2016 Bonhams Paris Sale (Auction Preview)

A 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long-Nose Berlinetta will be the leading entry to the 2016 Bonhams Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais in Paris sale. Other rare cars on offer include a 2000 Mercedes Benz CLK GTR Coupé, the oldest surviving 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider and a 1937 Alfa Romeo C6 2300 Berlinetta. Top modern collectibles include a Ferrari F40 and a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT.

Bonhams Paris 2016 Classic Car Auction

Bonhams Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais 2016 will be held on 4 February 2016 in Paris during the annual Rétromobile week. Bonhams have been staging annual Paris sales in the Grand Palais since 2011.

The following cars are expected to sell for over a million dollar at the 2016 Bonhams Paris classic car auction:

Million-Dollar-Plus Cars at Bonhams Paris 2016

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Berlinetta

A 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose Berlinetta (estimate $2.7 – $3.8 million) is the leading entry to the 2016 Bonhams Paris classic car sale. This long nose, torque tube version was the penultimate two cam model built before the /4 quad-cam model was introduced. Although it has a steel body, it was fitted with alloy doors, bonnet and boot. Ferrari produced only 453 of the 275 GTBs of which only 107 were long nose, torque-tube versions. (A similar car is on offer at the Gooding Scottsdale 2016 sale a week earlier.)

2000 Mercedes Benz CLK GTR Coupé

The 2000 Mercedes Benz CLK GTR Coupé ($2 – $2.2 million) on offer at the Bonhams Paris 2016 sale is a car designed for the not shy. Only 25 were produced with the extravagant bodywork closely resembling that of the GT Championship racing car and sold for $1 million (with air conditioning an optional extra). It has phenomenal performance – 0 – 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 320 km/h. The car has covered less than 3,300 km.

1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider

The 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider ($980,000 – $1,400,000) at Bonhams Paris 2016 was the second car produced and the oldest surviving example of the 240 spiders built. The car was shown at the 1955 Brussels car show, probably in Geneva too, and have several features that were changed in subsequent production cars. The Lancia is fully restored and has a rare in period hard top.

(A similar car is offered at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2016 sale.)

1990 Ferrari F40

Bonhams may not have a Mercedes Benz 300 SL on offer in Paris 2016 but the other stalwart of classic car auction is present: a 1990 Ferrari F40 (estimate $1 – $1.2 million). This example was delivered new to the UK and has covered less than 15,000 km since new. RM Sotheby’s will also offer an F40 in Paris 2016 while many more are available in Scottsdale, Arizona the week before the Paris auctions).

1937 Alfa Romeo C6 2300 Berlinetta

The 1937 Alfa Romeo C6 2300 Berlinetta (estimate $820,000 – $1,200,000) is a beautifully restored example but gaps in its history may hold it back somewhat. The car was shown at Pebble Beach 2010 as a perfectly restored chassis and a year later as the restored car. The restoration cost in excess of a million dollar, which is about what Bonhams expect the car to achieve in Paris 2016.

2005 Porsche Carrera GT

The Porsche Carrera GT is the latest modern Porsche to have cracked the million-dollar mark (at Mecum in Monterey 2015) encouraging more owners to test the market. The 2005 Porsche Carrera GT ($870,000 – $1,100,000) on offer at Bonhams Paris 2016 was the 936th of 1207 made – just a few less than the F40. The car has covered 15,000 km since new with the first owner keeping it for a decade. (Gooding and RM Sotheby’s will have Porsche Carreras too at Scottsdale and Arizona.)

Artcurial is likely to again steal the headlines in Paris 2016 with the 1957 Ferrari 355 Sport but RM Sotheby’s will also have a fine selection of top quality cars on offer.