Artcurial has been organizing the official Rétromobile auction for many, many years and on Friday, 2 February 2024, the French auction house once again appeared at the Porte de Versailles in the halls of the classic car fair to auction off 129 vehicles, while motorcycles and other rare items went under the hammer on Saturday.
As always, visitors were able to view and admire the vehicles in Hall 2 until the auction. To get into the closed area, however, you had to pay the auction entrance fee, otherwise you could only see over the "fence".
In total, the 129 vehicles, including two tractors, were estimated at EUR 51.5 million, so EUR 399,000 was expected per vehicle. 43 percent of the vehicles went under the hammer without a reserve price.
Ferrari ahead of Porsche and Lamborghini
15 Ferraris (plus one Dino), 13 Porsches and nine Lamborghinis dominated the list of brands, followed by Citroën (8), BMW and Mercedes-Benz (7 each), Rolls-Royce (6) and Bugatti (5).
While two thirds of Ferraris and Lamborghinis found a new owner, 77% of Porsches and 75% of Citroëns did so. All Mercedes-Benz found a new garage, but only 71% of the BMWs on offer. The sales rate for Rolls-Royce and Bugatti was 83% and 80% respectively.
What was surprising was that, on average, 88% of the median estimate was offered for each Ferrari and yet a third remained standing. This means that the Ferrari actually performed better than the auction as a whole, as 80% of the median estimate was bid across all vehicles. This figure was 92% for Porsche and 77% for Lamborghini and Citroën.
Poor performance of the very expensive cars
14 cars in the auction came with estimated values that gave rise to hopes of a sale for more than one million euros.
Of these, only four were sold, including the two Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs, a '55 Gullwing (EUR 1.391 million) and a '62 Roadster (EUR 1.324 million). A McLaren P1 from 2014 also sold for EUR 1.324 million and the BMW M1 Procar from 1980 for EUR 988,320.
However, the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider consigned from Switzerland, which had previously been estimated at EUR 8.5 to 11.5 million, did not find a new owner. It was the 10th of 47 models built with chassis number 1011GT and Ferrari Classiche certification, equipped with Swiss papers.
No bidder was willing to offer more than EUR 7.8 million and although this was within eight percent of the lower estimate, the convertible remained unsold.
The two young hyper sports cars Lamborgini Sián from 2021 and the McLaren Speedtail fared similarly.
Three other Ferraris with estimated values in the millions also failed to reach the required minimum prices: a Ferrari 275 GTB from 1965 (highest bid EUR 1.96 million), a Ferrari 250 GT Lusso from 1964 (EUR 1.53 million) and a Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Pininfarina Series 2 from 1962 (EUR 1.4 million).
The Singer Porsche on offer (EUR 1.21 million), the McLaren Senna and a 2021 Ford GT also failed to find new owners.
16 of 19 pre-war cars sold
The slightly less expensive pre-war cars performed significantly better than the very expensive cars. With 19 cars, this group made up 15% of the offer. On average, only 73% of the median estimate was offered, but because 42% went under the hammer without a reserve price, 84% (16 cars) were ultimately sold.
However, some of the pre-war cars passed into new hands quite cheaply (depending on how you look at it), such as a Delaunay-Belleville HB6 Coupé-Chauffeur from 1912 for EUR 110,200 (estimated at EUR 150,000 to 250,000), an Avions Voisin C14 "Chartreuse" from 1929 for EUR 95,120 or a Hispano-Suiza Junior Berline Vanwooren from 1933 for EUR 174,000.
The most expensive pre-war cars all came from Bugatti. They achieved respectable sales prices. The Type 35 Grand Prix (par Gilles Fournier) from 1925 sold for EUR 394,400, the Type 40 Roadster Gangloff from 1929 for the same price, the Type 57 Galibier from 1934 fetched EUR 255,200 and a Type 40 Grand Sport from 1930 EUR 232,000.
A BMW 327 Sport Cabriolet from 1938, an SS 100 2 1/2 Litre from 1938 and a Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio from 1936 were left standing.
The fast Alfa Romeo 33 TT12 did not find a new owner
The Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT12 racing car prototype from 1975 was expected to fetch around EUR 1.2 to 1.6 million.
This was the last evolution of the Tipo 33, which won the world championship in 1975. The racing car on offer took two victories in the Interseries with Derek Bell and Jochen Mass at the wheel. In Paris, the racing car only fetched EUR 950,000, not enough for a knockdown.
Poor performance of the very young cars
Of the 17 cars built after 2000 on offer, only eight (i.e. 47%) were sold, although the average bid was 87% of the median estimate. However, the comparatively poor performance was also due to the low "no reserve" percentage of only 12%, which prevented many cars from being sold.
Popular cars from the eighties and nineties
Cars built between 1980 and 1999 performed significantly better. Of the 25 cars in this age group, 22 (88%) were sold. The estimated values could also be realized at least approximately in most cases.
A BMW 850 CSi, for example, was even sold for significantly more than the estimated EUR 60,000 to 80,000, with the buyer paying EUR 118,320 (CHF 111,221).
EUR 121,800 (CHF 114,492) was paid for a Ferrari 456 GT from 1994 and EUR 141,520 (CHF 133,029) for a Ferrari F355 GTS from 1996.
For much more money than expected, a Porsche 911 SC 3.0 Targa from 1983 could be transferred into new hands; EUR 83,520 (CHF 78,509) was paid here, estimated at EUR 35,000 to 50,000.
A Rolls-Royce Corniche Coupé from 1977 also sold better than expected at EUR 40,600 (CH 38,164).
French rarities with mixed results
Of course, there was no shortage of French rarities at Artcurial.
The 1955 T14 America with BMW V8 engine was a car once driven by Richard von Frankenberg. The car changed hands for EUR 185,600 (CHF 174,464).
Even more exclusive was the T26 GSL from 1954, which fell well short of its estimated value of EUR 200,000 to 260,000 with a top bid of EUR 155,000.
EUR 133,400 (CHF125,396) was paid for the interesting Salmson GS 8 Grand Sport from 1929.
A Citroën 2CV Sahara from 1962 could be had for a reasonable EUR 58,000, a DS 19 from 1958 for EUR 34,800.
All three Delahaye 135s from 1938 to 1951 found new owners who had to pay between EUR 46,400 and 156,600.
The Alpine A110 1600 S Group 4 from 1970 fell well short of expectations with a sales price of EUR 77,720 (CHF 73,057), while the René Bonnet Djet III from 1964, one of the earliest mid-engined sports cars ever, did not fare much better with a sales price of EUR 69,600.
The Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 from 1984 fared even better. It sold for EUR 30,160 (CHF28,350), which was still above the lower estimate.
Many super classics
There was a large selection of super classics at Artcurial in Paris, with more than half of the offerings in this segment. They performed solidly overall, but even here one or two vehicles were left standing.
Among the unsold vehicles were both Lancia Flaminia, an Aston Martin DB6, a De Tomaso Mangusta, the white Lamborghini Countach, the Maserati Mistral Spyder 3500 from 1964 and the Porsche 911 S from 1968, which ski racer Jean-Claude Killy once owned.
Other cars were "luckier", including the BMW 2002 turbo from 1975, which sold for EUR 133,400 (CHF125,396).
The BMW Z1 from 1990, albeit in almost new condition, also fetched a high price, for which the new owner invested EUR 113,680 (CHF 106,859).
A 1963 Citroën DS 19 Cabriolet could be put in the garage for EUR 133,400 (CHF 125,396), and a 1966 HY camping car with Velosolex for EUR 52,200 (CHF 49,068).
The 1967 Fiat Dino Coupé with two-liter engine changed hands for a reasonable EUR 32,480 (CHF 30,531), while an Iso Grifo from 1973 went for EUR 324,800 (CHF 305,312).
A Lamborghini 350 GT from 1965 cost EUR 394,400 (CHF 370,736), the later 400 GT 2+2 from 1966 EUR 242,200 (CHF 321,668), while the convertible version of the 400 GT from 1967 changed hands for EUR 272,600 (CHF 256,244).
A Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS was available for a reasonable EUR 112,520 (CHF 105,769).
While a Porsche 356 A from 1958 sold for even more than expected at EUR 87,000, other 356s tended to sell at the lower end of the estimated value. As we cannot list everything, we recommend taking a look at the table below.
Overall, those responsible at Artcurial must not have been entirely satisfied with the result. It is unclear why the bidders were so reticent. As always, it was not due to the number of visitors.
Offered and Sold Vehicles
The following table lists all offered and sold vehicles with estimated prices, highest bids, and sale prices. The price conversion was made at the exchange rate valid on the auction day. All information is provided without guarantee.
| Lot | Car | Year | EUR Est from | EUR Est to | EUR HP | EUR SP | CHF SP | % Est | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Citroën 2CV Charleston | 1990 | 25'000 | 45'000 | 26'000 | 30'160 | 28'350 | -13.83%
|
V |
| 002 | Citroën Ami 6 Berline | 1962 | 12'000 | 18'000 | 12'000 | 13'920 | 13'084 | -7.2%
|
V |
| 003 | Volvo P1800 S | 1964 | 30'000 | 50'000 | 35'000 | 40'600 | 38'164 | +1.5%
|
V |
| 004 | Austin-Healey 100/4 BN2 | 1956 | 60'000 | 80'000 | 54'000 | 62'640 | 58'881 | -10.51%
|
V |
| 005 | Jaguar Type E 4.2L Série 1 coupé | 1964 | 70'000 | 90'000 | 76'000 | 88'160 | 82'870 | +10.2%
|
V |
| 006 | Jaguar XK 150 3.4L Drophead Coupe | 1958 | 70'000 | 90'000 | 66'000 | 76'560 | 71'966 | -4.3%
|
V |
| 007 | Bentley S2 Drophead Coupé par H.J. Mulliner | 1960 | 220'000 | 300'000 | 220'000 | 255'200 | 239'888 | -1.85%
|
V |
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All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
