Artcurial had actually wanted to auction off around a hundred cars at the Rétromobile Paris at the beginning of February 2021, as it does every year. But in the second year of the coronavirus pandemic, nothing is as usual and so Artcurial has postponed the Rétromobile auction until the summer and is instead organizing the "Parisienne" in the French capital on 5 February 2021. Anyone expecting a less attractive offer is quite wrong. The 42 vehicles include real collector's gems and a wide variety of vehicles, from scooters to Le Mans prototypes.
On average, the vehicles, including two two-wheelers, are 52 years old. However, there are no new classics for sale at Artcurial, with the youngest car dating back to 1995 and its counterpart at the other end of the scale to 1913.
At EUR 29,971,000, all the vehicles are together, i.e. EUR 711,214 per lot. However, a Fiat 500 Lusso is already available for EUR 15,000 to 25,000 and a BMW R 80 G/S Dakar from 1985 for EUR 30,000 to 50,000. A good third of the lots are offered without a reserve price.
The Le Mans winner
The fifth vehicle to go under the hammer will be the Matra MS 670 from 1972, estimated at EUR 4 to 7.5 million. Chassis 670-01 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 1972, with Henri Pescarolo and Graham Hill at the wheel. Equipped with a twelve-cylinder engine with 416 hp at 9800 rpm and a ZF gearbox, it survived the rigors of the endurance race. And not only that, at the end of his career he was also victorious with Pescarolo/Larrousse in the 1000 km race in June 1973.
The history of the car reads almost like a thriller. Whether this and the historical significance is enough to justify the price will be seen on February 5, 2021. Hopefully, the legendary twelve-cylinder will soon be roaring on a racetrack again.
Group B icons
For roughly the same amount of money as the Matra, you could also buy almost half the field ofFor almost the same amount of money as the Matra, you could buy almost half the field of Group B rally world championship winners from 1985 to 1986, including a Ford RS 200, a Peugeot 205 Trubo 16 Evo 2, a Lancia Delta S4, an MG Metro 6R4, a Renault 5 Maxi Turbo, an Audi quattro S1 and a Lancia 037 Rally. The individual valuations range from EUR 250,000 to 400,000 for the RS200 to EUR 1 to 1.3 million for the quattro S1.
Incidentally, this is not the end of the evolution vehicles, as there is also a BMW M3 Evo 2 from 1988 and a Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evo 2 from 1990 for sale.
Even rarer than these two, however, is a road-going version of the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 from 1984, which is on offer for between EUR 180,000 and 240,000.
Pre-war opposites
One of the most valuable cars in the auction is a Bugatti 55 Roadster with Vanvooren bodywork from 1932.
A special history and a high degree of originality make the car with chassis 55204, which once won the Lyon-Charbonnières Rally, one of the most expensive Bugatti of all time, at least if the estimated value of EUR 4 to 6 million can be realized.
The second pre-war car to go under the hammer is a 1913 Brasier 16 HP saloon. Here, EUR 40,000 to 60,000, or even less, will suffice, as this car is being offered without a reserve price.
Dwarfs
Two small cars are expected to be just as expensive as the big Brasier. In addition to a Messerschmitt KR200 Cabriolet from 1957 (EUR 35,000 to 50,000), the Rollera from 1958 stands out in particular.
This scooter was developed by Brütsch in Germany, a license was sold to France and so a few dozen Rollera were built in France, equipped with the Isard 124 cc two-stroke single-cylinder engine, good for around 6 hp.
It was quite sporty on the road, after all, the profit was low and the frontal area was manageable. The rare and fully restored Rollera is now expected to cost EUR 30,000 to 50,000.
British sports car classics
With nine British sports cars, almost everything is on offer to delight the distinguished gentleman in tweed.
Two AC Bristol as Ace and Aceca join five Aston Martin, including an Aston Martin DB5 Short Chassis Volante from 1965 for EUR 1.2 to 1.6 million. There is also a DB5 Vantage and a DB4 GT from 1959 (EUR 1.6 to 2.4 million).
There is also an extremely rare Bristol 405 Cabriolet from 1955 (EUR 100,000 to 150,000) and an Arnolt Bristol Deluxe Roadster from 1958 (EUR 220,000 to 280,000).
A Bentley Continental R from 1954, which is on offer for EUR 1.4 to 1.8 million, would also have fitted well into the line-up.
Italian Granturismi
Those who are more fond of Italian GT sports cars need not go hungry in Paris.
For example, there are two Lancia Aurelia, one as a B24 Spyder America (EUR 675,000 to 750,000) and the other as a B20 GT Series 5 from 1956 (EUR 175,000 to 225,000).
A Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 from 1967 will be sold for EUR 380'000 to 480'000.
A Ferrari 512 BB from 1980 in the particularly attractive light green paintwork is expected to find a new owner for EUR 200,000 to 300,000.
And then there is a very special De Tomaso Pantera from 1975, which impresses with its very special history and rarely seen extensive documentation. The car, which was customized at the factory according to the buyer's wishes, was estimated at EUR 180,000 to 220,000.
More about the individual cars and many pictures can be found on the Artcurial website.
Offered Vehicles
The following table lists all offered vehicles with estimated prices. The price conversion was made at the exchange rate valid at the time of publication. All information is provided without guarantee.
| Lot | Car | Year | NoR | EUR Est from | EUR Est to | CHF Est from | CHF Est to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | BMW R 80 G/S Paris-Dakar | 1985 | Yes | 30'000 | 50'000 | 32'400 | 54'000 |
| 02 | Piaggio Vespa Faro Basso 125 | 1951 | Yes | 8000 | 14'000 | 8640 | 15'120 |
| 03 | Fiat 500 Lusso | 1971 | Yes | 15'000 | 25'000 | 16'200 | 27'000 |
| 04 | Alpine-Renault A110 1600 SC/VD | 1973 | 90'000 | 130'000 | 97'200 | 140'400 | |
| 05 | Matra MS 670 | 1972 | 4'000'000 | 7'500'000 | 4'320'000 | 8'100'000 | |
| 06 | Ford RS200 usine | 1986 | 250'000 | 400'000 | 270'000 | 432'000 | |
| 07 | Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Evolution 2 | 1985 | 600'000 | 800'000 | 648'000 | 864'000 | |
| 08 | Lancia Delta S4 | 1986 | 600'000 | 800'000 | 648'000 | 864'000 | |
| 09 | Audi Sport Quattro S1 | 1988 | 1'000'000 | 1'300'000 | 1'080'000 | 1'404'000 | |
| 10 | MG Metro 6R4 | 1985 | 280'000 | 360'000 | 302'400 | 388'800 | |
| 11 | Renault 5 Maxi Turbo | 1985 | 400'000 | 600'000 | 432'000 | 648'000 | |
| 12 | Lancia 037 | 1985 | 500'000 | 800'000 | 540'000 | 864'000 | |
| 13 | BMW M3 Evo 2 | 1988 | Yes | 60'000 | 80'000 | 64'800 | 86'400 |
| 14 | Peugeot 203 Torpédo Tour de France | 1954 | Yes | 60'000 | 100'000 | 64'800 | 108'000 |
| 15 | Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 | 1984 | 180'000 | 240'000 | 194'400 | 259'200 | |
| 16 | Renault Clio Maxi " Kit car " | 1995 | 140'000 | 180'000 | 151'200 | 194'400 | |
| 17 | Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 EVO II | 1990 | 180'000 | 200'000 | 194'400 | 216'000 | |
| 18 | Messerschmitt KR200 Cabriolet | 1957 | Yes | 35'000 | 50'000 | 37'800 | 54'000 |
| 19 | Brütsch Rollera (franz. Lizenzprod) | 1958 | Yes | 30'000 | 50'000 | 32'400 | 54'000 |
| 20 | Porsche 550A Spyder | 1957 | 3'800'000 | 4'400'000 | 4'104'000 | 4'752'000 | |
| 21 | AC Bristol ACE Roadster | 1960 | Yes | 300'000 | 350'000 | 324'000 | 378'000 |
| 22 | AC Bristol ACECA | 1960 | Yes | 100'000 | 150'000 | 108'000 | 162'000 |
| 23 | Aston Martin DB5 Vantage | 1965 | Yes | 600'000 | 800'000 | 648'000 | 864'000 |
| 24 | Aston Martin Short Chassis Volante | 1965 | 1'200'000 | 1'600'000 | 1'296'000 | 1'728'000 | |
| 25 | Aston Martin DB2/4 Cabriolet | 1955 | Yes | 240'000 | 320'000 | 259'200 | 345'600 |
| 26 | Aston Martin DB4 | 1961 | Yes | 240'000 | 320'000 | 259'200 | 345'600 |
| 27 | Aston Martin DB4 GT | 1959 | 1'600'000 | 2'400'000 | 1'728'000 | 2'592'000 | |
| 28 | Arnolt Bristol Deluxe Roadster | 1958 | Yes | 220'000 | 280'000 | 237'600 | 302'400 |
| 29 | Bristol 405 Drophead Coupe | 1955 | Yes | 100'000 | 150'000 | 108'000 | 162'000 |
| 30 | Brasier 16 HP Limousine panoramique par Marcel Guilloux | 1913 | Yes | 40'000 | 60'000 | 43'200 | 64'800 |
| 31 | Bugatti Type 55 Roadster par Vanvooren | 1932 | 4'000'000 | 6'000'000 | 4'320'000 | 6'480'000 | |
| 32 | Chrysler ST Special coupé par Ghia | 1955 | 200'000 | 300'000 | 216'000 | 324'000 | |
| 33 | Maserati 3700 Sebring 2 GTI | 1966 | 170'000 | 190'000 | 183'600 | 205'200 | |
| 34 | Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 | 1967 | 380'000 | 480'000 | 410'400 | 518'400 | |
| 35 | Bentley Continental R par H.J. Mulliner | 1954 | 1'400'000 | 1'800'000 | 1'512'000 | 1'944'000 | |
| 36 | Lancia B24 Spyder America | 1955 | 675'000 | 750'000 | 729'000 | 810'000 | |
| 37 | Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Série 5 "Laboratoire" | 1956 | 175'000 | 225'000 | 189'000 | 243'000 | |
| 38 | BMW M5 "Production" ex-Marc Sourd | 1985 | 90'000 | 140'000 | 97'200 | 151'200 | |
| 39 | Ferrari F355 Challenge | 1995 | 140'000 | 180'000 | 151'200 | 194'400 | |
| 40 | De Tomaso Pantera GTS "Prototipo Tony Mantas" | 1975 | 180'000 | 220'000 | 194'400 | 237'600 | |
| 41 | Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer | 1980 | 200'000 | 300'000 | 216'000 | 324'000 | |
| 42 | Ferrari 400i | 1982 | Yes | 60'000 | 80'000 | 64'800 | 86'400 |
All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column NoR = No Reserve (no minimum price), Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
