A 1958 BMW 507 Series II sold for $2.2 million as the top result at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2020 classic car auction during Rétromobile Week.
The most-expensive car at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2020 sale was a 1958 BMW 507 Series II that achieved €1,996,250. A 1964 Porsche 904 GTS sold for €1,917,500 while a 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport achieved €1,523,750. A very early 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing sold for €1,703,750 while a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 Roadster went for a mere €764,375. The three most-expensive cars on offer in the sale – a Jaguar D-Type, Lamborghini Veneno Roadster, and Ferrari 365 GTS/4-A Daytona Spider – all failed to sell.
Top Results at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2020
RM Sotheby’s earned €16.5 million with a sell-through rate of 75% at the Paris 2020 sale. The top results at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2020 classic car auction during Rétromobile Week were:
| Year | Car | Price (€) | Price ($) | Estimate (€) | |
| 1 | 1958 | BMW 507 Roadster Series II | 1,996,250 | 2,195,875 | 1,750,000 – 2,250,000 |
| 2 | 1964 | Porsche 904 GTS | 1,917,500 | 2,109,250 | 1,600,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 3 | 2012 | Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport | 1,523,750 | 1,676,125 | 1,200,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 4 | 1954 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 1,073,750 | 1,181,125 | 800,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 5 | 1957 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 764,375 | 840,812 | 800,000 – 900,000 |
Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2020 Auction
Four cars sold for over a million dollar at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2020 classic car auction:
1958 BMW Series II
The top result at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2020 auction was for a 1958 BMW 507 Series II that achieved €1,996,250 ($2,195,875). The same money could have bought both the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing and Roadster sold during this auction.
BMW produced only 252 cars of the 507 series. Only 34 cars, including this one, were exported to the USA.
This 507 was recently restored to its original factory condition. It retained its original engine and a glove compartment panel that seems to be signed by the car’s designer, Count Albrecht Goertz.
1964 Porsche 904 GTS
The fully matching-numbers 1964 Porsche 904 GTS (Est. €1.600.000 – €1.800.000) sold for an above-estimate €1,917,500 ($2,109,250).
This two-seat dual-purpose sports car retained its original engine and gearbox. The Porsche was raced by French driver Raymond Touroul in 1969 in the Tour de France and the Coupes de Vitesse at Montlhéry.
In the 2000s, under the ownership of collector Alain Salat, the 904 was fitted with a period-correct Type 906 Carrera 6 engine to preserve the original powerplant, which has since been restored and was included with the car in Paris. The odometer shows just 24,000 km – which are believed to be original.
2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport
While the top classic prewar Bugattis failed to sell at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2020 sale, a more modern 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport achieved €1,523,750 ($1,676,125). Although the result is not particularly high, it was within the estimate. Several Veyrons failed to find buyers at recent auctions.
This Veyron was the 11th of only 48 Super Sports produced and was originally delivered in Germany. It has only 4,000 km on the clock.
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
A very early 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing sold for €1,703,750 ($1,181,125) at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2020 sale. This was the first Gullwing delivered to Sweden and one of the first customer Gullwings delivered worldwide.
Its first owner, Olle Perssons, raced the car in several events in Scandinavia, including the Rally of the Midnight Sun and the 1955 Helsinki Grand Prix. He also set a Swedish ice record with the Gullwing on Lake Varpen, achieving 188.8 km/h. More recently, the Gullwing also participated in two Mille Miglia Storico races.
In the same auction, a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster went for a mere €764,375 ($840,812). This car is also an early production model in largely original condition. It is a well-maintained, matching-numbers example but unrestored making it a great buy for touring rather than a mere static display.
Top Cars Not Sold at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2020
The top three cars not sold at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2020 classic car auction were:
| Year | Car | Price (€) | Estimate (€) |
| 1955 | Jaguar D-Type | HB 5,400,000 | 5,900,000 – 6,400,000 |
| 2015 | Lamborghini Veneno Roadster | HB 3,950,000 | 4,500,000 – 5,500,000 |
| 1972 | Ferrari 365 GTS/4-A Daytona Spider | HB 1,900,000 | 2,400,000 – 2,600,000 |
Unfortunately, for RM Sotheby’s, the three cars receiving the highest bids in the auction failed to sell. Jaguar D-Types have mostly failed to sell at auctions in recent years, including the spectacular failure to sell two during Scottsdale 2018 with unsuccessful highest bids of $9.8 and $8.85 million.
Bidding for the 2015 Lamborghini Veneno Roadster stopped well short of the marque record of $8,337,182 achieved on a Veneno at Bonhams Bonmont 2019. It is worth noting that that result was a quarter higher than Bonhams’ upper estimate too.
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)