For the fifth time, Artcurial Motorcars will be auctioning off around 80 automobiles at the "Automobiles Sur Les Champs" auction in Paris on June 10, 2013, and the vehicles that have already been announced are already making collectors' mouths water.
Due to the expected high level of interest, the auction has moved to the prestigious Du Rond-Point theater this year.
The Artcurial people have managed to offer three special collections, namely that of coachbuilder André Lecoq, the ASA collection of the Nora family and the collection of an unusual French amateur who has not (yet) been named.
Four of around 95 ASAs for sale
The Nora family once founded the ASA brand, which built small sports cars in the 1960s that were often called "Ferrarina" (little Ferrari). Built to a high technical standard with the help of Giotti Bizzarrini and featuring attractive bodywork, the compact four-cylinder coupés and convertibles called the ASA 1000 GT were intended to shake up the sports car market at the time, but the young brand was not a success. Even the six-cylinder successor ASA Roll-Bar (or 613 RB), which was produced just three times, did nothing to change this.
Three coupés and the 613 RB that took part in Le Mans in 1966 are on offer in Paris, an opportunity that is unlikely to be repeated any time soon. However, the estimated prices do not suggest a bargain, as the 613 RB, for example, was estimated at 280,000 to 340,000 euros, which seems quite realistic in view of its Le Mans participation and rarity.
The collection of André Lecoq
Andé Lecoq (1930-2012) was THE reference for French coachbuilding. His company "Carosserie Leqoq" was founded in 1963 in St. Quen near Paris and was known for perfect and artistic restorations.
After his death, some of his personal vehicles came onto the market, including a Bugatti 57 Ventoux from 1938 (estimated price of 250,000 to 350,000 euros), a Horch 853 A Cabriolet from 1939 (estimated price of 280,000 to 360,000 euros), a Delahaye 135 MS Coach Chapron from 1947 (estimated price of 70,000 to 130,000 euros), and a Delahaye 135 MS Coach Chapron from 1947 (estimated price of 70,000 to 130,000 euros).70,000 to 130,000), a Mercedes Benz 320 Cabriolet B from 1939 (estimated price Euro 250,000 to 350,000), a BMW 327/328 Cabriolet from 1938 (estimated price Euro100,000 to 150,000) and a Packard 1105 Super 8 Cabriolet from 1934 (estimate Euro 120,000 to 180,000).
These vehicles are all offered without a minimum sale price (sanx prix de réserve), but history shows that this is no obstacle for Artcurial to realize high prices.
Collection of a French enthusiast
From the collection of an anonymous French car enthusiast, thirteen partly interesting rarities will come under the hammer, including a DB Le Mans Cabriolet from 1961, a white Alfa Romeo Giulietta SS from 1961 as well as a silver-grey Jaguar E Series 1 Coupé from 1963 and a red Series 1 Cabriolet. A Morgan, the estate version of the Fiat 500, an MG B and a Citroën SM will also be called out.
More rarities and more to come
While the list of lots is slowly filling up, the two-seater Bugatti 57 Coupé with Gangloff body is already making fans of elegant special bodies dream.
Other rarities such as a Citroën 11B Cabriolet from 1938 or a Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 round off the offer.
Vehicles can still be registered. Further information can be found on the Artcurial website.
