2019: Paris Rétromobile Week Sales Top Auction Results

The most-expensive cars at the Paris Rétromobile 2019 auctions were a 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta, a 1987 Ferrari F40 LM and a 1966 Serenissima Spyder.

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta
Kevin Van Campenhout © Courtesy of Artcurial

A 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta sold for €16,475,000 as the top result at the various Paris Rétromobile Week classic car auctions. The second and third most-expensive cars – a 1987 Ferrari F40 LM and a 1966 Serenissima Spyder – were both Le Mans 24 Hours participants. Although Artcurial sold the most-expensive car of the week, RM Sotheby’s sold half of the top 20 cars followed by Artcurial with six and Bonhams with four.

Top 20 Paris Rétromobile Week 2019 Auction Results

The following were the 20 most-expensive cars sold during the Paris Rétromobile 2019 classic car auctions:

YearCarPrice ($)Price (€)Estimate (€)Auction House
11939Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta19,256,75016,475,00016,000,000 – 22,000,000Artcurial
21987Ferrari F40 LM5,568,8754,842,5004,500,000 – 5,500,000RM Sotheby’s
31966Serenissima Spyder4,851,6204,218,8001,300,000 – 1,800,000Artcurial
41956Porsche 550 RS Spyder by Wendler3,498,8753,042,5003,800,000 – 4,300,000RM Sotheby’s
51966Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy Berlinetta3,289,0002,860,0003,000,000 – 3,300,000RM Sotheby’s
62009Mercedes Benz SLR Stirling Moss Edition3,009,7802,617,2002,250,000 – 2,500,000Artcurial
72018Bugatti Chiron2,616,2502,275,0002,360,000 – 2,750,000RM Sotheby’s
81994Bugatti EB110 Super Sport2,334,5002,030,0001,300,000 – 1,800,000RM Sotheby’s
91996Ferrari F501,955,0001,700,0001,700,000 – 1,900,000RM Sotheby’s
101939Mercedes Benz 540 K Cabriolet A1,801,6761,581,2501,550,000 – 1,850,000Bonhams
111955Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing1,369,9081,207,5001,100,000 – 1,500,000Bonhams
122017Ferrari F12tdf1,377,1251,197,500825,000 – 950,000RM Sotheby’s
131928Bentley 61/2 Litre Four Light Weymann Fabric Sports Saloon1,310,3101,150,0001,200,000 – 1,400,000Bonhams
142015Porsche 918 Spyder1,267,1561,101,875950,000 – 1,100,000RM Sotheby’s
151930Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Grand Sport Roadster Corsica1,124,010977,400900,000 – 1,400,000Artcurial
161964Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso1,124,010977,400900,000 – 1,300,000Artcurial
171971Porsche 916 Prototype Brutus1,096,640953,600800,000 – 1,200,000Artcurial
182011Ferrari 599 SA Aperta1,073,093933,125925,000 – 1,050,000RM Sotheby’s
191957Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster1,037,516902,188800,000 – 1,000,000RM Sotheby’s
201950Porsche 356 Split-Window ‘Four Digit’ Coupe913,272805,000700,000 – 1,000,000Bonhams

Note: Results as published immediately after the auction. May exclude some post-hammer deals. Auction held in euro – all conversions at €1=$1.15. Include results from auctions by Artcurial, Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s.

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B at Orly
1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B at Orly – © Kevin van Campenhout / Courtesy of Artcurial

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta at Auction
Kevin Van Campenhout © Courtesy of Artcurial

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta sold for €16,475,000 ($19,256,750) as the top result at the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2019 classic car auction. This was by far the highest result at the February 2019 Paris auctions and in value represented a third of the combined top-20 results. It is also the second most-expensive Alfa Romeo and  14th most-expensive car ever.

The 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta, chassis #412024, was the second of only 5 examples built with the Carrozzeria Touring berlinetta coachwork. It has been in the same ownership for the past four decades and is registered on Dutch plates.

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta
Christian Martin © Courtesy of Artcurial

Of the five Touring Berlinettas built, three were restored in recent years in North America – two won Best of Show at Pebble Beach (2008 and 2018) – and the final one is in the Alfa Romeo Museum. The car in Paris sold to an American buyer and might be heading to Pebble Beach soon.

Alfa produced fewer than 50 of the 8C2900 chassis. The last one to have sold at auction was a 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider that set a new marque record when achieving $19,800,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016 sale.

Blue 1987 Ferrari F40 LM at auction
Remi Dargegen © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

1987 Ferrari F40 LM

1987 Ferrari F40 LM Profile
Christian Wilken ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The extremely rare 1987 Ferrari F40 LM, chassis 74045, sold for €4.3842,500 ($5,568,875) at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 sale. This set a new model world record more than $2 million higher than the $3.3 million paid for a Ferrari F40 LM in 2015.

This F40 was originally used a a prototype car during the development of the F40 but converted by Michelotto in 1992 to LM specification. It was finally raced at the 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours race where it finished 12th. The Ferrari F40 also raced in the BPR Global GT series and is considered the most successful F40 LM racer. It was offered in the Le Mans racing livery of French blue with Pilot sponsoring.

1966 Serenissima Spyder by Fantuzzi
Kevin Van Campenhout © Courtesy of Artcurial

1966 Serenissima Spyder

1966 Serenissima Spyder by Fantuzzi
Kevin van Campenhout © Artcurial

Arguably the most sensational result among the top cars at Paris Rétromobile 2019 auctions was the €4,218,800 paid for the 1966 Serenissima Spyder – more than double upper estimate and three times lower estimate.

The Serenissima Spyder participated in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1966 as car n°24 with drivers Jean-Claude Sauer and Jean de Mortemart. It retired after five hours with transmission problems. The car is in exceptionally original condition and has not been touched since the race. The car has only ever had one owner: Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata.

Top Porsches at Paris Rétromobile Auctions 2019

1956 Porsche 550 RS Spyder
Remi Dargegen © Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The top Porsche result at the Paris 2019 sales was $3.5 million for a 1956 Porsche 550 RS Spyder by Wendler at the RM Sotheby’s sale. The car was originally delivered to the Ecurie Nationale Belge racing team and was extensively raced in period by amongst others Gilberte Thirion – she drove the car to victory in the 1956 Course de Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons hill climb. The 550 RS Spyder went on to contest the 1956 24 Hours of LeMans, 1957 1000 KM of Nürburgring and 13 additional races. It is one of only ten 550s to have ever raced at Le Mans.

A similar Porsche 550A failed to sell at Artcurial but the French auctioneer had a spectacular result when the 1971 Porsche 916 Prototype Brutus sold for just over a million dollar. This car is the only Porsche 916 fitted with a 2.9L RSR engine from new, as it was originally used by Corina Piëch – daughter of Ferdinand Piëch, the famous engineer and manager at Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen.

The early 1950 Porsche 356 Split-Window ‘Four Digit’ Coupe at Bonhams failed to reach the million dollar mark although the result was still remarkable high for the model. In contrast, the $1,267,000 at RM Sotheby’s was the lowest result yet accepted for a Porsche 918 Spyder.

1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A Front Quarter
© Courtesy of Bonhams

Top Mercedes Benz Results at Paris Rétromobile 2019

The top Mercedes Benz result at the Paris Rétromobile 2019 sales was just over $3 million for the 2009 Mercedes Benz SLR Stirling Moss Edition at Artcurial. It is one of only 75 built and has covered only 950 km from new. The SLR Stirling Moss Edition was the final series of cars produced by Mercedes and McLaren and was only available to existing SLR owners. 

The magnificent 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A sold for €1,581,250 ($1,801,676) as the top result at the Bonhams Paris 2019 classic car auction. This Mercedes-Benz has a known history from new and was offered by the Jordanian royal family.

It remained a buyers’ market for Mercedes Benz 300 SLs. Bonhams sold a 1955 Gullwing and RM Sotheby’s a 1957 Roadster within the fairly modest estimations but a further three Roadsters went unsold.

1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport
Peter Singhof © Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Top Bugatti Results at the Paris Rétromobile 2019 Auctions

Several enticing classic Bugattis were on offer at the Paris 2019 auctions, including a 1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix that participated in 40 in-period Grands Prix. However, none of the million-dollar plus classic Bugattis found new homes.

2017 Chiron, estimate €2.360.000 – €2.750.000 ($2,700,000 – $3,100,000)
Dirk De Jager © Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s had mixed success with modern Bugattis. The two Veyrons on offer failed to sell but the top Bugatti result at the auctions was $2.6 million for a 2018 Bugatti Chiron. This deal was negotiated post-hammer and was more than a million dollar less than was achieved on a Chiron at the RM Sotheby’s New York 2017 sale. The only other Chiron sold at auction went for $4 million at Paris 2018.

However, the most-impressive Bugatti result of the week was arguably the model record €2,030,000 ($2,334,500) for a 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 sale. The result was well above estimate and nearly a million dollar higher than was achieved for a Super Sport Prototype at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2018 sale and is a record price for a 1990s Bugatti. The 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport is one of only 30 produced and has covered only 907 km since new.

2017 Ferrari F12tdf finished in Brunito paint (metallic brownish)
Sami Sasso © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Top Ferrari Results at Paris 2019

Apart from the F40 LM, few top Ferraris were on offer at the Paris Rétromobile 2019 sales and million-dollar results were fairly rare and mostly within or below expectations.

RM Sotheby’s had a reasonable result with the 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy Berlinetta. A fairly similar 275 GTC at Artcurial failed to sell but a very impressive 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso sold within estimate.

RM Sotheby’s had strong results for a 2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta and a 2017 Ferrari F12tdf that probably achieved a model record. The 1996 Ferrari F50 was only sold post-hammer in a deal very favorable to the purchaser. The 2011 Ferrari SP30 failed to sell.

1928 Bentley 61:2 Litre Four Light Weymann Fabric Sports Saloon
© Courtesy of Bonhams

Pre-War Results at Paris Rétromobile 2019 Auctions

In addition to the 1939 Alfa Romeo and Mercedes Benz, two further prewar cars sold for more than a million dollar at the Paris Rétromobile week 2019 classic car auctions:

Artcurial sold a 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Grand Sport Roadster Corsica sold for €977,400. This car was in the same family ownership since 1953. It was raced in the 1930s with the Corsica body only fitted in the early 1950s. Despite the racing history, the car is in a very original condition and retained its original engine.

The 1928 Bentley 6½ Litre Four Light Weymann Fabric Sports Saloon sold for €1,150,000 ($1,310,310) at Bonhams is similarly a remarkable rare surviving closed “Big Six” Bentley. It is a matching-numbers example with a known history from new. It had eight owners from new and covered only 42,000 miles in the past 90 years.

More on Paris Rétromobile 2019 Classic Car Auctions

Artcurial, Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s traditionally schedule their first European classic car auction of the year during the Rétromobile week in Paris in early February.

Paris Rétromobile Week 2019 Auction Results

Paris Rétromobile Week 2019 Auction Previews

Rétromobile Auction Announcements