From the moment you walked through the door of Retromobile you could tell you were entering an exhibition of something a little different—a little French. That said, Retromobile has become a great and established forum for meeting all those old friends and acquaintances you had forgotten to contact/send a Christmas card to, over the winter break.
Perhaps the greatest surprise and certainly one of the most impressive stands, was the Rofgo Gulf Collection. One man has been lucky enough to be able to assemble the definitive set of Gulf-sponsored racing cars from the original GT40-based Mirage of 1967, through to the almost contemporary LMES Lola Aston Martin. In contrast, there was a great collection of disparate 4CV sports prototypes based on Panhard and Renault components. Dealers Fisken, Hall and Hall, and Huni added their glitz.
It is the vive la difference attitude of the show that is such a major attraction although, please organizers, could you try and ensure that the opening day does not force those of us who are doing it to miss the last day and night of the Monte Carlo Historique Rallye next year?
It has been traditional, for many years, for Retromobile to be accompanied by a quality auction of historic and classic cars and ephemera. Artcurial took up this prestige slot this year and they held their event on the Friday with some very interesting results, the most staggering of these was the sale of a Lancia 037 Stradale for over double bottom estimate at £222k.
Earlier Porsches and Aston Martins across the board remain strong. A ’56 356A took £80k, its top estimate and a DB6 Vantage went for £194k against £160k top estimate. The feature Bugatti T57 took a mid-estimate £580k and a Lancia Aurelia B20GT, a model sought-after at present, confirmed that fact by going for close to top price at £94k. Filed under obscurity was a Belgian Benova. This was a sporting machine from 1928 and looked eminently suitable for VSCC events taking a mid-estimate £33k.
Featured automobilia attractions were two Geo Ham originals. The first was the Pilote Bleu, which was estimated at £30k and bidding eventually stopped to produce a breathless £145k. The second took an almost inconsequential £70k, until you noticed that top estimate was £20k.
Check your lofts, there might be one there.
By Peter Collins
