February 2017 - European auction previews
31 January, 2017
Ferraris head the entries at Artcurial’s annual Rétromobile sale on 10 February, with fifteen examples of the marque on offer. Star attraction for many will be the 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa which is being offered at no reserve. Chassis number 0141 was driven in period by Farina, Sommer and Bianchetti among others, and was subsequently re-bodied by Scaglietti during 1955/56 after its competition career had ended. ‘0141’ has been the subject of a recently completed restoration by Ferrari specialist Barhofer Automobile who was tasked with preserving its original and unique features (estimate – on request).
Another unique car due to cross the block at no reserve is the Dino Berlinetta Speciale, with a pre-sale estimate of €4,000,000 – 8,000,000. Built on a Ferrari 206 P competition chassis, the concept car made its debut at the Paris Salon in 1965 and represents Ferrari’s first mid-engined GT.
Other ‘blue-chip’ entries include a 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV (estimate €2,200,000 – 2,600,000); a 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition Cabriolet by Figoni & Falaschi (estimate €1,200,000 – 1,800,000); a 1936 Talbot-Lago T150C with an enviable period competition history including four Le Mans 24 Hours races and the 1937 Mille Miglia (estimate €1,200,000 – 1,600,000); and a 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante, exhibited at the 1935 Paris Salon (estimate €1,000,000 – 1,500,000).
Highlights among the rally cars on offer include the ex-Jean Ragnotti 1982 Renault 5 Turbo Group 4 (estimate €300,000 – 500,000); and a 1972 Alpine A110 Group 4 which competed in the 1973 Monte Carlo Rally in the hands of Bob Wollek; while a street version of Citroën’s unsuccessful Group B challenger - a 220-km 1986 Citroën BX 4TC – is estimated at €50,000 – 80,000.
Top lot at RM Sotheby’s Paris sale on 8 February is a prototype 1970 Porsche 917/10 Spyder with a pre-sale estimate of €4,600,000 – 5,500,000. Chassis number ‘917/10-001’ started life as a factory test and development car prior to being sold in 1972 to Willi Kauhsen who campaigned the car for two years. ‘917/10-001’ was the subject of a comprehensive restoration which was completed in 2014.
Sharing the top-billing is a 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3, the sixth example of the seven ‘second-series’ wide body cars (estimate €3,800,000 – 5,000,000). Chassis number 50006 was run by Scuderia Ferrari during the 1934 and 1935 Grand Prix seasons and comes complete with a well-documented ownership history.
Big-ticket entries also include a 20,341-mile 1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider, one of only 121 spiders produced (estimate €1,800,000 – 2,400,000); a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB presented in its original colours of Verde Pino over Beige (estimate €1,800,000 – 2,200,000); and a 1988 Porsche 959 Sport, the 11th of just 29 examples built to Sport specification (estimate €1,500,000 – 2,000,000).
Other notable entries include a 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Works Rally Car – the winner of the 1964 Spa-Sofia-Liege rally (estimate €340,000 – 450,000); a 5,900-km 1983 Renault 5 Turbo 2 (estimate €75,000 – 95,000); a single-owner 1992 Porsche 911 RS showing 17,300km (estimate €175,000 – 225,000); and a 30,000-km 1974 BMW 2002 tii built to the full 195bhp Alpina A4S specification from new (estimate €65,000 – 85,000).
Bonhams hold their Paris sale on 9 February at the Grand Palais where the star of the show is a 1935 Aston Martin Ulster, estimated at €1,600,000 – 1,800,000. One of just 10 team cars built, chassis number ‘A5/537/U’ was a works entry at the 1935 Le Mans 24 Hour race in the hands of Thomas/Kenyon, where it placed 5th in class.
Significant entries also include a three-owner 1957 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe, one of only 31 left-hand drive examples produced (estimate €1,000,000 – 1,500,000); a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (estimate €1,100,000 – 1,300,000); and a 1939 Maybach SW-38 Spezial Cabriolet (estimate €750,000 – 950,000).
Other highlights include a two-owner 1972 BMW 2002 Cabriolet (estimate €30,000 – 50,000); a recently restored 1977 Lancia Stratos (estimate €350,000 – 400,000); and a three-owner 1985 Audi Quattro Sport (estimate €330,000 – 400,000).
Classic car auction price estimates for: Ferrari | Lamborghini | Delahaye | Talbot-Lago | Bugatti | Renault | Alpine | Citroën | Porsche | Alfa Romeo | Austin-Healey | Renault | BMW | Aston Martin | Bentley | Mercedes-Benz | Maybach | Audi | Lancia
From leading auction houses: Artcurial | RM Sotheby’s | Bonhams
Read through the rest of our classic car previews for more information about our auction collections. Check out our online resource for upcoming classic car auction events and classic car auction results around the world.