Something is still possible - insights from the Paris auctions
02/03/2026
The European auction year got off to a successful start with four (!) auctions around the Rétromobile Paris. And of course everyone was eager to see how and whether the record results from Kissimmee (USA) would influence the European classic car scene.
The answer to this can be given straight away. The effects are clear to see. There is hardly any other explanation for the fact that seven Ferraris, and in particular two 288 GTOs, an Enzo and an F50, were listed among the ten most expensive cars in Paris at record high or at least very, very high prices. In almost all cases, the young Ferraris clearly exceeded expectations.
| # | Marke | Typ | Jahr | % Est | VP REF | VP CHF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferrari | 250 GT SWB California Spider | 1960 | 0.96 | 14'067'500 | 12'942'100 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 288 GTO | 1984 | 1.25 | 9'117'500 | 8'388'100 |
| 3 | Ferrari | Enzo | 2004 | 1.8 | 8'105'000 | 7'456'600 |
| 4 | Ferrari | F50 | 1997 | 1.13 | 7'598'750 | 6'990'850 |
| 5 | Ferrari | FXX K Evo | 2018 | 1.03 | 6'980'000 | 6'421'600 |
| 6 | Talbot-Lago | T150-C-SS Teardrop Coupé | 1938 | 0.86 | 6'755'000 | 6'214'600 |
| 7 | Ferrari | 288 GTO | 1985 | 1.04 | 5'855'000 | 5'386'600 |
| 8 | Ferrari | FXX Evo | 2008 | 0.79 | 4'448'750 | 4'092'850 |
| 9 | Mercedes-Benz | 300 SL | 1956 | 1.09 | 4'275'000 | 3'975'750 |
| 10 | Bugatti | Bolide | 2024 | 0.71 | 3'998'750 | 3'678'850 |
Although the average age of the ten most expensive cars is not even 40 years, three "real" classics still made it into the top ten, namely the Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider from 1960, which RM Sotheby's auctioned for EUR 14.1 million (CHF 12.9 million), the Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Figoni et Falaschi from 1938, forfor which the new owner was prepared to pay EUR 6.8 million (CHF 6.2 million) at Gooding Christie's and the certainly spectacular unrestored 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, which went for EUR 4.3 million (CHF 3.98 million) at Artcurial.
A total of 222 out of 302 vehicles were sold, i.e. around 76%. At 83.3%, the highest bids were not that far off expectations when compared with the median estimates. At 49%, the proportion of lots that went under the hammer without a reserve price was probably higher than ever before in Paris. A total of EUR 148 million was paid for the cars.
However, the auction houses received very different slices of the pie. Bonhams sold 82% of the cars, but the average price was only EUR 163,403. Artcurial , on the other hand, was only able to sell 60% of the cars, but received an average of EUR 486,910 per car.
Gooding Christie's , the official auction house in Paris for the first time, sold 80% of the vehicles for an average of EUR 763,861.
In terms of numbers, however, RM Sotheby's performed best in Paris. 80% of the vehicles were knocked down, with buyers paying an average of almost EUR 1.1 million.
However, we noticed that the bidders approached things very differently depending on the vehicle era. Although 70% of the pre-war vehicles were sold, the average bid was almost a quarter less than the estimate.
The cars from the post-war years were also only popular to a limited extent, with only 64% of them being sold. The sixties were a little more popular, with 77% of vehicles being sold.
In the case of cars from the seventies, 85% of the lots were sold, and 82% of those from the eighties.
Cars from the modern era, i.e. from 1990 onwards, performed somewhat worse, with only 77% of them being sold. However, at 91% of the average estimate, the highest bids were much closer to expectations than for the other eras.
Of course, not everything could be sold in Paris, not even real super rarities such as the advanced Ballot 3⁄8 LC Biplace De Grand Prix from 1920. But there is certainly no need to fall into a depression in view of the results, on the contrary. It is still true that special and good cars find their market. However, prices for cars over 60 years old are unlikely to rise in the foreseeable future, while young super and hyper sports cars are clearly in high demand.
