A 1966 Nurburgring 1000k class winning Ferrari 275GTC sold for 1,540,200 euros (£1.23m) to lead the sellers under the Artcurial auction umbrella during Le Mans Classic weekend, where the open-top 2007 Audi R10 TDI star lot parked in front of the rostrum ran out of road with an insufficient 1.15m euros displayed on the bids board. The 1992 pole position Peugeot 905 EV13 Coupe HE that was also driven by Gary Brabham into 3rd place at the 1993 24 Hour did raise 654,700 euros however (£523,760). Whilst 321,700 euros (£257,360) was forthcoming for a pre-WW2 Peugeot Darl’Mat Sports and 297,800 euros (£238,240) was paid for a 1972 Ferrari 365GTB/4.
Once again inside a rain-lashed auction tent this summer though, it was the projects that were the most viewed items with a genuinely dusty 1959 Ferrrai 250 GT Coupe ‘Barn Find’ magnetising 210,900 euros (£168,720!) and a scruffy looking, though seemingly sound ex-Willy Mairesse driven 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA, that had been mechanically restored, also zoomed to a 128,700 euros valuation (£102,960).
After an 8 hour marathon auction - a mere stroll in the paddock for the veteran gavel wielder Maitre Herve Poulain who has driven the real 24 Hours of Le Mans eleven times - Equipe Artcurial hammered away 104 of the 124 cars to achieve an 84% sale rate and, including a Riva Super Ariston launch and a camion of automobilia, a close to 9m euros sale total (amounting to £7.2m in Anglo Saxon money).
More post-sale analysis from me in Friday’s newsletter, together with a review of last Thursday’s H&H auction, where I am pleased to report that principal Simon Hope made a welcome return to the rostrum at Buxton to sell yet another AC Ace, this time the ex-John Anstis 1957 Bristol-engined car, for £151,200 with premium.
Richard Hudson-Evans
