As every year, RM/Sotheby's opened the Rétromobile auction week on February 5, 2020. A new set-up had been devised for 2020, but it was not entirely convincing. The cars were scattered wildly across the entire area, and the "auction room", which was a little too small, was set up on the left-hand side of the tent.
Because so many people came, they also stood between the waiting cars. Presumably the tent was simply too small for the 78 cars that were looking for a new owner in Paris.
Worth millions
Together, the 78 vehicles were worth over EUR 39 million. This means that almost EUR 500,000 was expected per vehicle, no mean feat. Not quite a third of the cars were offered without a reserve price.
In the end, however, sales totaled EUR 16.3 million, which is significantly less. The average price achieved (including commission/surcharge) was also lower than expected at EUR 301,500, which was due to the fact that only half of the ten most valuable cars were sold. The three most highly valued cars were all left standing, although the highest bids were not dishonestly low.
At the right age
On average, the 78 cars were around 47 years old, which already indicated a wide range of cars on offer. After all, 29 brands were represented, with Ferrari (including Dino) being the most represented with 13 sports cars. Mercedes-Benz had 12 cars, Jaguar 8, Porsche and BMW 5 each.
Among the rarer brands, there were Dyna-Veritas (which did very well), Iso, Isotta Fraschini and Moretti for sale, while "SS" could probably still be counted among the 8 Jaguars.
D-Type did not succeed
The most expensive was a Jaguar D-Type from 1955. EUR 5.9 to 6.4 million was estimated for the elegant racing car with Australian racing history.
At EUR 5.4 million, however, no bidder wanted to go higher. This was obviously not enough for the consignor, so the D-Type remained unsold. It would not be surprising if it were to be seen at auction again soon.
The second most valuable car lacked even more, as no one wanted to bid more than EUR 3.95 million for the 2015 Lamborghini Venemo Roadster. It also remained unsold. I wonder if it was because of the bright green leather upholstery?
The Ferrari 365 GTS/4-A Daytona Spider from 1972 also had to go home without a new owner. The bid was EUR 1.9 million, while EUR 2.4 to 2.6 million had been expected.
BMW 507 as the narrow "winner" ahead of Porsche
In the end, the most expensive car sold was a magnificent BMW 507 Roadster from the second series from 1958 in white paintwork. The completely restored car sold for EUR 1.996 million including surcharge/commission.
Only slightly "cheaper" was a Porsche 904 GTS from 1964 with "Tour de France" history and a replacement engine. The new owner paid EUR 1.918 million.
Two Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs were also sold. The 1954 Gullwing fetched a good EUR 1.074 million, while the 1957 Roadster sold for EUR 764,375.
Many super classics
It is rare to find such a dense sixties and seventies sports car program at a single auction. This was certainly partly due to the "Poster Car Collection" on offer. With Jaguar E-Type, Maserati Sebring, Aston Martin DB5, Iso Grifo, Ferrari Daytona, Maserati Ghibli, Dino 246 GT/GTS and several other icons, the offer was certainly worth seeing for sports car fans.
The super classics performed differently. While a Jaguar XJ 220 from 1992, for example, was sold above its estimated value for EUR 398,750, two Maserati Ghibli 4.9s could be bought for EUR 126,500 and EUR 166,750 respectively, i.e. significantly cheaper than was the case not so long ago.
The Maserati Sebring from 1963 was also inexpensive, selling for just EUR 138,000.
The SS 100 3.5 Litre from 1937 was also sold for just EUR 252,500, which was perhaps partly due to the fact that the engine did not have the correct serial number.
However, there were also super classics with prices above expectations, such as the Jaguar XK 120 Coupé from 1952 for EUR 122,475 or the Ferrari 512 BB from 1981 for EUR 230,000. In the case of the latter, however, it must be said that the estimate was set relatively low in view of its practically new condition (without restoration!).
Over a hundred years old
The fact that RM/Sotheby's also has an eye for unorthodox classics was demonstrated, for example, by the 1913 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII, the older car in the auction. The car, which was offered with an additional earlier body, was estimated at EUR 650,000 to 900,000, but "only" EUR 630,000 was bid, which was not enough to sell it.
Obviously, the RM customers that evening were not really pre-war car enthusiasts, as only half of the eight cars built before the Second World War were sold. The highest bids averaged just 65 percent of the median estimate, compared to 85 percent across the entire range.
The pre-war cars sold also achieved prices well below expectations, with a 1929 Chrysler 75 Roadster going for around EUR 44,275 instead of the estimated EUR 90,000 to 100,000 and a 1924 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A selling for EUR 246,875 instead of EUR 400,000 to 550,000.
The next generation
Once again, RM/Sotheby's also showed interest in the next generation of collectors.
Although the 1991 Honda NSX will soon be a classic car, it still looked youthfully fresh and was now expected to cost EUR 50,000 to 60,000 painted in the less common silver. The highest bidder paid a little more, namely EUR 66,125.
Things went less well for the obligatory BMW Z8 in silver metallic. It stopped at EUR 170,000, as did the 2007 Aston Martin Vanquish S, which no one wanted to pay more than EUR 100,000 for.
The surprise of the evening
No one would have bet on this as the biggest surprise. The 1969 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 in the livery of the famous "Red Sow", which had caused a sensation at Spa at the time, was estimated at EUR 150,000 to 200,000 as a replica (with 6-speed gearbox).
Apparently, two bidders wanted exactly this car at all costs and they drove themselves up to EUR 380,000, so that the car ended up costing EUR 432,500, or presumably more than would be needed to produce two of these replicas. But perhaps the two bidders knew something that the normal observer could not have guessed?
Overall, those responsible at RM must not have been entirely satisfied. With only 69 percent of cars sold and a turnover that was almost 60 percent lower than expected, the Paris event may not have paid off as well as hoped. This was certainly not due to the interest of the bidders or the number of visitors; the cars were also interesting, even if the high proportion of right-hand drive classics was somewhat surprising.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 | Land Rover Defender | 1993 | 8000 | 10'000 | 11'000 | 12'650 | 13'535 | +40.56%
|
V |
| 121 | Delahaye 135 Coach by Chapron | 1949 | 50'000 | 60'000 | 28'000 | 32'200 | 34'454 | -41.45%
|
V |
| 122 | Delahaye 135 Cabriolet by Figoni et Falaschi | 1946 | 350'000 | 450'000 | 330'000 | 376'250 | 402'587 | -5.94%
|
V |
| 123 | Delahaye 135 Roadster in the style of Figoni et Falaschi | 1939 | 500'000 | 800'000 | 400'000 | 455'000 | 486'850 | -30%
|
V |
| 124 | Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 'Pagoda' | 1970 | 60'000 | 80'000 | 54'000 | 62'100 | 66'447 | -11.29%
|
V |
| 125 | Bentley Azure | 1998 | 60'000 | 80'000 | 80'000 | 92'000 | 98'440 | +31.43%
|
V |
| 126 | Jaguar XK 120 Fixed Head Coupé | 1952 | 70'000 | 90'000 | 106'500 | 122'475 | 131'048 | +53.09%
|
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
