The Artcurial Retromobile 2016 auction was held 5-6 February at the Retromobile Show in Paris, resulting in €56,137,898 in total sales and an 80 percent sell-through rate. The total sales figure, an increase of 21 percent on last year’s sale that starred the Baillon Collection, was the highest ever for a collector car auction staged in continental Europe.
Hervé Poulain, auctioneer and Honorary President of Artcurial said, “This sale is a real achievement. This record by Artcurial Motorcars establishes the automobile as one of the Arts and Paris as one of the international auction venues.”
A 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti took the top result at the 2016 Artcurial Retromobile auction, selling to an international collector in the room for €32,075,200 ($35,711,359). Depending on the currency, the Ferrari offered from the Pierre Bardinon Collection set a new world record for the most expensive motor car ever sold at auction. Using the Euro and Sterling, the sale price for the 335 S broke the all-time auction record set in 2014 by the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (€28,528,626, £22,843,633), although it finished second when converted to dollars ($38,115,000 USD).
During the first part of the sale on Friday 5 February, nearly 125 automobiles came under the gavel, allowing Artcurial to secure seven new world auction records. These included the highest price for a Facel, the 1954 Vega 54 Prototype V (lot 133) that sold for €500,600 ($558,644).
A total of 13 cars sold for over €500,000 and four exceed €1,000,000, such as the ex-Gianni Agnelli 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spider Valeo (lot 116) that made €1,210,100 ($1,350,411) and the 1963 Aston Martin DB4 Convertible Series 5 (lot 157) that sold for €1,473,200 ($1,644,017).
Pre-war models and the great coachbuilders also attracted interest. The 1956 Talbot Lago Sport 2500 (lot 186) changed hands for €381,400 ($425,623) and the 1939 Graham Paige Type 97 Supercharged Cabriolet by Pourtout that had belonged to the family of Françoise Sagan (lot 192) sold for €166,900 ($186,252).
Further notable results from the first day included the two Bugatti EB 110 SS in the sale that both achieved record prices (lots 211 and 212), selling for €929,800 ($1,037,610) and €941,700 ($1,050,890), respectively.
The second part of the sale, on Saturday 6 February, saw a selection of 48 historic Citroën automobiles, including 40 from the collection of André Trigano, who drove one of his favourite cars onto the stage — a 1939 Traction 11 B Cabriolet (lot 332) that sold for €166,800 ($186,252).
From the Citroën Type A, a pioneer of the early 1920s, to the amiable 5CV Trèfle, the legendary Traction, the popular 2CV in various forms and colours, the avant-garde DS, and through to the exclusive CX of the 1980s, an example of almost every model was offered in the sale.
A total of 98 percent of the lots sold, including six new world auction records. These included €166,880 ($186,252) for the 1939 Citroën Traction 11B Cabriolet (lot 332) and €172,800 ($192,836) for the Citroën 2 CV Sahara (lot 348).
Artcurial Retromobile 2016 – Top Ten Auction Results
1. 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti – €32,075,200
2. 1963 Aston Martin DB4 Convertible Series 5 – €1,473,200
3. 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spider Valeo – €1,210,000
4. 1903 Moonbeam III Yacht – €1,107,100
5. 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona – €953,600
6. 1995 Bugatti EB110 SS Sport Competizione Le Mans – €941,700
7. 1995 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport – €929,800
8. 1931/2012 Bucciali-Cord Type L29 – €596,000
9. 1960 Maseratti 3500 GT Vignale Spider – €548,300
10. 1968 Ferrari 330 GTC – €536,400
For complete auction results, visit Artcurial.com.
Matthieu Lamoure, Managing Director of Artcurial Motorcars, added, “We are incredibly proud of the results of this historic sale in France, home to the Automobile, and in Paris, the world’s capital for Collectors’ Cars during the winter season. I am delighted by the public’s growing passion and enthusiasm for these
collectors’ cars, objects that require such attention and love.”
The next 2016 Artcurial Motorcars sale will take place on 9 July at Le Mans Classic.
[Source: Artcurial]
