Photo Gallery «23 big auction surprises 2023»

Name: Jaguar E-Type 1961
Brand: Jaguar

The most expensive car auctioned in 2023 was of course the Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO from 1962, which found a new owner for USD 51.7 million including surcharge (EUR 48.1 million, CHF 46.5 million). However, this was not a surprise, and if it was, then at most a negative one, because many experts had expected significantly more. The real surprises took place elsewhere, often with lesser-known cars and cheaper offers. Some were sold for x times what had been expected. Others were sold for a fifth of their estimated value, making them real bargains. We have put together 23 surprises, both positive and negative, in an entertaining gallery. Just click through and find out where the auction houses were quite wrong with their estimates ...

This 1910 Rochet-Schneider Five Passenger Touring Car (circa) was sold by Bonhams for USD 25,200, the highest bid was 225% above the median estimate

The buyer paid EUR 132,250 (230%) for this 1991 Porsche 911 Targa at RM/Sotheby's

This Peugeot 202 UH pickup from 1949 was also knocked down for 230% of its estimated value and sold by Bonhams for CHF 52,900

This Agostini Countach Junior 'Closed Roof' Children's Car from 1984 may be small, but it sold for 2.5 times its estimated value and sold at RM/Sotheby's for EUR 44,400, the same price as a real car

Only three wheels, but a great price. This 1968 Piaggio Vespa 150 Super with sidecar was knocked down by Bonhams for 250% of the estimate and sold for USD 41,440

Renault youngtimer at Ferrari price? This '92 Renault 25 V6 Turbo Baccara fetched EUR 58,000 on Artcurial, with the highest bid at 250% of the estimate

Just a show car, but much more valuable than expected. EUR 87,000 was paid for this Renault F1 R31 show car on Artcurial, 40% of which was estimated

Even expensive cars can sell well above expectations, such as this Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster from around 2007, which found a new owner at Bonhams for GBP 408,250 (factor 2.5)

Gooding & Co had seriously underestimated this REO Five-Passenger Detachable Tonneau from 1905, which sold for USD 53,760 (factor = 2.7)

This Thomas Model 18 Single Cylinder 8HP Rear Entrance Tonneau from around 1903 realized almost three times its estimate at Bonhams. USD 257,600 was quoted as the selling price

Three times as much as expected was offered for this somewhat sad-looking Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 'Flat Floor' Roadster with Hard Top from 1961, Bonhams selling price USD 117'600

This Overland Model 41 from 1910 was sold by Bonhams for USD 16,800, the hammer price was 300% of the estimate

310% of the median estimate was offered for this 2008 Renault Sport Megane Trophy V6, with Artcurial achieving a sale price of EUR 53,360

Iconic Auctioneers had significantly lower expectations. The Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 from 1987 was sold for GBP 596,250 (factor = 3.2)

The 1935 Brewster Coupe Roadster may be little known, but bidders went as high as 4.2 times the estimated value, Gooding sale price USD 577,000

The buyer offered five times more than expected for this 1913 Peugeot Bébé, with Gooding & Co quoting USD 22,400 as the asking price

This Renault Reinastella saucer "from the year 2328", built for a movie, was an out-of-this-world success, the highest bid was 20 times the estimated value, Artcurial selling price EUR 69,600

But there were also big disappointments, such as this 1969 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 4.2-litre roadster, which was knocked down at 30% of its estimate and sold by RM/Sotheby's for GBP 57,500

This very well-preserved '76 Volkswagen Golf GLS also fell well short of its estimate (30%) and was sold by RM/Sotheby's for just CHF 4600

Only just 20% of the estimated value was offered for this 1993 Ferrari Mondial t Cabriolet, RM sale price GBP 39,100

Bonhams misjudged this '50 Cadillac Series 61 Two Door Club Coupe, which was knocked down at 20% of the median estimate, selling price USD 1120

This "kit" of a Peugeot Type BP1 Bébé from 1911 was overestimated by Broad Arrow Auctions by a factor of 5, selling price USD 5600

A bidder for the 85 Fiat Bertone Ritmo 85S Cabriolet at the Oldtimer Galerie was able to get a really good deal, 18% of the median estimate was enough to buy it for CHF 1792