
Lot # 138 1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’Mat Special Sport Roadster, Body by Pourtout; S/N 400233; Blue/Red leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $416,500 – $654,500; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $333,200. – 1,991/70hp, dual Zenith carburetors, Cotal pre-selector 4-speed gearbox, hub caps, dual mirrors, fender skirts, suicide doors, Jaeger gauges, spare, period stopwatches. – Represented as one of 30 surviving Peugeot Darl’Mats of all types (roadsters, convertibles, coupes). Original chassis, body frame and body. Build in 1938 but not registered until 1940. Euros 50,000 worth of work since 2012. Presentable older repaint. Dull grille and brightwork. Pitting on the hub caps. Light general age to the retrimmed interior with some discoloration on the carpets and door panels. The dash, gauges, and steering wheel look original. Fuel stains on the carbs and manifold but the engine bay is mostly clean. No photos of the underbody. The Georges Paulin-penned shape is striking in any condition. With lots of money recently spent on the mechanicals combined with its presentable cosmetics, this would make an ideal event or tour car. – The current owner bought this Peugeot at Artcurial’s 2012 Le Mans Classic auction for Euros 321,667 ($395,104 at the time). It needed engine work, which it has since received. That explains the higher estimate this time around, but the seller wasn’t rewarded for the time or money spent. It deserves at least as much as it brought in 2012, and might just get it elsewhere.
Lot # 139 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 22183; Engine # 02591; Medio Verde Metallico/Beige leather, Black strips; Estimate $89,250 – $113,050; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $77,350 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $88,953. – 2,927/255hp, Weber carburetors, 5-speed, alloy wheels, Michelin tires, Borletti air conditioning, power windows, Pioneer cassette stereo, jack, tools, fitted Schedoni luggage. – First owned by Land Speed Record holder Don Vesco who painted it white, returned to this unusual original color by the second owner. Recent belt, clutch and engine service and the engine looks like it has been out, serviced, superficially cleaned up and put back in a repainted but not restored engine compartment. Very good paint and upholstery. An intriguing ownership history. – The Don Vesco ownership history and its trips to Bonneville in furtherance of his speed record attempts add a bit of intrigue to this 308 GTB. Its condition is good, it has a belt service somewhere in its near term past and the colors are going to stand out even on a field of Ferrari 308s. The history and color are, however, barely reflected in this modest result, a good value for the new owner.
Lot # 141 1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider, Body by Touring; S/N AR191808; Engine # AR0060102706; Pale Yellow/Black; Black cloth top; Estimate $136,850 – $172,550; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $113,050. – 2,584/164hp, triple Weber carburetors, 5-speed, Turrino chrome spoke wire wheels, Michelin tires, upgraded front brake calipers. – Only 24 photos of this Alfa were provided, most of them general in character. There are a few from which attention to detail may be inferred, and the impression generally is good, but this is not the way to present a six-figure car, even if it is available for viewing (under current difficult CoViD conditions in Europe) in Belgium. The top fits well, but the upholstery doesn’t. The engine compartment is neat, but not exceptional. The online description is no more informative than the limited number of photos. – The wire wheels on this 2600 Spider no doubt cost a bundle of money but they are out of character for the car and add nothing to its appeal. The Webers (and the extra 19hp they bring) and front disc brakes are a matter of taste and purpose for prospective buyers, none of whom seemed inclined to give them much value. This result was realistic for this 2600 and should have gotten more serious consideration from the consignor.
Lot # 144 1985 Porsche 928 S3 Coupe; S/N WP0JB0927FS860235; Black/Black leather; Estimate $23,800 – $35,700; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $17,850 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $20,528. – 4,957/320hp, 5-speed, power sunroof, power windows, 5-spoke alloy wheels, CD stereo. – Another 22 photo lot with a 5-line written description. However, it was sold by Bonhams at Paris in 2017, with the following observations: “Stated to be 82,076 miles from new. Scuffed older repaint, some dirt and dust in it. Good original interior. Underbody is original. Cam belt serviced last year with new shocks installed before the auction.” It now shows in the photos 62,076 miles, which is probably the same as in 2017, just more accurately rendered. A desirable and unusual Porsche that has been sitting the past four years and will have to get a highly-deserved trip to a 928 specialist before it can be driven safely or reliably. – There’s no complaint with this result which appropriately balances condition, neglect, miles and the 5-speed gearbox. The seller, who apparently never drove it, is probably glad to have it taken away.
Lot # 147 1933 Lagonda 16/80hp Two-Seat Sports, Body by Vanden Plas; S/N S10304; Green/Green leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $130,900 – $166,600; Older restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $101,150. – RHD. 1,991/61hp 4-cylinder, twine-wrapped steering wheel, single Lucas driving light, rumble seat, rear-mounted spare, top-hinged windshield. – A tired and very used older restoration to decent driving condition with sound old paint, sound old upholstery and a competently built but aged and used engine compartment. The restoration is claimed to be from the “early/mid-2000s” but looks older, or at least more used, than that. There are few detailed photos and only a sketchy written online description. – This is a nifty little car and even with only 61hp it’s in Alfa 6C 1750 Turismo territory, enough to hold its own on the Mille Miglia and other touring events. The model is not all that uncommon and the reported high bid here is more than enough for the rarity of its surviving body style and its condition. This was bid worth considering seriously.
Lot # 148 1964 Gordon-Keeble GK1 Coupe; S/N C14F1004RD; Engine # F070IRD; Blue/Black leather; Estimate $107,100 – $142,800; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $77,350. – RHD, 327/300hp Chevrolet V-8, 4-speed manual, centerlock alloy wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, woodrim steering wheel, power windows. – Car number 14 of the 99 built. Sold new to William David Ormsby-Gore, 5th Baron Harlech, the British Ambassador to the United States from 1961-65. He shipped it to the U.S., and reportedly drove Jackie Kennedy around in the car a few times during their brief fling. Damaged in an accident in 1975 but quickly repaired. Restored in the 1980s. More recently had the interior re-trimmed. No major paint issues visible in the photos, but it is likely old and the badges are visibly aged. Used but maintained and recently cleaned up engine bay. Very good interior. A very rare, attractive, and fast Anglo-American hybrid, styled by Giugiaro at Bertone. – The Gordon-Keeble is a sexy car with a decidedly un-sexy name and an ironic badge – after a tortoise walked into the shot during early photo shoot for the car, Gordon-Keeble chose a black tortoise on a yellow background as its official emblem, reminiscent perhaps of Tazio Nuvolari’s famous emblem. Underneath the fiberglass body is a great interior that looks as good as any GT car of the era with ample gauges, toggle switches and leather swathed with diamond stitching. The 327 Chevrolet engine, meanwhile, made the Gordon-Keeble a great 140-mph continental cruiser, but the car was too expensive and after a brief 1964-67 run the venture went bust. Most of the 99 Gordon-Keebles built still survive, but they still hardly come to market. Price obviously depends on condition, but in recent years they have sold for as little as £51,750 or as high as £105,100. The reported high bid here didn’t see this Gordon-Keeble off to a new home, but it should have been at least close to an acceptable number for the seller.
Lot # 150 1956 Austin-Healey 100-4 BN2 Roadster; S/N BN2L230647; Black, Red/Red piped in Black; Estimate $77,350 – $113,050; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $83,300 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $95,795. – 2,660/90hp, 100M upgraded, 4-speed, overdrive, heater, Moto-Lita woodrim steering wheel, chrome wire wheels, Michelin tires, side curtains, tonneau cover, owner’s manual. – Sold new in Germany. Later went to the U.S. but was back in Europe by the 1990s. Restoration work finished in 2000, then the car received an engine overhaul in 2005 and a repaint in the original colors along with 100M performance bits (although there is no 100 M cold air box visible) in 2010. Aged dash, gauges, and switchgear. Good lightly aged upholstery, but there is a large smudge in the carpet over the transmission tunnel. Tired chrome and brightwork. Tidy engine bay with a little dirt. An attractive driver. – In dollar terms this is a big price for a driver-quality BN2, but good Healeys aren’t as easy to find in Europe as they are in the U.S. (Healey’s most important market), and this one’s added 100M enhancements make it a more enticing prospect to drive. It sold within Bonhams’ presale estimate range and this is a reasonable result.
Lot # 152 1951 Jaguar XK 120 Four-seat Tourer, Body by Abbott of Farnham; S/N 660750; Engine # W30237; White/Claret leather; Claret cloth top; Estimate $178,500 – $238,000; Recent restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $130,900 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $150,535. – RHD. 3,442 six, 7:1 compression ratio, dual SU carburetors, 4-speed, full weather equipment, steel wheels, teardrop spats, outside fuel filler, Lucas tri-bar headlights, Lucas driving lights, flat windshield, tool roll, jack, trailer hitch, varnished wood instrument panel. – The only known 4-seat XK 120, an export model destined for David Stuart Mitchell of Tauranga New Zealand with a 7:1 compression ratio export engine. Show polished cam covers, fastidious attention to detail throughout, although badly presented in the online photos. Represented online as a “Drophead Coupe”, it isn’t. It has side curtains and a single layer top. That aside, it is a singular, unique automobile that will stand out at any Jaguar or British car gathering. – The prettiest XK 120s are the creations of William Lyons and his team, the OTS, DHC and FHC. This doesn’t approach those in style or design, but it is true to the Lyons line, if exaggerated in its rear overhang to accommodate the two back seats. It is hard, even with the few detailed photos, to criticize the caliber of its restoration and condition and, for a car that will forever confer upon its owner the mantle of a “unique” XK 120, a rare opportunity. It’s no Ghia Supersonic (most recently sold by RM at Monterey in 2015 for $2 million) but it will be a welcome entrant in the same field of coachbuilt XK Jags and for a lot less money. This was an astute purchase.
Lot # 154 1959 Porsche 356A Super T2 Convertible D, Body by Drauz; S/N 86179; Engine # P83639; Meissen Blue/Tan leatherette; Black cloth top; Estimate $273,700 – $333,200; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $261,800 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $301,070. – 1,582/75hp, dual Weber carburetors, 4-speed, chrome wheels, bumper overriders. – Meticulously presented with quality paint, upholstery, interior trim and engine compartment. Possibly restamped engine with Weber carburetors in a crisp, clean engine compartment. Tight fitting top with a clear back window. Sketchily documented but attractively presented. – This is Speedster money for a Convertible D with a questionable engine and Weber carbs. It’s an attractive car, but the new owner has to be a committed believer to pay this much for it.
Lot # 156 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet Turbo Look; S/N WP0ZZZ96ZNS452830; Silver/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $178,500 – $238,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $499,800 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $574,770. – 3,601/250hp, 5-speed, Turbo Look bodywork, Blaupunkt cassette stereo. – Bought new by Diego Maradona, who was pulled over in it at least once by Spanish police, but the car sold to France the following year. One of about 1200 964 Turbo Look Cabriolets. Consistently maintained and now showing 122,741 km (76,268 mi). The interior is very clean and although there is wear on the seats, they look better than the age and mileage would suggest. There are also key marks around the ignition. Chip visible on the hood but no other serious problems with the paint apparent. Maintained engine bay. A used but well-cared for 911 with some brief celebrity history. – Both a legendary and controversial player, Maradona passed away late last year, but he hadn’t owned this Porsche for nearly three decades. Even so, how much is his connection to the car worth? To two online bidders at least, apparently quite a lot. They took it from a realistic Euros 170,000 to the final hammer bid of Euros 420,000 in the last day of bidding. The winning bid was over twice Bonhams’ high estimate and several times as much as a normal Turbo look 964 cab usually sells for. It also tied Lot 132, an Aston Martin DB4 that would ordinarily be in a whole different ballpark when it comes to price, as the most expensive car of this entire online auction.
Lot # 161 1985 Citroen 2CV Charleston 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N VF7AZKA00KA097548; Black, Light Gray/Light Gray cloth; Estimate $17,850 – $23,800; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $13,090. – 602/29hp, 4-speed, hub caps, inboard front disc brakes. – Restored in 2012 and 7,000 km ago with overhauled engine, refurbished chassis and body, new interior and new roof, but no documents to back this up. Discoloration on the carb and very old-looking manifolds but mostly tidy and redone engine bay. Good-looking body and roof. Like-new seats. A charming deux chevaux in more than good enough shape to enjoy. – The Citroën’s 2CV is so minimalistic that even the “range-topping” Charleston model amounted to no more than fancy paint and a handful of extra horsepower. That said, the Art Deco-inspired two-tone paint is stylish, and every pony counts with a maximum performance of 29hp. There is no shortage of old 2CVs on the market in Europe and especially France, but this car is better than most and deserved at least another round of bidding.
Lot # 165 1973 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Coupe; S/N 12460; Black, Gold/Cream leather; Estimate $23,800 – $35,700; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $26,180 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $30,107. – John Player Special black and gold livery, 1,558/126hp Big Valve engine, 5-speed, leather-wrapped steering wheel, wood shift knob, power windows, Blaupunkt stereo. – Not much history represented, but as a Europa Special in John Player Special colors and with the Big Valve engine, it’s an ultimate spec car. Significant wear on the seats. Otherwise the interior looks good, including a clean wood dash, which is so often cracked on other Lotuses. Paint flaking off the valve cover but mostly tidy engine bay. Light road wear underneath but no cause for alarm. Orange peel in the paint. A driver. – One of the first ever mid-engine sports cars but certainly not the prettiest, the Lotus Europa is an absolute joy to drive. Owning one is another matter, and buying any Chapman-era Lotus sight unseen on the internet is an exercise in bravery. This one at least looks solid and ticks all the right collectability boxes, so the bidders exercised little caution and bid it to a fair, slightly generous market price that took off in the final moments of bidding to this Euros 22,000 hammer result from only Euros 15,000 in the waning hours of the day prior to closing.
Lot # 166 1997 Ferrari 456 GT Coupe; S/N ZFFWP44B000105771; Blu Swaters/Beige leather; Estimate $65,450 – $89,250; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,450 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $75,268. – 5,474/436hp, 6-speed, Assembly No. 22945. – The last entry in the service book is August 9, 2001 at 9,684 km although there is claimed to be a later belt service at 48K km with the current odometer represented as 50,202 km. No invoice for that service is shown. Typically for this auction sparsely documented in photos or in writing, the driver’s seat appears to be lightly worn. There are no underbody shots and only three shots of an orderly but used engine compartment. Call it a decent driver with a questionable service history. – All-in-all the seller should be supremely happy getting this much for a 456 GT with frail documentation and sparse photography to record its condition. Even taking the scanty details into account, though, this price is low enough to hedge all but draconian hidden faults. In a telling contrast, this 456 GT’s price is one of the median transactions in this sale. The same money also bought the (expensive) Morris Mini Cooper S (Lot 111) a dramatically different car.
Lot # 167 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback Coupe; S/N 6F09A217749; Night Blue/Blue vinyl, White vinyl inserts; Estimate $53,550 – $77,350; Cosmetic restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $47,600. – 289/225hp, automatic, tube headers, woodgrain steering wheel, shock tower K-brace, power brakes, GT-style fog lights, styled steel wheels, – Orange peely paint, decent chrome and interior, GT badging. Orderly engine compartment. Sketchily described and illustrated with 73 frequently useless and redundant photos. It’s a ’66 Mustang: twenty photos of it from 30 feet away add no information of any value in assessing its condition – A Mustang GT (if this is a GT) in this condition is a mid-Twenties kind of car which makes the seller’s decision not to let it go a serious mistake.
Lot # 168 1973 Alfa Romeo Montreal Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N AR14270151; Red, Black sills /; Black cloth top; Estimate $71,400 – $95,200; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $57,120. – 2,593/230hp, 5-speed, Alfa Romeo alloy wheels, Michelin tires, yellow headlights, 8-track stereo, power windows. – Scraped and scratched rear seat vinyl upholstery, probably from luggage. Stretched driver’s seat upholstery. Orderly unrestored engine compartment. Good chrome and two-year old repaint. A sound mostly original car showing 99,062 believable kilometers. – It is hard to argue with the decision of the owner of this well-preserved Montreal to turn down the reported high bid, but only one or two more bids would have been appropriate and sacrificing “good” for “perfect” is not usually rewarding in the floating context of the collector car market. Last month’s Price Guide is not necessarily a reliable indicator of this month’s sentiment. In other words, this was a realistic bid for this car’s history and condition.
Lot # 170 1972 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF Coupe; S/N 818740003052; Red, White hood accent/Black cloth; Estimate $41,650 – $53,550; Original, modified for competition or performance 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $29,750. – 1,584/130hp, two 40DCOE Weber carburetors, velocity stacks, 5-speed, four rally lights, Sparco bucket seats, roll bar, leather rim steering wheel, 4-point Schroth belts, spare set of wheels, tools. – Sound paint and rally modified interior. Orderly engine compartment with fuel residue on the carburetors and generally used with scratches, stains and road residue. 2017 Tour Auto participant and probably ready to do it again, but sketchily described and ambiguously photographed. – A “cafe rallyist” with no call to be included except in appearance with the real Rally Fulvias. It promises to be a scintillating driver, but is, at the end of the day, a pumped-up Stradale for which this is not an unrealistic offer.
Lot # 172 1979 Fiat 131 Racing 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 453372; Grey/Black velour; Estimate $23,800 – $35,700; Unrestored original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $19,040 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $21,896. – Aurelio Lampredi designed 2.0/113hp twin cam engine, 4-speed, alloy wheels, Abarth leather rim steering wheel, dash-mounted electric cutoff switch, FIAMM air horns. – Worn and scuffed front seat upholstery. Dirty, aged engine compartment. Scuffed, dirty wheels. Dull old paint, scarred up rear bumper. Noted as having “minor rust spots” not shown in the photos. Generally used and neglected but said to run well. – Nobody gave a tinker’s dam for this Fiat 131 “Racing” until the last day and the result reflects its neglected condition, rust (thank you Russia for the great steel you traded with FIAT for the Mirafiori’s blueprints) and dirt.
Lot # 175 1980 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Delta 2.0 Coupe; S/N 116360018698; Red, Black sills/Black cloth, stripes; Estimate $17,850 – $29,750; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $15,470. – 1,962/122hp, dual Solex carburetors, 5-speed, alloy wheels, yellow headlights, leather rim steering wheel, – Messy, discolored engine compartment with three extra wires tapped off the positive battery terminal. Sound recent repaint over old paint. Sound but worn and aged original interior. An intriguing Alfetta variant that needs a good home. – A strange Alfetta variant, but not an unlikeable one with some 122hp from its 2-Litre Solex carbureted engine. Lighter than a GTV-6 and more “Alfa” with its quick-revving four, this has some intrigue but apparently not enough to arrive at a compromise between the consignor and the bidders. Strange Alfettas are hard to place.