Towards the end of each year, the French auction house Artcurial organizes an auction at its Paris headquarters, and on Sunday, 22 October 2023 at 1700 it was time again. Around 150 interested parties followed the auction on site, hundreds via internet browser.
70 vehicles went under the hammer, including a tractor. On average, the vehicles were valued at EUR 91,493, more than half (38) were offered without a reserve price.
A total of 52 vehicles were sold, i.e. 74%. On average, buyers paid EUR 60,186 (CHF 57,177) (including commission/surcharge). The average bid was 80 % of the average estimate.
45 years old
While the oldest car was from 1939, a Cadillac Series 60 from 1939 as the only pre-war car, which was sold for EUR 17,400 (CHF 16,530), the youngest car was only built in 2018.
The average age of the vehicles was just under 45 years, with the 1960s and 1980s particularly well represented.
The RSR did not reach the limit
With the Porsche 964 3.8 Litre Carrera RSR from 1993, Artcurial was able to offer a race-proven and very rare (51 built) sports car with an impressive racing history, which was also registered as road-legal. The car took sixth place overall at the 24 Hours of Daytona. The car has since been extensively restored.
EUR 800,000 was the highest bid, not enough for the sale, estimated at EUR 900,000 to 1.2 million.
Super classic most expensive
A Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 from 1968 proved to be the most valuable in Paris, selling for EUR 284,200 (CHF 269,990).
It was followed by a Ferrari 512 BB from 1981 (EUR 197,200, CHF 187,340) and a Maserati 3500 GT from 1960 (EUR 142,680, CHF 135,546). You would probably have paid considerably more for both cars 4 or 5 years ago.
For EUR 121,800 (CHF 115,710) there was a (race-prepared) Ferrari 308 GTB Vetroresina from 1976 for sale, for EUR 104,400 (CHF 99,180) an Alpine A110 1600 S Group 4 from 1972 in works car livery.
Other super classics were available for even less, such as a Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 from 1986 (EUR 92,800, CHF 88,160), a Porsche 930 Turbo from 1979 (EUR 78,880, CHF 74,936) or an Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III from 1967 (EUR 55,680, CHF 52,896).
Some super classics fell through with the public, the most spectacular of which was probably the Citroën DS 21 Cabriolet from 1968 in uniquely unrestored condition with hardtop, which failed at EUR 180,000 (estimate 230,000 to 280,000).
The bids for a Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 from 1969, a Jaguar XK 120 M SE Cabriolet from 1952 or a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet from 1970 were also insufficient for a sale.
And even the Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 liter "Flat Floor" from 1961, which was actually estimated at a low price, did not reach its reserve price of EUR 72,000.
In return, another 1971 E-Type with a V12 engine sold for EUR 34,800 (CHF 33,060), which was significantly more than the estimate (UR 15,000 to 25,000).
Fast touring sedans with good results
Four doors do not normally lead to top prices, but the fast sedans sold comparatively well in Paris.
The buyer paid EUR 29,000 (CHF 27,550) for one of the rare Maserati Quattroporte III Royale from 1989, which was even more than expected.
On the other hand, one enthusiast was able to fulfill his dream of owning one of the wedge-shaped Aston Martin Lagonda Series 1 from 1981 even more cheaply than estimated, with EUR 30,160 (CHF 28,652) being enough to buy it.
At EUR 48,720 (CHF 46,284), the selling price of a Bentley S1 Sports Saloon from 1959 was exactly at the estimated value level.
And for the BMW M5 (E39) from 2000, the new owner was even prepared to go above the median estimate at EUR 55,680 (CHF 52,896).
Bread-and-butter with mixed results
In addition to super classics, exotics and rarities, there were also some former bread-and-butter cars for sale at Artcurial.
While the Citroën 2CV AZ PO from 1960 did much better than expected with a sales price of EUR 16,240 (CHF 15,428), a BMW Isetta 300 from 1959 and a Morris Mini 850 Traveller both sold for well below their estimated value at EUR 18,560 (CHF 17,632).
Young cars no better than their ancestors
17 of the cars on offer were not yet vintage. With five unsold cars, the non-sale rate here was even higher than for the rest of the offer, but even with the highest bids, the young cars were hardly able to set themselves apart from the rest, apart from the two exceptions Lotus Esprit V8 GT from 1998 (sold for EUR 47,560) and Mercedes-Benz 500 SL (R129) from 1994 (EUR 47,560).
A buyer paid EUR 53,360 (CHF 50,692) for a Ferrari 360 Modena Spider F1 from 2001, while a respectable EUR 106,720 (CHF 101,384) was invested in a Tesla Roadster Sport from 2012.
Artcurial was able to offer a diverse portfolio of cars on October 22, 2023. Although many of the vehicles were valued rather conservatively, the bids often did not even reach the lower estimate. At 26% unsold cars, this proportion was comparatively high in view of the high no-reserve share. However, a total of EUR 3.13 million was realized, so at least the auction house could be reasonably satisfied.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Fiat 500 L | 1969 | 10'000 | 15'000 | 11'000 | 12'760 | 12'122 | +2.08%
|
V |
| 02 | Citroën 2CV AZ PO | 1960 | 8000 | 12'000 | 14'000 | 16'240 | 15'428 | +62.4%
|
V |
| 03 | Autobianchi Bianchina Eden Roc | 1969 | 25'000 | 30'000 | 12'000 | N | |||
| 04 | Volvo P1800 ES | 1972 | 12'000 | 18'000 | 8000 | N | |||
| 05 | Morris Mini 850 Traveller | 1965 | 25'000 | 30'000 | 16'000 | 18'560 | 17'632 | -32.51%
|
V |
| 06 | Jaguar Type E 3.8L Coupé " plancher plat " | 1961 | 80'000 | 120'000 | 72'000 | N | |||
| 07 | Lotus Esprit V8-GT | 1998 | 30'000 | 40'000 | 41'000 | 47'560 | 45'182 | +35.89%
|
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
