2022 RM Sotheby’s Paris Sale (Auction Results)

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Three Ferraris — a 288 GTO, F50, and 275 GTB/4 — sold for high prices as the top results at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 classic car auction.

Three Ferraris -- a 288 GTO, F50, and 275 GTB/4 -- sold for high prices as the top results at the RM Sotheby's Paris 2022 classic car auction.
Alex Penfold ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s had a good start to the European classic car auction season when nine cars were sold in Paris for over a million dollars and most top prices exceeded the upper estimates. The three most expensive cars sold at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 classic car auction were all Ferraris. The top results were $3,907,200 paid for a 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO and $3,875,500 paid for a 1996 Ferrari F50 — both amongst the highest prices ever paid for these models. A 1994 Bugatti EB110 GT sold for an astonishing $2,036,000.

RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 Classic Car Auction

RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 classic car auction: 2 February 2022 at Place Vauban as part of the Paris Rétromobile Week 2022. In 2021, RM Sotheby’s sold two cars for over a million dollar in the online auction that replaced the regular Paris February sales.

In 2020, RM Sotheby’s earned €16.5 million at its Paris sale with a sell-through rate of 75%. In 2019, RM Sotheby’s earned more than €32.4 million with a sell-through rate of 79%. In 2018, RM Sotheby’s earned €23,745,335 with a fairly strong 83% sell-through rate. In 2017, RM Sotheby’s achieved a gross sale total of €27,576,400 ($29,451,595) with a sell-through rate of 78%. In 2016, RM Sotheby’s grossed €19 million with a sell-through rate of 79%.

Top Results at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 Auction

1994 Bugatti EB 110 GT
Paolo Carlini ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The ten most-expensive cars sold at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 classic car auction were:

YearCarPrice ($)Price (€)Estimate (€)
11985Ferrari 288 GTO3,907,2003,464,3752,400,000 – 2,600,000
21996Ferrari F503,875,5003,436,2502,800,000 – 3,200,000
31966Ferrari 275 GTB/42,670,6002,367,5001,700,000 – 2,000,000
41994Bugatti EB110 GT2,036,0001,805,0001,000,000 – 1,200,000
51964Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso1,338,1001,186,250900,000 – 1,100,000
61959Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet1,287,3601,141,250850,000 – 1,100,000
71963Aston Martin DB4 Convertible1,274,9001,130,0001,250,000 – 1,500,000
81958Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster1,033,750916,250800,000 – 1,000,000
91954Fiat 8V Coupe1,021,000905,000825,000 – 925,000
101973Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta589,380522,500–
–2003Ferrari 550 GTCNot SoldNS2,000,000 – 2,500,000

NOTE: Auction in Euro, USD prices converted as €10=$11,28. Results include auction premium.

The only top car failing to sell was the track-only 2003 Ferrari 550 GTC, chassis 2102, (Estimate: €2,000,000 – €2,500,000) that was owned by the Ferrari factory from 2003 to 2005.

Million-Dollar Results at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022

Nine cars sold for over a million dollars at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 classic car auction:

Top Ferraris at RM Sotheby’s Paris Sale 2022

Red 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO on sale in the RM Sotheby's Paris 2022 classic car auction
Alex Penfold ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

More than half the cars on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 classic car auction were Ferraris, including 28 road-going Ferraris from The Petitjean Collection ‘Part II’ that were sold without reserve. A gamble that paid off as the four most expensive Ferraris from this collection (as well as the F50) all sold for more than the very reasonable presale estimates.

The top car from The Petitjean Collection was also the most expensive car sold: a 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO (estimate €2,400,000 – €2,600,000) that achieved €3,464,375 — one of the highest prices ever paid for the model. RM Sotheby’s sold a 288 GTO at Maranello in 2017 for €3,263,000, which at the time converted to a higher $3,948,230.

The 288 GTO was one of only 272 produced. It was originally owned by German racing driver Bepp Mayer, who specified a considerable number of options, including air conditioning, power windows, and radio, to complement the classic Rosso Corsa paintwork and Nero leather interior. The only other owner was Mr Petitjean. The 288 GTO has done only 9,559 km from new.

A 1996 Ferrari F50 is the lead car in the RM Sotheby's Paris 2022 classic car auction
Keno Zache ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1996 Ferrari F50 had a higher presale estimate (€2,800,000 to €3,200,000) but the final result of €3,436,250 was just less than the 288 GTO but still well above expectations and one of the highest results ever for an F50 — RM Sotheby’s sold one for $3,965,000 at Monterey 2021. It was the 140th of 349 F50s built and has 12,722 km on the clock but otherwise no special features or history.

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 on sale in the RM Sotheby's Paris 2022 classic car auction
Alex Penfold ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Always a popular model at auctions, the 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (estimate €1,700,000 – €2,000,000), chassis no. 09021, in Paris sold for well above estimate too. It was the first-ever production ‘four cam’ 275 GTB/4 of only 330 examples built. It was displayed at the 1966 Paris Salon de l’Automobile and later used as the demonstrator prior to sale to renowned Parisian fashion designer Charles Jourdan. Monsieur Petitjean became its second owner in 1969 and kept the car for the past 52 years.

Silver 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta on sale in the RM Sotheby's Paris 2022 classic car auction
Alex Penfold ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The two 250 GT Ferraris from the Petitjean Collection also sold well above estimates, despite having been on static display for many years:

  • The 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta or “Lusso”, (estimate €900,000 – €1,100,000) achieved €1,186,250, while
  • The 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet (estimate €850,000 – €1,100,000) sold for €,1,141,250.

Other Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Paris Auction 2022

1954 Fiat 8V Coupe on offer at the RM Sotheby's Paris 2022 Auction
Tom Gidden ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The four non-Ferrari million-dollar cars sold in the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 sale were a mixed bunch:

The 1994 Bugatti EB 110 GT sold for a very strong €1,805,000 — €600,000 above the upper estimate. This single-owner car with silver with dual-tone blue/light grey interior had 25,000 km on the clock. It set a new model record (which Bonhams increased by a few thousand the following day with a blue one that had half the mileage but triple the number of owners).

The 1963 Aston Marin DB4 Convertible was the only top car failing to reach estimate in the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 auction, It is one of only 70 DB4 Convertibles built and one of 12 originally sold in the USA. However, little is known about the car’s history and was sold while physically in Dubai.

The 1954 Fiat 8V Coupe is a good-looking car from any angle. It is one of only 144 Fiat 8Vs built and one of the 29 second-series cars produced in-house by Fiat. It sold for just a above a million dollar near top estimate.

The 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster result was much anticipated after six Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs sold for well over a million dollars at US auctions in January 2022 (2 at Kissimme and 6 at Scottsdale, including a new $6,825,000 model record for a Gullwing Alloy at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2022). The mid-estimate $1,033,750 in Paris was solid enough but not as over-exuberant as the prices paid in America. Although well maintained, the car has a largely unknown history prior to restoration in 1995, which itself is quite some years back now.

RM Sotheby’s next major live classic car auctions are Amelia Island in Florida early March 2022 and Monaco mid-May 2022.

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