Artcurial announced a Porsche 550, Group B cars, and a collection of Aston Martins and Bristols to join the Le-Mans-Winning Matra at the Parisienne 2021 sale in Paris, France.
Artcurial announced further top cars to join the Le Mans-winning 1972 Matra MS 670, chassis 001, estimate $4.4 to 8.3 million at the Parisienne classic car auction in cooperation with Rétromobile in Paris in February 2021. Further racing cars in the sale is a 1957 Porsche 550 A Spyder, estimate $4.2 to 4.9 million, and five Group B rally cars. A collection of British cars by a French collector includes an Aston Martin DB4GT.
Artcurial Parisienne 2021 Sale (Rétromobile)
The traditional Rétromobile show in Paris was postponed from the usual February date to early June 2021. Artcurial (as well as RM Sotheby’s and Bonhams) will still have Paris classic car auctions in early February 2021. The Artcurial sale was renamed “La Parisienne” and took place on 5 February 2021. A Rétromobile 2021 sale is planned for 4 June 2021.
Artcurial earned a good €18 million ($22 million) including 20% VAT at the Parisienne 2021 sale despite two of the top cars failing to sell.
Artcurial Motorcars earned €23 million ($25 million) at its Paris Rétromobile 2020 sale. The sell-through rate was 70% of all lots.
Top Cars at the Artcurial Parisienne 2021 Classic Car Auction
Top cars already announced for the Artcurial Parisienne 2021 sale, in cooperation with Rétromobile, include:
1972 Matra MS 670 Chassis 001
The star car for the Artcurial Parisienne 2021 sale is undoubtedly the previously announced 1972 Matra MS 670 chassis 001, estimate €4 to 7.5 million, winner of the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 1972. Wearing race number 15, it was driven to victory in the most famous race in the world by two renowned drivers, Henri Pescarolo and Graham Hill, and greeted by a rapturous crowd at the finish. It is presented today in the configuration of the similar car that won the 1973 Le Mans 24 Hour race. (A Matra MS 670 also won the 1974 race.)
1957 Porsche 550 A Spyder
The 1957 Porsche 550 A Spyder, chassis 0118, estimate €3.8 to €4.4 million, is another leading car for the Paris 2021 auction. Sporting a design of great purity, this agile and powerful car was an early mid-engined competition Porsche, with a lightweight tubular frame unlike the solid chassis of its predecessors.
Chassis 0118 was delivered new in Florida in March 1957 and participated in SCCA races until 1962. Imported back into Germany at the end of the 1990s, it has been in the hands of its current owner for the last 19 years. The car was sympathetically restored 20 years ago, retaining the battle scars of its sporting past.
This Porsche 550 A has matching numbers and has kept a large part of its original bodywork and mechanical elements. The authenticity and originality of this 550A, along with its excellent performance, will allow it to take part in the biggest historic race events.
French Collection of 7 Group B Rally Cars at Artcurial Parisienne 2021
Artcurial Motorcars will also an exceptional collection of seven Group B cars in the Parisienne 2021 sale. Group B Rallye cars performed well in recent auctions.
This group of Group B cars was brought together by two French motor racing enthusiasts, Michel Hommell, founder of the Manoir de l’Automobile in Lohéac, and Olivier Quesnel, the former director of competition departments at Peugeot and later Citroën. This collection was formed shortly after Group B came to an end in 1986. The cars, with undisputed authenticity, have been carefully conserved at the museum.
With impressive racing provenance, these machines have been driven by the greatest drivers of the day: Walter Röhrl in the Audi Quattro S1, Didier Auriol in the MG Metro 6R4, Carlos Sainz in the R5 Turbo, Bruno Saby in the Peugeot 205 T16, and Fabrizio Tabaton in the Lancia 037.
This is the first time that such an important collection of Group B cars has been offered at auction. They represent rallying at its peak.
“Only British” Coming from a French Collection
The “Only British” collection comes from a French owner, who has spent his life driving British cars, out of preference for the elegance and performance of these superb machines. Having accumulated a spectacular collection of Vincents that were sold a few years ago, it is now the turn of nine cars, nearly all Aston Martins, to come under Artcurial’s Maître Poulain’s hammer.
The star of the collection is a rare and powerful Aston Martin DB4GT, a model that provided competition for the Ferrari 250 in the 1960s. The last standard DB4GT sold at auction went for $3.6 million at Gooding Pebble Beach 2019.
Other interesting cars in the collection include one of just 12 left-hand-drive examples of the Volante Short Chassis and the only one to be gold from new. Also in this collection is the ex-1965 Paris Motor Show DB5, a DB4, a DB2/4 MkII cabriolet, a Bristol 406 Cabriolet, an AC Bristol ACE Roadster, an AC Bristol Aceca, and an Arnolt Bristol Roadster.
Paris Retromobile Week Auctions 2021
Classic Car Auctions
The traditional Paris Rétromobile Week was postponed from February to early June 2021. The traditional auctions in early February in Paris are expected to take place. Artcurial already announced a further auction for early June during the postponed Rétromoble week 2021.
- Bonhams: Les Grandes Marques à Paris Sale online-only from 3 to 10 March 2021.
- Artcurial: La Parisienne (in partnership with Rétromobile) on 5 February 2021. (Rétromobile Sale on 4 June 2021)
- RM Sotheby’s: Paris Auction live auction on 13 February 2021, followed by an online-only, time-based sale.
Results 2021
Press Releases 2021:
- Artcurial: Le Mans-Winning 1972 Matra MS670
- Artcurial: Top Cars Announced
- Bonhams: Peugeot Darl’mat
- RM Sotheby’s: Isdera Commendatore 112i
- RM Sotheby’s: Blower 1931 Bentley
Paris Rétromobile Week Auction Results 2020:
- 2020 Artcurial Paris Rétromobile Sale (Auction Results)
- 2020 Bonhams Paris Sale (Auction Results)
- 2020 RM Sotheby’s Paris Sale (Auction Results)
Previous Paris Rétromobile Week Auction Results
- 2020 Paris Auction Results: Artcurial, Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s
- 2019 Paris Auction: Top 20 Results, Artcurial, Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s
- 2018 Paris Auction Results: General Overview, Artcurial, Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s
- 2017 Paris Auction Results: Artcurial, Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s
- 2016 Paris Auction Results: Artcurial, RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams, 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport
- 2015 Paris Auction Results: Results Overview, Artcurial, Bonhams, RM Auctions
- Results of the 2014 Paris Classic Car Auctions
