Artcurial claimed six auction-record prices and an 80 percent sell-through for its eighth annual Automobiles sur les Champs sale this week at the Theatre du Rond-Point des Champs-Elysees in Paris.
“Artcurial Motorcars’ specialty, the discovery of cars that have remained in private ownership for many years, once again attracted international collectors,” Mathieu Lamoure, managing director of the collectors motor car department at Artcurial, said in a news release. “These cars were snapped up!
“This was also the case with one-owner cars such as the Fiat Dino that doubled its estimate selling for 188 300 € / $214 662.”
But, he noted, “more accessible ‘youngtimers’ are becoming more highly sought after, like the Lancia Delta that made 66 800 € / $76 152.”
As you likely recall, Artcurial made huge headlines earlier this year with its Retromobile sale that featured some 60 barn-found cars from the Baillon Collection. That auction drew 3,500 people, including 1,600 bidders, and generated $52.2 million in sales.
Monday, the Paris-based auction house’s les Champs sale posted overall sales of $12,777,512, led by a 1991 Ferrari F40 that sold for $1,155,048. (All prices reported include buyer’s fee.)
But while the F40 brought the most money, it didn’t generate the biggest news. For example, second on the high-dollar sales list at the auction was a 1970 Porsche 911 S/T 2.3-liter “rally” coupe that sold for a record $1,032,726, Artcurial said. While nine of the top-10 prices were paid by European collectors, Artcurial noted that the Porsche was purchased by an American bidder.
Third on the top-10 list was a barn-found 1925 Bugatti Type 13 “Brescia” that, after what Artcurial termed “a memorable bidding battle,” sold for a model-record $951,216, or triple its high pre-auction estimate. The Bugatti was found in eastern France and had last been sold in 1953.
Other record prices paid, according to the auction house, included $543,552 for a 1966 Alpine A210, $312,588 for a 1976 Maserati Khamsin, $230,964 for a 1978 Ferrari 308 GTB, and $214,662, more than double its pre-auction estimate, for that 1972 Fiat Dino 2400 Spider.
In addition to automobiles, an automobilia sale that started the auction did nearly $300,000 in sales led by $112,290 paid for an Ayrton Senna racing helmet.
Top 10 sales, Artcurial les Champs auction:
- 1991 Ferrari F40, $1,155,048
- 1970 Porsche 911 S/T 2.3L “Rally,” $1,032,726
- 1925 Bugatti Type 13 “Brescia,” $951,216
- 1964 Porsche 356 C Carrera 2000 GS, $679,440
- 1966 Alpine A210 Le Mans beflinette, $543,552
- 1959 Aston Martin DB4 Series II, $543,552
- 1962 Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato, $529,986
- 1962 Maserati 3500 GT Frua, $509,580
- 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage, $502,740
- 1988 Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole, $448,476
(All prices include buyer’s premium.)
