2017 RM Sotheby’s Paris Rétromobile Week Auction Preview

1970 Porsche 917/10-001 Prototype ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A Porsche 917/10 Prototype and an Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3 are the leading cars at the RM Sotheby’s Paris Rétromobile week classic car auction 2017. The 1970 Porsche 917/10-001 Prototype (estimate €4.600.000 – €5.500.000) was the first Can Am Spyder while the 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3 (estimate €3.800.000 – €5.000.000) was originally raced by Scuderia Ferrari. Ten of the cars on offer at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2017 sale have upper estimates of a million dollar or more.

2017 Paris Auction Results: Artcurial, Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s Paris Rétromobile Week Sale 2017

RM Sotheby’s will hold its fourth annual Paris Rétromobile week classic car auction on 8 February 2017. Of the around 80 cars on offer, 25 are Porsches.

In 2016, RM Sotheby’s grossed €19 million with a sell-through rate of 79%. The top result was €2,744,000 for a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder.

The top cars on offer at RM Sotheby’s 2017 include:

Year	Car	Estimate (€)
1970	Porsche 917/10 Prototype	4,600,000-5,500,000
1934	Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3	3,800,000-5,000,000
1973	Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider	1,800,000-2,400,000
1965	Ferrari 275 GTB	1,800,000-2,200,000
1988	Porsche 959 Sport	1,500,000-2,000,000
1962	Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II	980,000-1,200,000
1954	OSCO MT4 1500 by Frua	975,000-1,175,000
1989	Ferrari F40	950,000-1,050,000
1964	Porsche 901 Cabriolet Prototype by Karmann	850,000-1,000,0000
1995	Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet	850,000-1,000,000

Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2017 Sale

1970 Porsche 917/10 Prototype

The 1970 Porsche 917/10-001 Prototype (estimate €4.600.000 – €5.500.000) is the leading car of the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2017 classic car auction that will include a total of 25 Porsches!

This car was the first Porsche 917 Can Am Spyder, the first of only 13 cars built on the 917/10 chassis and the only 917 variant with a number 001 chassis in private ownership.

This 1970 Porsche 917/10 Prototype was used by Porsche in the development of the Can Am winning cars, as test bed for turbocharged flat-12 engines and for wind tunnel testing with different body designs.

The car was sold in 1972 to Willi Kauhsen, who raced it extensively in the Americas and Europe. He retained the car until 2008 and participated in several historic racing events after 2000.

1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3

The 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3 (estimate €3.800.000 – €5.000.000) was the sixth of seven second-series wide-body examples made.

The Alfa Romeo was raced by Scuderia Ferrari during the 1934 and 1935 Grand Prix seasons and although it is unclear exactly which car was driven at any given race by which particular driver, it was raced by amongst others Tazio Nuvolari, Achille Varzi, and Pierre Louis-Dreyfus.

The Alfa has a well-documented history and is considered in a remarkably original condition, although much of the bodywork was recreated to restore the car to its original look as campaigned by Ferrari.

See Alfa Romeo Tipo B Announcement for more on this car.

1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider

The 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti (estimate €1.800.000 – €2.400.000) is the top Ferrari on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2017 classic car auction.

Ferrari built only 121 of the 365 GTB/4 Spyders. In contrast, around 1,3000 of the 365 GTB/4 Berlinettas were made with seemingly one on offer in every major classic car auction – RM Sotheby’s, Artcurial and Bonhams will each have one in Paris while four were available a few weeks earlier at Scottsdale and Arizona.

This 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider has covered only 20,000 miles since new. It was restored in the mid-1990s and extensively displayed . The removal of the American specification side marker lights prevents the car from being issued with a Ferrari Classiche Red Book.

1965 Ferrari 275 GTB by Scaglietti

The 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB by Scaglietti (estimate €1.800.000 – €2.200.000) on offer at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2017 has a largely unknown ownership history. However, the car is a matching numbers example and certified by Ferrari Classiche.

This early 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB is one of around 250 first series cars with a shorter nose than the later cars. The car is presented in its original color scheme of Verde Pino over beige.

1988 Porsche 959 Sport

Remi Dargegen ©2016 courtesy RM Sotheby’s

The white 1988 Porsche 959 Sport (estimate €1.500.000 – €2.000.000) is one of a private Swiss collection of 42 Porsches that RM Sotheby’s will sell with no reserve margin at various auctions in 2017.

Porsche built only 284 of the 959 models, with most as luxurious Komfort models. Only 29 of the Sport versions were made and these command a clear premium over the more comfortable version – the one at Artcurial Paris 2017 is expected to sell for €950,000-€1,200,000.

The car on offer was the 11th of the Porsche 959 Sports built and originally belonged to Vasek Polak. It was the first 959 registered in the USA – a market where Porsche never sold the car.

1962 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II by Pininfarina

The 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II by Pininfarina (estimate €980.000 – €1.200.000) on offer at RM Sotheby’s 2017 was the penultimate of 200 cars built and fitted with a factory hard top. Although well maintained and Ferrari Classiche certified, the car is not in a restored condition.

A fully restored 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet at Artcurial is expected to sell for €1,300,000-€1,600,000.

1954 OSCA MT4 1500 by Frua

The 1954 OSCA MT4 1500 by Frua (estimate €975.000 – €1.175.000) is one of around 72 built. It comes with an impressive racing history including participating in the 1954 Mille Miglia, where it finished 10th overall, and 1955 Carrera Panamericana. It was also driven by the Marquis Alfonso de Portago.

This OSCA was part of the Rosso Bianco collection and is fully restored. It has also participated in various vintage events.

OSCAs are rare cars but Artcurial will also offer one at Paris 2017.

1989 Ferrari F40

The F40 is the most produced Ferrari model ever and is frequently seen at auctions. Currently, the selling price is generally just above a million dollars. The 1989 Ferrari F40 (estimate €950.000 – €1.050.000) has no real distinguishing features that will lift it above that level. It had only two owners with the original family keeping the car for 25 years.

1964 Porsche 901 Cabriolet Prototype

Porsche prices increased remarkably over recent months with huge numbers coming to the market – RM Sotheby’s alone will offer 25 in Paris and Bonhams 15.

The 1964 Porsche 901 Cabriolet Prototype by Karmann (estimate €850.000 – €1.000.000) is really special. This is the only known 901 cabriolet prototype ever built and the oldest, unrestored Porsche 901 in existence.

Porsche built many 911s in limited edition series but this one truly is unique. See Porsche 901 Cabriolet Prototype announcement for more on this car.

1995 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

The 1995 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet (estimate €850.000 – €1.000.000) is the latest Porsche 911 aiming to sell in excess of a million dollars. This car is one of only 14 special-order 993 Turbo Cabriolet built by Porsche Exclusive in 1995. It had two owners from new and was driven 18,000 km.

1952 Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle

Although the craze for barn finds seemed to have calmed down a bit of late, it will still be interesting to see what the 1952 Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle (estimate €55.000 – €80.000) on offer at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2017 will do. The car had a single owner from 1952 to 2014 and has covered 77,000 km from new. The car was not used from 1963 to 2014 and is sold with the original owner’s wooden skis, roof rack and ski holders.

2017 RM Sotheby’s Paris Auction (Preview)