Artcurial Auction At Retromobile 2020
Artcurial Auctions had a great selection at Retromobile 2020,with 167 lots in the main sale that took place on Friday 7th February. The catalogue contained a couple of yachts this year, not that they had them on display upstairs in the hall of course. These are the sale highlights that I picked out on during my visit.
Racing, Flying, Yachting...
Lot 30 was another Alfa Romeo6C 2300, but this was a B Pescara Worblaufen from 1938. A few subtle differences that include the wheelbase being some 25cm shorter and made in greater numbers. Still, the car is exceedingly pretty. but the estimate was much lower at €650,000. Again this was another unsold lot.
The star lot, numbr 45, was the incredible 1929 Merceded Benz 710 SS Sport Tourer. together with coachwork by Fernandez and Darrin of France after the chassis was exhibited at the New York motor show. The car also featured the 200hp engine. Listed with an estimate of €6 – €8,000,000 it was also to not sell. This would have set a new world record and all expectations were that it would.
1970s & 80s
1970’s and 80’s cars were more abundant, with examples of both Ferrari and Porsche. The red pair of Ferraris, a rare 208 Turbo and it’s later decendent the 328 seeming to be more affordable than some of the other lots. The 208 making €63,176, which is a good deal for the new owner as the car was in suberb condition. And Italian market version employing tubocharging to offset the capacity deficit of the two litre engine to the rest of the world’s three litre 308. Road tests at the time actually had the 208 turbo slightly quicker too. Only 437 of these were built making it quite a lot rarer too.
The 328 GTB was equally pretty in Rosso Corsa, with the contrasting tan interior. The 328 making slightly less than the estimate, but selling for a respectable €59,600. This I think is a bit of a bargain as the car had quite an overhaul in 2019 with €17,000 being spent on it.
The two Porsche 911s were lovely too, one of which was quite unusual. The factory Flat Nose (or Slant Nose) 935 Turbo was one of 38 in European specification and fantastic condition with very low mileage. Selling for €143,040, mid point of the estimate.
The other 911 Turbo, a 1978 930, was in a fantastic metallic brown colour. With it’s orange / tan interior this was one attractive car. Selling for €89,400, a lot less than the Flat Nose, but because the car was so original and having covereved only 100,000km.
Barn Finds
Retromobile always attracts some interesting project cars at Artcurial Auctions, 2020 had a few of them together. This collection was very much the of the barn find variety, but had some more unusual offerings.
The first car is a Packard Super Eight Cabriolet. This is a rare car, a faboulously luxurious model. The straight eight engine, of 6.3 litres, producting 145hp for effortless progress. Selling for a little less than the estimate, at €9,536, was only the start of the expenditure. I imagine it will be restored somewhere.
Parked alongside was another rare and uncommon car, a 1936 Audi Front 225 Cabriolet. This early front wheel drive car, hence the name, was technically interesting for the period. The 225 Cabriolet comes from a time before the Auto Union was formed and we have the Audi we know today so was built in what was to be the former East Germany. Resting in two collections since being sold in 1961 in it’s current state having never been restored. Perhaps now is the time wit the new owner having already spent €18,880.
The Citroën DS19 Factory (Usine) Cabriolet is one of the few that have not undegone extensive restoration. Even so, these are extermemly valuable so the €70,000 – €100,000 estimate was no surprise. Perhaps though was the fact that it went unsold. Largely complete it was put into storage for restoration following a rear impact and has remained in this state for the whole time.
Automobilia
The Automobilia section had a great collection of smaller vehicles, not so small in price of course. I loved the level of detail in them, the Countach looked as spectacular as the real thing and was drivable. It even had two leather seats. Essentially it looks like a replica of Rod stewarts car before the corrective restoration back to original condition.
I wanted to take the low drag Alpine Renault 220 home, not to drive, but to have on display. I didn’t dare try it. One which did look possible to try was the Cobra. Built by Group Harrington these are designed to be used by adults.
If you had wanted to take home the Agostini Countach from the mid 1980s, like I did, it would have cost you €39,000.
The Alpine was an equally large €24,500. Harrington’s AC Cobra Junior an almost sensible €13,000.
Thanks to Artcurial Auctions for allowing me to crawl around their superb exhibits at Retromobile 2020. I look forward until the next time.
Until then, have a look at some more images in the Facebook Gallery here.
Simon