2022 Artcurial Paris Rétromobile Sale (Early Highlights Announced)

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A 1950 Gordini raced by Juan Manuel Fangio and a race-winning Peugeot 908 driven by Bourdais are early highlights announced for the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile Sale 2022.

1950 Gordini Type 18S ex-Juan Manuel Fangio Chassis n°020S on sale in the Paris Rétromobile 2022 classic car auction
© Bernard Canonne – Courtesy of Artcurial

Artcurial announced several cars for the forthcoming Paris Rétromobile Sale in February 2022. Two high-profile racing cars include a 1950 Gordini Type 18S, estimate €800,000 – €1,600,000, driven by Juan Manuel Fangio at Le Mans and the race-winning 2011 Peugeot 908 HDI FAP LMP1 #07, estimate €2,200,000 – €2,2,800,000, driven to victory in the Zuhaï 6 Hours by Bourdais and Davidson. Several private collections will also be on offer including nine Bandinis from the family museum and 19 rally cars of Belgian driver Beaudoin Lempereur. The Bruno Lafourcade Collection includes four classic Bugattis and two rare Alfa Romeos.

Artcurial Paris Rétromobile Sale 2022

The Artcurial Paris Rétromobile Sale, originally scheduled for 4 February 2022, was postponed to 18 – 20 March 2022 at the Salon Rétromobile, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Paris.

Artcurial earned €37.8 million ($41.7 million) at the Rétromobile 2022 sale with a sell-through rate of 82%. In comparison, it earned only €18 million ($22 million) at the Parisienne 2021 sale, which was held despite the cancellation of the Rétromobile show. In 2020, Artcurial Motorcars earned €23 million ($25 million) at its Paris Rétromobile sale with a sell-through rate of 70% of all lots.

Early Highlights at Artcurial Paris Rétromobile Sale 2022

Artcurial announced several cars and collections for its Paris Rétromobile 2022 classic car auction. Information and details are still limited but several cars are likely to attract much attention.

1950 Gordini Type 18S ex-Juan Manuel Fangio

1950 Gordini Type 18S ex-Juan Manuel Fangio Chassis n°020S on sale in the Paris Rétromobile 2022 classic car auction
© Bernard Canonne – Courtesy of Artcurial

The 1950 Gordini Type 18S, chassis 020S, estimate €800,000 – €1,600,000, is an early highlight announced for the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2022 sale. This Gordini was was driven by Juan Manuel Fangio and José Froilán González in the 1950 Le Mans 24 Hours. 

Only two examples of the Gordini Type 18S were ever built with a highly aerodynamic body made entirely of duralumin. Of the 33 different chassis built by Gordini, this #20S berlinetta is the only one to survive in such exceptionally original condition. It has retained the 1950 upholstery from Fangio’s era and is equipped with the only Gordini compressor engine still in existence. This Gordini berlinetta still bears the evidence of its history in competition, as raced by Juan-Manuel Fangio and also its participation in the Rome-Liège-Rome race in 1951.

2011 Peugeot 908 HDI FAP LMP1 #07

2011 Peugeot 908 HDI FAP LMP1 #07 on sale in the Paris Rétromobile 2022 classic car auction
© VINCENT CURUTCHET / DPPI – Courtesy of Artcurial

A further completion car is the 2011 Peugeot 908 HDI FAP LMP1 #07, estimate €2,200,000 – €2,800,000, driven to victory in the Zuhaï 6 Hours by Bourdais and Davidson. The final victory and last appearance of a 908 in competition.

In 2005, Peugeot announced its intention to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hour race in a turbocharged V12 diesel-engined car. With the new 908 presented for the 2011 season, Peugeot moved from a V12 to a V8 engine. It was in this car, chassis 07, that Sébastien Bourdais and Anthony Davidson won the Zhuhaï 6 Hours, allowing Peugeot to finish the 2011 season with a sixth victory in seven races. No one suspected that this would be the final victory of this exciting period, and the last appearance of a 908 in competition.

The 908-07 is considered to be the ultimate evolution of the 908, featuring every technical development available to the model in 2011. The car in the sale was completely overhauled by Peugeot Sport and delivered to the current owner in October 2017. Since then it has only been started up at demonstrations. Just as Peugeot has announced its return to endurance racing by unveiling its new V6 hybrid-engined 9X8, this 908 HDI represents a glorious period of endurance racing and the best in early 21st century French technology.

Bardini Collection at Artcurial Paris Rétromobile Sale 2022

Bandini Collection on sale in the Paris Rétromobile 2022 classic car auction
© Peter Singhof / Courtesy of Artcurial

Nine extraordinary cars from the Italian marque Bandini will be offered in the Artcurial Paris Retromobile 2022 sale. This very special collection has been assembled by Dino Bandini in tribute to his uncle Ilario, who founded the marque in 1946. The custodian of this marque today, Dino is the author of a comprehensive book on Bandini, the company’s history, and a complete register of the 75 automobiles built by his uncle. Based in Forli in Emilia-Romagna, the marque folded with the death of its founder in 1992. Since that time, his nephew has worked tirelessly to assemble the greatest number of cars built by his uncle, some with exceptional racing provenance.

Coming from the Bandini museum, the cars with notable racing provenance in the sale include: 

  • 1957 Bandini 750 Internazionale — Also called ‘Saponetta’ for its streamlined aluminum bodywork, this car is equipped with a 750cc Bandini engine. It participated in the famous Mille Miglia in 1957 and has been intelligently restored to retain the evidence of its racing past and originality.
  • 1953 Bandini 750 Sport Siluro — With an aluminum body, ultra-light tubular chassis, and 750cc engine, this example is in exceptionally original condition, looking as if it has just finished the Mille Miglia in 1953 when it was driven by Ilario Bandini himself.
  • 1957 Bandini 750GT Veloce Berlinette Zagato — In 1957, Ilario Bandini called on the renowned coachbuilder Zagato to create a body for his Gran Turismo Berlinetta. The car won first prize in the 1959 Rimini Concours d’Elegance before being taken to the United States where it competed in several races including Daytona and Sebring. Very powerful thanks to its ultra-lightweight tubular body and 750cc engine, this unique model is presented in its original configuration.

Bruno Lafourcade Collection

The Lafourcade Collection on sale in the Paris Rétromobile 2022 classic car auction
© Courtesy of Artcurial

Bruno Lafourcade was an architect, with many highly innovative projects to his name, and an aesthete with a wholehearted passion for cars. He redesigned his final property around the garage that housed his collection. A great admirer of automobiles built by Ettore Bugatti, he spent a lot of time at the wheel of these sports and grand touring models. He was a very active participant in all kinds of rallies and events and always involved his wife Dominique and son Alexandre in these automotive adventures. He liked to share his passion, spending his weekends in his studio conversing with François Chevallier and Laurent Rondoni or driving with friends. 

There are four Bugatti presented in the sale including a 35C with an impressive historic racing provenance, a totally original 44 Faux Cabriolet bodied by Labourdette, a Type 13, and a 37 ‘Petit-Coupé’ reconstruction. There are also two exceptional and extremely rare Alfa Romeo, an SZ Coda Tonda and a Giulietta Sprint Veloce Alleggerita. 

Lempereur Collection

The Lempereur Collection on sale in the Paris Rétromobile 2022 classic car auction
© Courtesy of Artcurial

There will be 19 rally cars on offer in the Retromobile sale coming from the estate of Beaudoin Lempereur. Lempereur was a well-known figure at Belgian circuits and rallies, for his talents as a driver and also his mechanical expertise, supplying the highest quality spare parts. Passionate about cars from a very young age, he collected the rally cars that had inspired him, including models that he drove in both regularity and competitive events. These cars, which have all been carefully preserved in his garage include a fantastic group of rally Fords, with a Lotus Cortina, a Sierra RS Cosworth, and a Ford RS200.

Rally cars performed well at recent auctions with a 1988 Audi Sport Quattro S1 sold for 2 016 600 € / 2 424 911 $ at the Artcurial Parisienne Sale 2021, in which five rally cars sold for over half a million dollars.

Paris Rétromobile Week Auctions 2022

Classic Car Auctions

The traditional Paris Rétromobile Week was postponed from early February to 16 – 20 March 2022. The Artcurial auction was postponed too but currently, Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s are maintaining the early February dates.

  • Bonhams: Les Grandes Marques à Paris Sale on 3 February 2022.
  • Artcurial: Rétromobile Sale on 18 – 20 March 2022.
  • RM Sotheby’s: Paris Auction 2 February 2022.

Paris Auctions 2022 Results

Paris Auctions 2022 Previews

Paris Auctions 2022 Announcements

Previous Paris Rétromobile Week Auction Results