March 2020 - European auction highlights
15 April, 2020
Full marks to the Aguttes team in getting their Paris sale underway on 15 March, only hours after the French government announced further measures to combat the spread of COVID-19. A necessary change in format saw the auction take place behind closed doors, with bids online and by phone, resulting in a creditable 62% sell-through rate with just under €2.6 million in total sales.
Top performer was the catalogue cover star, a 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ2 ‘Coda Tronca’, hammered away for €670,380 (estimate €550,000 – 750,000). Part of a collection offered from the late Jean Brandenburg, its period competition history included Le Mans, Nürburgring 1000km and the Targa Florio.
All but two of the 10 Facel Vegas on offer found new homes, headed by a 1962 Facel II at €336,600 (estimate €290,000 – 340,000).
Strong results included a matching-numbers 1934 Delage D8/15 with pillarless bodywork which fetched €88,800 (estimate €70,000 – 90,000); a Californian-delivered 1964 Porsche 356 SC 1600, the subject of a mechanical overhaul in 2016, made €82,900 (estimate €60,000 – 80,000); and a 1975 Peugeot 504 V6 Cabriolet that was given a ‘body off’ restoration in 2011 by the Dutch specialists Iriks comfortably exceeded its €25,000 – 45,000 estimate, taking €53,990.
The sale also featured a 1968 BMW 1600 GT which had remained with its original owner until 2000, when it passed to her goddaughter. Having covered just 1300km since an engine rebuild in 2018, it attracted a winning bid of €43,428 (estimate €20,000 – 40,000).
A 1978 Ferrari 400 that served as Jody Scheckter’s company car during his time at Maranello brought a mid-estimate €40,420, while a 1972 Fiat Dino 2400 finished in the original scheme of Rosso Ossido over grey cloth raised €45,824 (estimate €35,000 – 45,000).
[ Aguttes Spring Sale – view auction results here ]
Oldtimer Galerie hosted its season opening sale on 28 March at its Swiss HQ in Toffen, playing out behind closed doors with a livestream supporting online and telephone bidders. A brace of Mercedes 190 SLs led the results; a 1960 example in white with just 41,000km from new making CHF117,600 (estimate CHF115,000 – 125,000), with the earlier 1956 car bringing CHF104,160 (estimate CHF85,000 – 95,000).
Other highlights included a 1973 Alfa Romeo Montreal, restored in 2001 after being discovered in a Dutch garage, which drew CHF75,600 (estimate CHF70,000 – 80,000), and a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS 350 that had been treated to a refurb in 2018 sold for CHF72,800 (estimate CHF55,000 – 60,000).
An initial sell-through rate of 62% rose to an impressive 82% after post-auction negotiations for under reserve bids were agreed, generating a sale total of CHF2.09 million.
[ Oldtimer Galerie Toffen Sale – view auction results here ]
Classic car auction results and prices for: Alfa Romeo | Facel Vega | Delage | Porsche | Peugeot | BMW | Ferrari | Fiat | Mercedes-Benz | Chevrolet
From leading auction houses: Aguttes | Oldtimer Galerie
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