2019 Artcurial Paris Rétromobile Sale (Auction Preview)

An Alfa Romeo SC 2900B Touring and Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix are the lead cars for the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2019 classic car auction.

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B at Orly – © Kevin van Campenhout / Courtesy of Artcurial

The most-expensive car on offer at the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2019 sales is a rare 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta that could set a new marque record. The Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix comes with excellent provenance including 40 grand prix races. Multi-million dollar results are also expected for a 1957 Porsche 550 A Spyder, a 1953 Maserati A6GSC, a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTC and a 2009 Mercedes Benz SLR Stirling Moss Edition.

Artcurial Paris Rétromobile Sale 2019

Artcurial scheduled its annual classic car auction during the Paris Rétromobile week for Friday 8 February 2019 with nearly 150 cars on offer. On Saturday 9 February 2019, Artcurial offers nearly 100 classic motorcycles from the private MV Agusta collection while on Sunday 10 February, a special F1 sale includes 180 drivers helmets, 150 race suits and a collection of steering wheels and other Formula 1 car parts.

Artcurial had good form at recent Paris Rétromobile auctions:

1938 Bugatti 57C Atalante Coupe SOLD — Kevin Van Campenhout © Courtesy of Artcurial

In 2018, Artcurial earned €31,815,556 ($38,814,990) at Paris Rétromobile with a relatively high 86% sell-through rate.
In 2017, Artcurial earned a similar €32 million ($33.9 million) with a sell-through rate of 73%.
In 2016, the new Paris (and European) auction record was set when a 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport sold for €32,075,200 ($35,711,359. This is the highest price ever paid in euro for a car at public auction but in dollar terms was second to the 1962-63 Ferrari 250 GTO that sold for $38 million in 2014, which was €28.5 million at the time.
In 2015, the Baillon Collection of 60 barn-find cars, including a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider that achieved $18.7 million, were sold at the Paris auction.

Million-Dollar-Plus Cars at Artcurial Paris Rétromobile Sale 2019

The following 17 cars at the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2019 classic car auction have estimates exceeding a million dollar:

	Year	Car	Estimate
1	1939	Alfa Romeo SC 2900B Touring Berlinetta	16,000,000 – 22,000,000
2	1931	Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix	4,000,000 – 4,500,000
3	1957	Porsche 550 A Spyder	3,800,000 – 4,800,000
4	1953	Maserati A6GSC by Fiandri	3,750,000 – 4,500,000
5	1966	Ferrari 275 GTC	2,300,000 – 2,600,000
6	2009	Mercedes Benz SLR Stirling Moss Edition	2,250,000 – 2,500,000
7	1966	Serenissima Spyder	1,300,000 – 1,800,000
8	1958	Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster	1,100,000 – 1,300,000
9	1958	Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster	1,000,000 – 1,200,000
10	1930	Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Grand Sport Roadster Corsica	900,000 – 1,400,000
11	1964	Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso	900,000 – 1,300,000
12	1962	Aston Martin DB4 Series V SS	900,000 – 1,100,000
13	1974	Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopio	900,000 – 1,100,000
14	1938	Bugatti Type 57 C Cabriolet Gangloff	800,000 – 1,200,000
15	1936	Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic Modifiée Erik Koux	800,000 – 1,200,000
16	1971	Porsche 916 Prototype Brutus	800,000 – 1,200,000
17	2019	Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake	800,000 – 1,000,000

1939 Alfa Romeo SC 2900B Touring Berlinetta

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta — © Guy van Grinsven / Courtesy of Artcurial

The clear lead car for the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2019 sale is a 1939 Alfa Romeo SC 2900B Touring Berlinetta, estimate €16 – 22 million ($18 to 25 million). The car could potentially set a new Alfa Romeo marque record if it sells within estimate.

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Belinetta © Kevin van Campenhout / Courtesy of Artcurial

The 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta, chassis #412024, was the second of only 5 examples built with the Carrozzeria Touring berlinetta coachwork. It was delivered new in Italy in 1939, but was transported to England later that year. It has been in the same ownership for the past four decades and is registered on Dutch plates.

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta Rear — © Artcurial

This 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta has been well maintained and frequently used on the road but has never received a full restoration. It has covered 65,000 km since new, including 12,500 km since 1976.

Of the five Touring Berlinettas built, three were restored in recent years in North America – two won Best of Show at Pebble Beach (2008 and 2018) – and the final one is in the Alfa Romeo Museum.

Alfa produced fewer than 50 of the 8C2900 chassis making these big cars, which could compete with the big Mercedes Benz cars from the same period, rare and very expensive. The last one to have sold at auction was a 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider that set a new marque record when achieving $19,800,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016 sale. At the time of sale, this was the highest price ever paid for a pre-war car – a record increased to $22 million by the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ that sold at Gooding Pebble Beach 2018.

It is a long gap to the second most-expensive Alfa Romeo in the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2019 sale: a 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Grand Sport Roadster Corsica, which is a remarkable car in its own right. The car has been in the same family ownership since 1953. It was raced in the 1930s with the Corsica body only fitted in the early 1950s. It is in a very original condition and retained its original engine.

Top Bugattis at Artcurial Paris Rétromobile Sale 2019

1931 Bugatti 51 Grand Prix - Kevin van Campenhout © Artcurial — 1931 Bugatti 51 Grand Prix – Kevin van Campenhout © Artcurial

1931 Bugatti 51 Grand Prix © Christian Martin / Courtesy of Artcurial

Bugattis will be available in high numbers at the Paris 2019 sales. RM Sotheby’s has four modern Bugattis on offer while Bonhams has a 1928 Bugatti Type 43 Grand Sport Tourer that originally belonged to Crown Prince Leopold of Belgium.

However, the best Bugatti on offer at the Paris Rétromobile 2019 sales is at Artcurial: the 1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix, estimate €4 to €5 million. This Type 51 is one of around 40 produced. Despite a very active in-period racing history, it never suffered any major damage and retains it original chassis, bodywork and many mechanical components.

1931 Bugatti Type 51 at Monaco — 1931 Bugatti T51 racing to 6th in the 1932 Monaco Grand Prix driven by Marcel Leroux © DR

The Bugatti 51 was originally purchased by Maurice Lehoux, who drove it to 6th overall in the 1932 Monaco Grand Prix but also to victories in lesser races. It was then raced by among others Maurice Trintignant, who achieved his first Grand Prix victory in this car. In all, this Bugatti Type 51 competed in more than forty Grand Prix races.

The Bugatti Type 51 model record was set at $4 million when the ex-Lord Howe 1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix, chassis 51121, sold in a post-hammer deal at the 2016 Bonhams Quail Lodge sale. More recently, a works racing 1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix, chassis 51132, sold for $3,740,000 at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2018 sale.

Artcurial has nine classic Bugattis on offer, of which the 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic Modifiée Erik Koux and 1936 Bugatti Type 57 C Cabriolet Gangloff are also expected to achieve a million dollar each.

Top Porsches at Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2019

1957 Porsche 550 A Spyder © Loïc Kernen / Courtesy of Artcurial

Two million-dollar Porsches are on offer at the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile with the 1957 Porsche 550 A Spyder the more valuable. This 550 was originally raced in Latin America and later in France too. It is fully restored.

Porsche produced only 90 of the 550 spyders, including 40 of the 550A version, but several came up for auction in recent years, including a 1956 Porsche 550 RS by Reuter in the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 sale. Three Porsche 550 Spyders were sold at auction during 2018, with a few more failing to reach reserve prices. Prices paid in 2018 ranged from $4,455,00 paid for a 1955 Porsche 550 at Gooding Pebble Beach 2018 to a model record $5,170,000 paid for a 1958 Porsche 550A at Bonhams Scottsdale 2018.

In contrast, the 1971 Porsche 916 Prototype “Brutus” is unique. It is the only Porsche 916 fitted with a 2.9L RSR engine from new, as it was originally used by Corina Piëch – daughter of Ferdinand Piëch, the famous engineer and manager at Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen. Porsche 914s achieved high results at recent American auctions but the estimate for this prototype is around ten times higher.

Top Italian Cars at Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2019

In addition to the Alfa Romeos, several further Italian cars are expected to achieve million-dollar results:

The fully restored 1953 Maserati A6CGS by Fantuzzi was delivered new to the United States and has a known, transparent history. It was raced by amateurs in period with components changed as needed. It is currently fitted with an engine that actually raced in the 1954 Mille Miglia.

The 1966 Ferrari 275 GTC had only 2 owners in more than four decades. It is a matching numbers cars and one of only three of the 442 Ferrari 275 GTB cars produced stamped as 275 GTC. The only other top Ferrari in the sale is a rather standard 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso in magnificent condition.

1966 Serenissima Spyder by Fantuzzi — Kevin van Campenhout © Artcurial

More exciting is the 1966 Serenissima Spyder that participated in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1966 as car n°24 with drivers Jean-Claude Sauer and Jean de Mortemart. The car is in exceptionally original condition and has not been touched since the race. The car has only ever had one owner : Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata.

The 1974 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopio is an early Periscopio model and the only one originally delivered in silver over tobacco leather. A previous owner included the racing team owner Walter Wolf.

Top Mercedes Benz Cars at Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2019

Although two 1958 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadsters will be on offer at the Artcurial Paris 2019 sale, the most-expensive Mercedes Benz is the more recent 2009 Mercedes Benz SLR Stirling Moss Edition. It is one of only 75 built and has covered only 950 km from new. The SLR Stirling Moss Edition was the final series of cars produced by Mercedes and McLaren and was only available to existing SLR owners. The list price was around $1 million.

Also worth a look is a 1936 Mercedes Benz 500 K Cabriolet B, estimate €600,000 – €800,000, fitted with an original 540 K engine.