Written by Rosemarijn Atalante Veenenbos

On February 3rd it is shopping time in Paris at the RM Sotheby’s auction, the first of their 2016 European calendar. Here is a great opportunity to get yourself a fine thematic collection of 1950s and 1960s top class coupés at ‘affordable’ prices. And what is more, if you happen to be so eclectic that you want to acquire one from each major automobile manufacturing nation, i.e. Italy, France, Germany, Great Britain and the USA, then here is your chance!

To begin with, there is this splendid 1965 Maserati Mistral coupé, beautifully finished in silver, and with the famous Maserati six cylinder engine, coupled to a manual gearbox. Estimate: € 220.000 – € 250.000.

Photo Credit: Daniele Tenconi ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Photo Credit: Daniele Tenconi ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Photo Credit: Daniele Tenconi ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

However, if it really has to be a Ferrari, then there is this beautiful 1960 250 GT Pinin Farina coupé, always an eye-catcher and equally well finished as the Maserati, but in this case in black with fawn leather Interior. Estimate: € 400.000 – € 475.000.

Photo Credit: Tom Gidden ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Photo Credit: Tom Gidden ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Photo Credit: Tom Gidden ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Leaving Italy, we move on to France where the 1963 Facel Vega Facel II was THE wannahave in the sixties. An extremely powerful package with its Chrysler V8 engine. This low mileage Facel II, the factory show car at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show, is in superb original condition and of course that dashboard really does it. Estimate: € 220.000 – € 280.000.

Photo Credit: Tom Gidden ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Photo Credit: Tom Gidden ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Photo Credit: Tom Gidden ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Moving on to Germany: no, not a Porsche, but a Mercedes and a vey special one, which has always intrigued your editor, a 1957 300 Sc coupé, the injection model. Look at that impressive frontal view, and the beautifully finished interior. This is a worthy successor to those iconic 500K’s and 540K’s of the prewar era. Estimate: € 450.000 – € 550.000.

Photo Credit: Tom Gidden ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Photo Credit: Tom Gidden ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Photo Credit: Tom Gidden ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Great Britain was still making quality cars in the 1960s and the Aston-Martin DB6 definitely counted among the best. RM-Sotheby’s has a fine example from 1966 on offer, finished in its original Ferrari-like red with black leather interior. Estimate: € 400.000 – € 475.000.

Photo Credit: Dirk de Jager ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Photo Credit: Dirk de Jager ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Photo Credit: Dirk de Jager ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Finally we move across the pond to the USA, where the 1966 Shelby GT350 was a big hit in the 1960s. This 1966 example is a true wolf without sheep’s skin, and it has already been entered for the 2016 Le Mans Classic. Being known as “The fastest GT350 in Europe” its new owner can expect a lot of fun from this Shelby. Estimate: € 180.000 – € 200.000.

Photo Credit: Phillip Löhmann ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Photo Credit: Phillip Löhmann ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Photo Credit: Phillip Löhmann ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

So, if you are lucky and succeed in acquiring one from each country, then you will truly have one of the most enviable collections of heyday coupés.

Photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s