The top results in the Bonhams Paris 2025 classic car auction were for a 1950 Ferrari 166 MM and a 1954 Ferrari 555 Super Squalo F1 racer.
Bonhams Cars Paris 2025 Grand Palais Rétromobile Week Sale
Bonhams returned to the traditional Grand Palais venue for its 17th Paris Rétromobile Week classic car auction on 6 February 2025.
At the 2025 Paris sale, Bonhams earned €18 million from the 162-lot sale, including 98 collector cars. The sell-through rate was 91%
Top Results at Bonhams Paris 2025 Classic Car Auction
The top results at the Bonhams Paris 2025 classic car auction were for two rare and historically significant Ferraris. Both were offered with no reserve and presale estimates of €4 to 6 million. The results were thus somewhat disappointing as both cars played pivotal roles in Ferrari’s early racing history.
A 1950 Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta by Touring, chassis #0034M, sold for €2,817,500 ($2,935,835) as the most expensive car sold at the Bonhams Paris 2025 sale.
This car, delivered new to gentleman driver Count Paolo Marzotto, was extensively raced during its era, including in the Mille Miglia, Monaco Grand Prix, Giro di Sicilia, and Coppa d’Oro. It achieved victories and second-place finishes in smaller races but the most notable result was fourth overall in the 1951 Mille Miglia. French motorsports racing driver and Ferrari importer Charles Pozzi drove it in several Mille Miglia Storica during the 1980s and 1990s.
More disappointingly, a 1954 Ferrari Tipo 555 F1 sold for only €1,983,750, less than half the pre-sale estimate. This 1954-55 Ferrari Tipo 555 ‘Super Squalo’ 2.5-litre Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater
Chassis no. 555/1 – FL 9001 was driven in-period by Mike Hawthorn, ‘Nino’ Farina, Piero Taruffi, Paul Frere, and Peter Whitehead. It is one of only two survivors.
In the same week, its contemporary, the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R Streamliner set a new record price for a Grand Prix car at $54 million.
Top Bugatti and Horch Results at Bonhams Paris 2025
Among the top results at the Bonhams Paris 2025 sale were Bugattis and Horch cars:
The 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix Two-Seater sold for €759,000 and the 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet sold for €391,000.
A standout section of the sale featured a collection of Horch classics, which achieved exceptional results and far exceeded their estimates. The enduring appeal of these historic models was evidenced by the following strong results:
– 1938 Horch 830 BL, sold for 12x its estimate at $241,600.
– 1936 Horch 851 Limousine, sold for 7x its estimate at $345,000.
– 1939 Horch 853A Sport Cabriolet, sold for 5x its estimate at $414,000.