A unique Bugatti Chiron Profilée and three Ferraris (Enzo, 642 F1, and 275 GTB/4) were the top sale results in the RM Sotheby’s Paris Retromobile 2023 classic car auction.
RM Sotheby’s achieved million-dollar results on 14 cars at the Paris Rétromobile week 2023 sale including the unique 2022 Bugatti Chiron Profilée for €9,792,5000 (US $10,677,74) to set a new record for a new car sold at public auction, the most expensive Chiron, and the second most expensive Bugatti ever. The 2003 Ferrari Enzo achieved the second highest price for the model while Jean Alesi’s 1991 Ferrari 643 Formula 1 single-seater racer achieved almost $4 million despite a lack of racing success.
RM Sotheby’s Paris 2023 Classic Car Auction
RM Sotheby’s Paris 2023 classic car auction during Rétromobile Week: on 1 February 2023 at a new venue at Salles du Carrousel du Louvre.
In 2022 and 2021, the RM Sotheby’s Paris sales were smaller auctions as Rétromobile week was either canceled or postponed. Previous RM Sotheby’s Paris results included:
- 2020: earned €16.5 million, a sell-through rate of 75%.
- 2019: earned €32.4 million, a sell-through rate of 79%.
- 2018: earned €23,745,335, a fairly strong 83% sell-through rate.
- 2017: earned €27,576,400 ($29,451,595) with a sell-through rate of 78%.
Top Results in the RM Sotheby’s Paris Classic Car Auction 2023
The top fifteen results at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2023 sale during Rétromobile Week were:
| Year | Car | Price (€) | Price ($) | |
| 1 | 2022 | Bugatti Chiron Profilée | 9,792,500 | 10,677,742 |
| 2 | 2003 | Ferrari Enzo | 4,055,000 | 4,421,572 |
| 3 | 1991 | Ferrari 643 | 3,661,250 | 3,992,227 |
| 4 | 1967 | Ferrari 275 GTB/4 | 3,098,750 | 3,378,877 |
| 5 | 2020 | McLaren Speedtail | 2,367,500 | 2,581,522 |
| 6 | 1990 | Ferrari F40 | 1,917,500 | 2,090,842 |
| 7 | 1959 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 1,748,750 | 1,906,837 |
| 8 | 2020 | McLaren Senna LM | 1,602,500 | 1,747,366 |
| 9 | 1969 | Lamborghini Miura P400 S | 1,580,000 | 1,722,832 |
| 10 | 1963 | Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso | 1,535,000 | 1,673,764 |
| 11 | 1965 | Alfa Romeo Giulia Tubolare Zagato | 1,140,000 | 1,243,056 |
| 12 | 2015 | McLaren P1 | 1,073,750 | 1,170,817 |
| 13 | 1969 | Lamborghini Miura S | 1,017,500 | 1,109,482 |
| 14 | 1978 | Lamborghini Countach LP400 S | 916,250 | 1,000,000 |
| 15 | 1928 | Bugatti Type 43 Roadster by Lavocat et Marsaud | 850,000 | 926,980 |
Note: Auction held in Euro. US$ conversion for indicative purposes only, dollar buyers probably paid a bit more.
Million-Dollar Results at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2023 Sale
Fourteen cars sold for over a million dollars at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2023 classic car auction:
2022 Bugatti Chiron Profilée
The unique 2022 Bugatti Chiron Profilée was as expected the most expensive car sold in the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2023 classic car auction. However, the result at €9,792,5000 (US $10,677,74) was double the pre-sale estimate of €4,200,000 to €5,500,000
This result was the highest price ever paid in a public auction for a new car and also set the new Chiron model record. It is the second-most-expensive Bugatti ever in nominal terms and only the fifth Buggati ever to achieve over $10 million at a public auction.
The 2022 Bugatti Chiron Profilée was developed as a less radical interpretation of the Chiron Pur Sport but as production slots for all 500 Bugatti Chirons were already filled, only this one example was ever produced. The Profilée, with a top speed of 380 km/h, integrated aspects of the Pur Sport character, while maintaining the elegance of models like Chiron or Chiron Sport. The Profilée is the last Bugatti to be sold with the iconic W-16 quad-turbo engine and has a European single-type approval.
The other Bugattis in the RM Sotheby’s sale performed less stellar. The 1928 Bugatti Type 43 Roadster by Lavocat et Marsaud sold below expectations while the 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster and the 2009 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport failed to sell.
Top Ferrari Results at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2023
RM Sotheby’s also had several notable Ferrari results at the Paris 2023 classic car auction.
The 2003 Ferrari Enzo sold for €4,055,000 ($4,421,572) as the second-most-expensive car in the sale. This Enzo was finished in a rare black over black (Nero) and was fitted from new with large-sized racing seats. This is the second-highest result for an Enzo ever at a public auction. The record holder remains the final of 400 Enzos produced: the 2005 Ferrari Enzo that was donated to Pope John Paul II that sold for $6,050,000 at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015.
The 1991 Ferrari 643 Formula 1 Single-Seater race car sold for just less than $4 million was quite a remarkably strong result given the car’s lack of racing success — its best finish was 4th in the French Grand Prix while being driven by Jean Alesi.
The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 was the most expensive of the three GTB/4s sold during the first 32 days of 2023, while the 1990 Ferrari F40 was the cheapest of the four F40s sold during the same period. (Two further F40s are available at the Paris sales of Bonhams and Artcurial.)
Further Million Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2023
Three modern McLaren supercars sold for over a million dollars each. However, the results for the 2020 McLaren Speedtail and 2015 McLaren P1 are amongst the lower prices ever accepted at auction for the two models. In contrast, the 2020 McLaren Senna LM set a new model record.
The 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster had a strong result just short of $2 million, as the most expensive of the three sold thus far this year.
Three Lamborghinis — two Miuras and a Countach — sold for more than a million dollar.
Paris Rétromobile Week Auctions 2023
Classic Car Auctions
The following three sales traditionally open the European classic car auction year during the Paris Rétromobile Week that is held from 1 to 5 February 2023 at Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles
- Artcurial: Rétromobile Sale on 3 February 2023.
- Bonhams: Les Grandes Marques à Paris Sale on 2 February 2023.
- RM Sotheby’s: Paris Auction 1 February 2023 at Salles du Carrousel du Louvre.
Paris Rétromobile Auctions 2023 Results
Paris Rétromobile Auctions 2023 Pre-Sale Announcements
- Artcurial: 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante
- Artcurial: Schumacher Benetton B195
- Artcurial: 1964 Ferrari 250 LM
- Bonhams: Pre-Sale Auction Preview
- Bonhams: Maradona’s 1980 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC
- RM Sotheby’s: 2022 Bugatti Chiron Profilée
- RM Sotheby’s: 2020 McLaren Senna LM
Previous Paris Rétromobile Week Auction Results
- 2022 Paris Rétromobile Sales Results: Artcurial, RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams
- 2021 Artcurial Parisienne Sale Results (Rétromobile was canceled in 2021)
- 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