A 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB leads the list of early entries to the Bonhams Paris 2016 Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais classic car auction. Other preliminary top cars on offer include a 2000 Mercedes Benz CLK GTR Coupé, A 1990 Ferrari F40, a 1955 Lancia B24 Spider, and a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT Cabriolet.
Bonhams Paris 2016 Classic Car Auction
The first major classic car auctions in Europe are traditionally during the Rétromobile week in Paris at the start of February. Bonhams returns to Paris for the annual Grand Palais Sale on 4 February 2016.
Philip Kantor, Bonhams European Head of Motoring, said: “Bonhams Grand Palais Sale returns with more than 150 rare and exciting lots of collectors’ motor cars, motorcycles and automobilia. With several rare and special cars already consigned, we expect another incredible sale at the magnificent Grand Palais.”
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB at Bonhams Paris 2016
The early highlight entry for the 2016 Bonhams Paris classic car auction is a magnificent 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, estimated at €2,500,000-3,500,000 ($2.7 – $3.8 million) and offered without reserve.
Developed by marque founder, Enzo Ferrari, the 275 GTB is considered a masterpiece of motorcar design. Boasting a V12, 300 bhp engine, it was the successor to the 250 series, spearheaded by the legendary 250 GTO (currently the most valuable motor car sold at auction, following Bonhams $38,115,000 sale of a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO), leading it to be met with great applause when it was introduced at the 1964 Paris Autosalon.
Sleek, muscular, and expertly proportioned, the front-engined, two-door Berlinetta is from the second series of the model’s production, which introduced the longer nosed variant, making it rarer, more aerodynamic, and considerably prettier. Chassis 8973 is one of the ultra desirable ‘torque tube’ models, featuring Pininfarina designed Scaglietti coachwork, complete with matching numbers and continuous history.
1990 Ferrari F40 at Bonhams Paris 2016
Further highlights from the Ferrari stable include a 1990 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta, estimated at €950,000-1,100,000 ($1 – $1.2 million). The F40 was the last model ever approved by founding father, Enzo Ferrari, and when it was launched, it was the most powerful model ever built by the marque – the perfect finale to Enzo Ferrari’s legacy.
Every major classic car auction seems to have an F40 on offer these days with the cars usually selling for just over a million dollar. Bonhams still seems to be without a Mercedes Benz 300 SL for this auction, although one may turn up in the final list. RM Sotheby’s is offering at least one Gullwing in its Paris 2016 sale.
2000 Mercedes Benz CLK GTR Coupé
A spectacular 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupé is offered at Bonhams Paris 2016 sale with an estimate of €1,800,000-2,000,000 ($2 – $2.2 million). When Mercedes-Benz first unveiled its CLK GTR in 1998, it sold for an astonishing $1.5 million, making it the most expensive production car ever, a figure only recently exceeded by the Ferrari FXX. Supplied new to Switzerland, chassis number ’23’ has covered a mere 3,285 km, making one of the rarest and most desirable Mercedes-Benz models of modern times in effectively ‘as new’ condition. Road legal but definitely not for the shy.
Further Top Cars in the Bonhams Paris 2016 Sale
Further early consignments to the Grand Palais Sale include a Porsche Carrera GT, estimated at €800,000-1,000,000, a highly original 1975 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale, estimated at €350,000-450,000, a 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Speedster with less than 950 km from new, estimated at €250,000-350,000, and an ultra rare original left hand drive 1964 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé, estimated at €380,000-540,000.
Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s and Artcurial will have major classic car sales in Paris during the first week of February 2016. In 2015, Artcurial stole the show with the magnificent barn-find Baillon Collection that included a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider selling at a new model world record of $18.5 million. In 2016, Artcurial is likely to do it again with a 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti (estimate above $30 million) from the Pierre Bardinon Collection.
