A 1987 Ferrari F40 LM that finished 12th at Le Mans in 1995 and a 1996 Ferrari F50 were announced for the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 sale.
Two classic modern Ferraris were announced for the RM Sotheby’s Paris Rétromobiile week 2019 classic car auction. A rare 1987 Ferrari F40 LM, estimate €4.500.000 – €5.500.000 ($5,000,000 – $6,200,000), is considered the most successful of the LM-specification Ferrari F40s. The 1996 Ferrari F50, estimate €1.700.000 – €1.900.000 ($1,900,000 – $2,150,000), was the 102 of 349 cars produced.
RM Sotheby’s Paris Rétromobile Week Auction 2019
RM Sotheby’s scheduled its sixth annual Paris sale during Rétromobile week for 6 February 2019 at Place Vauban in Paris, France.
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%.
1987 Ferrari F40 LM
An extremely rare 1987 Ferrari F40 LM, chassis 74045, estimate €4.500.000 – €5.500.000 ($5,000,000 – $6,200,000), leads the Italian marque entries for the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 classic car auction. This F40 was originally a prototype car and later converted to LM specification and raced at Le Mans and in the BPR Global GT Series.
Upon entering production, the Ferrari F40 was already the fastest road car of its time, but the ‘Le Mans’ version took the model to new extremes – affording the car more aggressive bodywork, more extreme front and rear wings, larger disc brakes and calipers, revised suspension, a race-spec gearbox and a stripped-out interior with a futuristic digital dashboard.
Chassis no. 74045 was originally used as a prototype car while the F40 was designed. The car was then converted to LM specification by Michelotto in 1992, and acquired by Michel Ferté in 1994, who finished 12th in the car at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans.
A year later, the car was upgraded with a wider rear wing and has enjoyed further racing success in the BPR Global GT Series. It now comes to RM Sotheby’s Paris sale as the most successful F40 LM, wearing its Le Mans livery of striking French Blue with Pilot sponsoring.
Ferrari F40 Prices at Public Auction
Ferrari F40 prices were mostly weaker in 2017 and 2018 with fewer owners risking offering cars at auctions in 2018. In 2018, only five Ferrari F40s sold at auction with prices ranging from $1,050,000 to $1,710,000.
Ferrari F40 in LM specifications are rarer and seldom come to auction. The last one sold was at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 for $3,300,000 – this car was the last of 18 factory LM cars produced and never raced.
1996 Ferrari F50
A Classiche-certified 1996 Ferrari F50, estimate €1.700.000 – €1.900.000 ($1,900,000 – $2,150,000), is a further modern classic Ferrari on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 sale. This F50 was the 102nd of only 349 ever made.
The Ferrari F50 was delivered new to a customer in France and is accompanied by its original luggage, flight case, hardtop and other accessories, including a rarely seen original trunk bag. Very few cars, either before or since the F50, offer such a compelling combination of thoroughbred performance and engineering pedigree, not to mention scarcity; and it is rare that such a fine example is offered for sale
Ferrari F50s were produced in much lower numbers the the F40 and thus achieve higher prices. However, only one was sold in 2018 at Bonhams Scottsdale and as not the best example achieved only $1,155,000. A result above $2 million for an F50 is more realistic.
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
- Top 20 Results at the Paris Rétromobile 2019 Auctions
- Artcurial – Paris 2019 Sale Auction Results
- Bonhams – Paris 2019 Sale Auction Results
- RM Sotheby’s – Paris 2019 Sale Auction Results
Paris Rétromobile Week 2019 Auction Previews
- Paris Rétromobile Week 2019 Classic Car Auctions General Preview
- Bonhams – Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais Auction Preview
- Artcurial – Rétromobile 2019 La Vente Officielle Auction Preview
- RM Sotheby’s – Paris 2019 Auction Preview
Rétromobile Auction Announcements
- Artcurial – 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta
- Artcurial – 1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix
- Artcurial – Highlights Announcement
- Bonhams – Charles Aznavour’s 1966 Vanden Plas Princess
- Bonhams – German Classic Cars (BMW 507, Mercedes Benz 540 K, Gullwing)
- RM Sotheby’s – 1956 Porsche 550 RS Spyder & 2014 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse
- RM Sotheby’s – 1987 Ferrari F40 LM and 1996 Ferrari F50
- RM Sotheby’s – Modern Bugattis (EB110 SS, Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse & Chiron
- RM Sotheby’s – Ferrari SP30 (First Special Projects Car Ever offered for sale)
- RM Sotheby’s – Supercars Lineup