A well-raced 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/C6 sold for $2,753,080 as the top result at the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2020 classic car auction.
The top results at the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2020 sale were mostly for racing cars. The most expensive car was a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/C6 that sold for €2,502,800 ($2,753,080). Other top results included a 1966 Porsche 906 and two cars with Le Mans history: a 1993 Jaguar XJ220 Le Mans and a 1936 Delahaye 135 Special Roadster. The 1983 Ferrari F1 126 C3-068, raced by Rene Arnoux to victory in Germany and the Netherlands, sold for well above presale estimate. A 1991 Ferrari F40 was the only million-dollar result for a non-racing car. The top car not sold at the Artcurial Paris 2020 sale was the 1929 Mercedes-Benz 710 SS Sport Tourer by Fernandez & Darrin.
Top Results at Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2020 Sale
Artcurial Motorcars earned €23 million ($25 million) at its tenth Paris Rétromobile 2020 sale. The sell-through rate was 70% of all lots.
The top-ten highest results at the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2020 classic car auction were:
| Year | Car | Price (€) | Price ($) | Estimate (€) | |
| 1 | 1965 | Ferrari 275 GTB/C6 | 2,502,800 | 2,753,080 | 2,000,000 – 3,000,000 |
| 2 | 1966 | Porsche 906 | 1,730,600 | 1,903,660 | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 3 | 1983 | Ferrari F1 126 C3-068 | 1,438,900 | 1,582,790 | 600,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 4 | 1991 | Ferrari F40 | 1,112,800 | 1,224,080 | 1,000,000 – 1,200,000 |
| 5 | 1993 | Jaguar XJ220 Le Mans | 1,085,800 | 1,194,380 | 900,000 – 1,300,000 |
| 6 | 1936 | Delahaye 135 Special Roadster Biplace | 917,800 | 1,009,580 | 800,000 – 1,200,000 |
| 7 | 1965 | AC Cobra 289 Roadster | 751,000 | 826,100 | 650,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 8 | 1934 | Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Vanvooren | 500,600 | 550,660 | 450,000 – 650,000 |
| 9 | 1911 | Mariquita by William Fife & Sons (Yacht) | 500,600 | 550,660 | 900,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 10 | 1968 | AC Cobra 427 Roadster | 399,300 | 439,230 | 400,000 – 600,000 |
Note: Auction in euro. Results include premium.
Million-Dollar Cars at Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2020
Artcurial sold six cars for over a million dollar at the Paris Rétromobile 2020 classic car auction – two more than RM Sotheby’s and Bonhams managed. Five of the six top results were for racing cars:
The top result at the Artcurial Rétromobile auction, and the second-highest result overall at the Paris 2020 auctions, was €2,502,800 ($2,753,080) paid for a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C, chassis #6785, estimate €2,200,000 – €2,800,000. Although not a competition 275 GTB, it was delivered new to full race spec with 6 carburetors. The car has an impressive racing provenance and is one of the most-raced 275 GTBs ever. It took part in over 40 international races between 1965 and 1968, including rally, track and hillclimb events.
It featured on the cover of the Ferrari Yearbook in 1966, having won the GT class in the Monza 1000km that year. The car also competed in the European hillclimb championship with rounds at Mont Ventoux, Ollon-Villars and Cesana Sestriere, and the Rallye Solitude Lyon Charbonnière.
The 1966 Porsche 906 achieved €1,730,000 ($1,903,660) as the second-most-expensive car sold at the Artcurial Paris 2020 sale. This competition client car was extensively raced in period in Italy with several victories and outstanding results in hillclimbing competitions.
The 1983 Ferrari F1 126 C3-068 sold for €1,438,900 ($1,582,790) – well over presale estimate of €600,000 – €1,000,000). This car was entered by the Scuderia Ferrari in the 1983 World Championship and driven by Patrick Tambay and René Arnoux. Arnoux raced this car to victory in both the German and the Dutch Grand Prix that year. In comparison, the 1982 Ferrari 126 C2, in which Tambay achieved his first Formula 1 victory, sold for $2,143,750 at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2019 sale.
A 1993 Jaguar XJ220 Le Mans sold for €1,085,800 ($1,194,380). This car participated in Le Mans twice and even led its category for several hours – code for did-not-finish.
The 1936 Delahaye 135S achieved €917,000 ($1,009,580) at the Artcurial auction – a strong result for this marque and model. This Delahaye is one of only 16 of the 135 Special versions built by Delahaye. It participated in the 1937 Le Mans 24 hours race but retired after 36 laps.
The only non-racing car to have sold for over a million dollar at the Artcurial Paris 2020 sale was a 1991 Ferrari F40 that achieved €1,112,800 ($1,224,080). A mid-estimate price for a car with no special story. It has just less than 18,000 km on the clock.
The top car not sold at the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2020 auction was the 1929 Mercedes-Benz 710 SS Sport Tourer by Fernandez & Darrin, estimate €6,000,000 – €8,000,000. Bidding stopped at just below €5,000,000.
Paris Retromobile Week Auctions 2020
Classic Car Auctions
The traditional Paris Rétromobile Week auctions in early February include:
- Bonhams: Les Grandes Marques au Grand Palais Sale on 6 February 2020.
- Artcurial: Rétromobile Classic Car Auctions on 7 – 9 February 2020.
- RM Sotheby’s: Paris Auction at Place Vauban on 5 February 2020.
Paris Auction Results 2020:
- 2020 Artcurial Paris Rétromobile Sale (Auction Results)
- 2020 Bonhams Paris Sale (Auction Results)
- 2020 RM Sotheby’s Paris Sale (Auction Results)
Press Releases 2020:
- Artcurial: Highlights (including 1929 Mercedes Benz 710 SS Sport Tourer)
- Bonhams: Top Bugattis (and prewar cars)
- Bonhams: 1966 Ferrari Dino 206S/SP Sports Prototype
- Bonhams: 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster by Figoni
- RM Sotheby’s: Three Delahaye 135 Cars
- RM Sotheby’s: Exotic Cars (including Jaguar D-Type, Veneno & Porsche 904 GTS)