2019 RM Sotheby's Paris Rétromobile Week Sale (Auction Results)

A 1987 Ferrari F40 LM sold for €4.3842,500 ($5,568,875) as the top result at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 Rétromobile week classic car auction.

1987 Ferrari F40 LM at RM Sotheby's Paris Auction 2019 — Remi Dargegen © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The top result at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 sale was as expected the 1987 Ferrari F40 LM that achieved a model record $5,568,875. The 1956 Porsche 550 RS sold for $3,500,000 and a 1966 Ferrari 365 GTB/6C for $3,289,000. Several further model records were set at the sale including $2,335,000 for a 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport and $1,377,000 for a 2017 Ferrari F12tdf. The 2011 Ferrari SP30 and both Bugatti Veyrons failed to sell. The auction also included the lowest prices ever accepted for a Porsche 918 and Bugatti Chiron. Youngtimers sold well and often well above pre-sale estimates.

RM Sotheby’s Paris Rétromobile Week Auction 2019

2017 Bugatti Chiron — Kevin Van Campenhout © Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s scheduled its sixth annual Paris sale during Rétromobile week for 6 February 2019 at Place Vauban in Paris, France.

In 2019, RM Sotheby’s earned more than €32.4 million with a sell-through rate of 79%.

In 2018, RM Sotheby’s earned €23,745,335 with a fairly strong 83% sell-through rate. In 2017, RM Sotheby’s achieved a gross sale total of €27,576,400 ($29,451,595) with a sell-through rate of 78%. In 2016, RM Sotheby’s grossed €19 million with a sell-through rate of 79%.

Top Results at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019

The top results at the RM Sotheby’s Paris Rétromobile week 2019 auction were:

–	Year	Car	Price ($)	Price (€)	Estimate (€)
1	1987	Ferrari F40 LM	5,568,875	4,842,500	4,500,000 – 5,500,000
2	1956	Porsche 550 RS Spyder by Wendler	3,498,875	3,042,500	3,800,000 – 4,300,000
3	1966	Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy Berlinetta	3,289,000	2,860,000	3,000,000 – 3,300,000
4	2018	Bugatti Chiron	2,616,250	2,275,000	2,360,000 – 2,750,000
5	1994	Bugatti EB110 Super Sport	2,334,500	2,030,000	1,300,000 – 1,800,000
6	1996	Ferrari F50	1,955,000	1,700,000	1,700,000 – 1,900,000
7	2017	Ferrari F12tdf	1,377,125	1,197,500	825,000 – 950,000
8	2015	Porsche 918 Spyder	1,267,156	1,101,875	950,000 – 1,100,000
9	2011	Ferrari 599 SA Aperta	1,073,093	933,125	925,000 – 1,050,000
10	1957	Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster	1,037,516	902,188	800,000 – 1,000,000

Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019

Ten cars sold for over a million dollar at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 classic car auction:

1987 Ferrari F40 LM

Christian Wilken ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The extremely rare 1987 Ferrari F40 LM, chassis 74045, sold for €4.3842,500 ($5,568,875) at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 sale. This set a new model world record more than $2 million higher than the $3.3 million paid for a Ferrari F40 LM in 2015.

This F40 was originally used a a prototype car during the development of the F40 but converted by Michelotto in 1992 to LM specification. It was finally raced at the 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours race where it finished 12th. The Ferrari F40 also raced in the BPR Global GT series and is considered the most successful F40 LM racer. It is offered in the Le Mans racing livery of French blue with Pilot sponsoring.

In 2018, only five Ferrari F40s sold at auction with prices ranging from $1,050,000 to $1,710,000 – prices were mostly weaker than in preceding years. The last Ferrari F40 in LM specification at auction sold at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 for $3,300,000 – that car was the last of 18 factory LM cars produced but never raced. A year earlier, an F40 LM achieved only $2.2 million.

Other Million-Dollar Ferraris at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019

Four further Ferraris sold for over a million dollar at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 classic car auction:

The 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy Berlinetta by Scaglietti sold for €2,860,000 in a post-hammer deal advantageous to the buyer. This Ferrari was the first of eight long-nose, six carburettor, torque-tube 275 GTBs produced with alloy bodywork. It is a matching-numbers car recently restored to its original color scheme of nero over beige.

The 1996 Ferrari F50 sold for €1,700,000 – this was also a post-hammer deal that accrued significant savings to the buyer – the highest unaccepted bid was only €50,000 less. This French-specification F50 was the 102nd of only 349 ever made.

The 2017 Ferrari F12tdf finished in Brunito paint (metallic brownish) over a tan interior sold for a model record €1,197,500 ($1,377,126). Remarkably, this car has actually been driven for 2,600 km and still outsold cars with delivery mileage only. The previous highest price paid was $1,375,000 for a 84-mile car at Mecum Monterey 2017.

The 2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta is one of only 80 built. It is finished in Nero over Nero and has done 3,600 km. At least six 599 SA Apertas have sold for over a million dollar at auction since 2015.

Porsches at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019

The 1956 Porsche 550 RS Spyder by Wendler sold for a fair €3,042,500 ($3,500,000) – the second highest result at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 sale. Although this price was well below estimate and lower than recent results for Porsche 550s, it reflects the sudden availability of several 550s on the market after Bonhams sold a 550A for a model record $5,170,000 at Scottsdale 2018.

This 1956 Porsche 550 RS Spyder was originally delivered to the Ecurie Nationale Belge racing team and was extensively raced in period by amongst others Gilberte Thirion – she drove the car to victory in the 1956 Course de Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons hill climb. The 550 RS Spyder went on to contest the 1956 24 Hours of LeMans, 1957 1000 KM of Nürburgring and 13 additional races. It is one of only ten 550s to have ever raced at Le Mans, although the record car at Bonhams not only completed the race but finished second in class and more impressively for such a small car finished fifth overall.

Although the 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder sold for €1,101,875 – just above upper estimate, the result was the lowest accepted for a 918 at public auction. Interest in the 918, especially cars without the Weissach option, has declined steadily since the first cars were offered at auction in 2016 and 2017.

A 2004 Porsche Carrera GT sold for €651,875 ($750,000) – prices for the Carrera GT seem to be heading upwards again after several struggled to sell at auctions in 2017 and 2018.

Bugattis at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019

Two modern Bugattis sold for over a million dollar at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 classic car auction:

2018 Bugatti Chiron

2017 Chiron, estimate €2.360.000 – €2.750.000 ($2,700,000 – $3,100,000) — Dirk De Jager © Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A 2018 Bugatti Chiron sold for only €2,275,000 ($2,616,250) – more than a million dollar less than was achieved on a Chiron at the RM Sotheby’s New York 2017 sale. The only other Chiron sold at auction achieved $4 milion at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2018 sale. Several further Chirons were offered at auction but bidding failed to reach reserve margins.

In contrast to some of the delivery-mileage Chirons offered at some auctions, this car were already driven for 1,800 km. It is finished in two-tone Nocturne and Bugatti Light Blue over Beluga Black and Bugatti Light Blue.

1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport

RM Sotheby’s had a very strong result of €2,030,000 for a 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport at the Paris 2019 sale. The result was well above estimate and nearly a million dollar higher than was achieved for a Super Sport Prototype at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2018 sale and is a record price for a 1990s Bugatti.

The 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport is one of only 30 produced and has covered only 907 km since new.

1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster

It remained a buyers market for Mercedes Benz 300 SLs at the various Paris auctions. The red 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster at RM Sotheby’s achieved just over a million dollar and might have been a good buy. The sympathetically restored car had only three owner and retained its original engine, gearbox and differential.

Bonhams sold a fine Gullwing a day later but failed to find a buyer for a Roadster.

Youngtimer Collection at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019

1989 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG 6.0 ‘Wide-Body — Remi Dargegen © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s Paris sale also saw the first offering of cars from the highly anticipated Youngtimer Collection, a single-owner group of more than 140 modern classics from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. Prices were strong across the 25 cars presented at the sale, with numerous new benchmarks achieved for models indicative of changing collector tastes. A 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG 6.0 ‘Wide-Body’ incited a long bidding contest at Place Vauban, eventually selling for a final €297,500, doubling its pre-sale low estimate and setting a new world record for the model at auction (est. €150/200k).

The top sale of the Youngtimer group was a 2006 Ferrari Superamerica at €590,000, delivered new to the Kuwaiti royal family and presented in highly desirable six-speed manual transmission specification with the HGTC package (est. €575/650k). Additional stand out lots from within the Collection include a group of low mileage models that well-exceeded expectations, from a 17,000-km 1992 Porsche 928 GTS in eye-catching specification, which smashed its pre-sale estimate, bringing a final €138,000 (est. €70/85k), to a 1994 BMW Alpina B12 5.7 at €207,000 (est. €175/225k), a 1985 Audi Quattro at a final €77,625 (est. €40/50k), and a 1994 Mercedes-Benz E 500 Limited, which sold for €86,250 (est. €40/50k).

More than 100 additional cars from the Youngtimer Collection will be presented at RM Sotheby’s upcoming Amelia Island, Fort Lauderdale, and inaugural Essen, Germany, auctions.

Top Cars Not Sold at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019

The following are some of the top cars and highest bids that were unsuccessful at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 classic car auction:

Year	Car	Highest Bid (€)	Estimate (€)
2011	Ferrari SP30	HB 1,950,000	Upon Request
1959	BMW 507 Roadster Series II	HB 1,750,000	2,000,000 – 2,200,000
2003	Ferrari Enzo	HB 1,550,000	1,850,000 – 2,000,000
2012	Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport	HB 1,400,000	1,500,000 – 1,700,000
2014	Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse	HB 1,350,000	1,575,000 – 1,800,000
1935	Hispano-Suiza K6 Cabriolet	HB 1,200,000	1,300,000 – 1,500,000
1955	OSCA MT4-2AD 1350	HB 1,050,000	1,100,000 – 1,300,000
1960	Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II	HB 1,000,000	1,200,000 – 1,400,000
1959	Lister-Jaguar Costin	HB 690,000	900,000 – 1,100,000
1964	Porsche 911 by Reuter	HB 540,000	600,000 – 800,000

Highest bids observed during the auction in euro. Not necessarily accurate.

The 2011 Ferrari SP30 was the first of around 40 cars Ferrari produced in its Special Projects section for special clients to be offered at public auction. The SP30 is based on the 599 GTO chassis with the exterior showing design elements of various other models including the 599 XX, 458 and F12tdf. The car has been driven only 110 km since new. Bidding on the car stop short of €2 million indicating that potential buyers rate the SP30 about as highly as a near new Chiron.

Both Bugatti Veyrons failed to sell with the brown 2012 model actually attracting a higher bid than the 2014 car. Only two Veyrons sold at auction in 2018 while six failed to find buyers at the Monterey Week 2018 sales.

Bidding for several cars came very close to the lower estimate and it was surprising that these were not accepted. Good opportunities existed for post-hammer deals. The highest bid for the OSCA and F50 were only $50,000 below the lower estimate with the F50 finally sold post-hammer in a clearly advantageous deal to the buyer. Such high bids for the OSCA and Hispano-Suiza are not that easy to replicate at future sales.

2019 RM Sotheby’s Paris Rétromobile Week Sale (Auction Results)