Written by Rosemarijn Atalante Veenenbos
The first auction that was to be held in Paris during Retromobile was the RM Sotheby’s sale at the impressive Place Vaubain. Earlier on I presented you my shopping list of a few of their more affordable stars. Let’s now take a look how they actually did. I took a good look at the lots during my preview, and I will make a list of the, for me, most striking ones. But first my shopping list from an earlier article.
One of my fave lots was the 1965 Maserati Mistral 3.7 Coupé by Frua. The Mistral is one that is making a good name, and so it was not a surprise that this one sold for €218,400. The interior of this one had been done very nicely. It was a real high class example of a true Maserati, and the successor to the famous 3500 GT with its Grand Prix–derived DOHC straight six.
The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé by Pinin Farina sold as well, for €459,200. Only 353 of those fine Ferraris were built, which makes this quite a unique classic for an ‘affordable’ price.
The 1963 Facel Vega Facel II also sold, and it left for €235,200. This Facel is worth every penny of its price as it is a very original classic that had been owned by its first and only family. It was also the 1963 Geneva Motor Show car.
The 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Coupé sold for €498,400. This one of a batch of 98 hand-built 300 Sc coupés was not at alla common sight in an era of mass production.
The 1966 Aston Martin DB6, in its original color, yielded €392,000, which was a bit low considering its lowest estimate of €400,000.
Eligible for Le Mans Classic and once driven by Sir Stirling Moss, the 1966 Shelby GT350 went for €179,200, which was a very cute price for a car that will give so much fun.
So, all the ‘bargains’ on my shopping list sold, which speaks for my good taste. Some of them made reasonable prices, considering their estimates, but no miracles or mind blowing sky high peaks.
Let’s now have a look at what else we have.
Prepare for tomorrow, because you will get crazy of ‘some’ red Testarossas. But here was one as well, the 1989 Ferrari Testarossa sold for €190,400. And another one, that sold for €126,000.
The there was a 1981 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S Series III by Bertone, the striking canary yellow lot but didn’t sell, perhaps a bit too striking…
London-Brighton runners almost always sell and here four Edwardians went under the hammer. A 1900 Bardon Type A Tonneau (€95,200), a 1900 Créanche Type A Voiturette (€50,400), a 1897 Vallée Vis-à-Vis (€84,000) and a 1896 Raynaud Vis-à-Vis Prototype (€134,400). Perhaps Edwardians are a good option for the starters, at least price wise?
No doubt you remember the Messerschmitt microcar? This little weird car also featured at the sale. A 1957 KR 200 Cabriolet, which sold for €56,000. Looks like I am giving away some good suggestions for young starters. If you want a huge car in the same price category, and even an Invicta… It was all possible that day, because the 1934 Invicta 12/45 HP Tourer went for €58,800. Or go for the well-preserved 1929 Darracq Type AG 14/45 HP Five-Seater Tourer; it was huge and went for a price of only €44,800. Even with a lower budget, you can still bid on great cars!
However, not so for the Lancia Aurelia of which there was a wonderful example. This was the 1956 Aurelia B24S Convertible by Pinin Farina, one of only 521 built. It new owner paid €280,000 for its exclusivity, but that price seems relatively low compared with prices some similar examples fetched in recent times.
I have seen playboy cars, but this one would be a cool guy’s car, a 1963 Ghia L6.4 Coupé, which went under the hammer for €246,400. RM did’t have a Ferrari 335 S, and there were probably no football players bidding either, but they did offer a 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti. It did not sell, so you still make a shot of becoming the new owner if you are prepared to pay at least €700,000.
RM had a World War II icon, the 1942 Willys MB Jeep, which went for Sold for €53,200.
Pay attention to the details in the gallery, what a tough and clever monster this is.
Also within a reasonable budget was a 1954 Kaiser-Darrin Roadster, which sold for €67,200. A very striking car, which is an understatement. I really admired this snow white one on display, and I was not the only one. One of 435 made, this is a true American treasure.
The diversity of Edwardians and modern supercars was very interesting. For me it was fascinating to see the difference of decades of evolution.
After all those ‘bargains’, were there any cars for the wealthy bidder? Yes, of course! The youngest were a 2004 Ferrari Enzo, sold for €1,568,000, a young 1997 Ferrari F50 (€1,275,000), and another young one, the 1989 Ferrari F40 (€1,036,000).
Three cars competed for the highest bid above two million. The 1957 BMW 507 Roadster Series II sold for €2,016,000, just over 2 million. But it was beaten by far by the 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder by Wendler, which sold for €2,744,000. The 550 Spyder was not just expensive because it looked nice, but also because it was the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show car and eligible for all of the finest events you can wish for. But the ultimate winner was the 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica LWB Coupé Aerodinamico by Pininfarina, which went for €2,950,000. The first of only 18 second-series long-wheelbase examples this one really deserved a good price since it was the 1962 Earls Court and Chicago Motor Show car, not just any type 400!
The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (€1,176,000) and the 1963 Aston Martin DB5 (not sold; estimate €1,100,000 – €1,300,000) are both iconic, but the 300SL seemed to win this time from the DB5. Also the 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Tubolare Zagato (estimate €950,000 – €1,200,000) did;t find a buyer.
What is an auction without a barn find neglected sleeping beauty? The 1958 Fiat-Abarth 750 GT ‘Double Bubble’ by Zagato went for €30,800. This one was a restoration project which you can’t say no to and so it naturally sold.
I will end with one that deserves to be saved for the last but not least: the 1951 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Villa d’Este Coupé by Touring. How is it possible that this beauty did not sell with an estimate of €750,000 – €900,000? I found it marvelous. One of only 36 built, and the last handmade Alfa Romeo of its era, is eligible to most concours events.
I mentioned cars for starters, but forget everything I said above. This is what you need, a 1959 Stanguellini Formula Junior. Sadly you are too late, sold for €72,500.
This report was not very easy to write, because I did not join the actual auction after the previewing. But I am sure it gives you an impression of how the sale went and it is a report without any of my usual madness… The prices were not mind blowing, but a major part of the lots sold. Next up we end the Parisian week with a very special one and don’t forget to read the spectacular 8C 2900B bonus… Keep on reading!
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