The Rétromobile Race

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As always, the annual Rétromobile show in Paris saw a fierce competition between Artcurial and Bonhams, but this year a third large auction house entered the Paris arena for the first time: RM Auctions. Artcurial had the advantage of the on show sale. Bonhams at the wellknown Grand Palais. And RM as newcomer of course a not earlier known location near Les Invalides.

So who won? When we look at turnover figures alone, it would be Artcurial, with 29 million euros in their two-day sale. However, this figure includes after-sales. Bonhams and RM both hit the 17 million mark. In terms of a top-selling car, Bonhams, with a 1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta selling for 2,225,000 euros, was beaten by Artcurial, that sold a 1953 Ferrari 166 MM for a bit more: 2,555,000 euros. Still, this car was sold after the auction, so we’ll have to ‘disqualify’ Artcurial. It wouldn’t have made any difference anyhow, as the overall winner was RM, selling a 1955 ‘Shortnose’ Jaguar D-Type – one of 54 ‘customer cars’ – for just a slight bit less than 3.7 million euros.

Bonhams, however, always has some real surprises, like the 1967 Attica 600 Voiturette, a built-under-license Fuldamobil manufactured in Greece and powered by a 198cc single-cylinder engine. In the rest of modern Europe these 1950’s-designed microcars slowly disappeared in the sixties, but obviously the Greeks still made them in 1967. Nevertheless, the restored and cherished car was sold for 13,800 euros.

Full results Artcurial (first showing the best and a bit lower an unclear yellowish link to all results)
Full results Bonhams (giving you a hard time in stead of a clear list)
Full results RM Auctions (simplest, most forward listing)
      

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