Bonham’s Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris Auction with more than 60 collectors’ cars already consigned to the first fully digital auction for Bonhams Motor Cars, from 3 to 10 March inclusive. Here are the top lots.
1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series II, estimate €450,000 – 600,000. Known as the ‘Gentleman’s Express’, the DB4 was the fastest and most powerful British production car of its day.
It was also the first Aston Martin to carry the renowned ‘Superleggera’ all-aluminium bodywork by Carrozzeria Touring and the first to be powered by the all-new 240bhp six-cylinder 3.6-litre engine. This example is one of only 350 Series II cars built.
One of the most famous names in Italian coachbuilding, Carrozzeria Touring was founded in Milan in 1926 and enjoyed 40 years of outstanding success before its demise in the mid-1960s. Revived in 2006 under new ownership as Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera Srl, the company specialises in ‘low-volume bespoke motorcars and one-off commissions, each one uniquely crafted to the customer’s specification’.
Pre-war consignments include one of the rarest and most distinctive French motor cars of the era, with elegant and refined ‘Art Deco’ styling, a 1938 Peugeot 402 DES Darl’mat Special Sport. One of 20 remaining roadsters, this recently restored motor car is offered with its original livery of blue over tan and has an estimate of €350,000 – 550,000.
Maradona’s Silver Porsche Strikes into Bonhams Paris Sale
Of the sporting greats of the late 20th century, only a handful have earned legendary status worldwide and adulation beyond the racetrack, the court or the pitch, with football icon Diego Maradona lining up in this team of legends.
Off-pitch the maestro of the beautiful game also appreciated beautiful and exotic motor cars. A 1992 Porsche 911 Type 964 Carrera 2 Convertible Works Turbo Look (estimate €150,000 – 200,000), delivered new to ‘El Diego’ in November 1992 – during his last season of European football – will be offered at auction for the first-time.
Les Grand Marques Du Monde à Paris Sale will run for seven days, from 3–10 March, on the Bonhams website and the new Bonhams app. During this time bidders can request a condition report from the Bonhams specialists, additional images and video footage of all lots to make informed decisions and bid with confidence.
Also lining up is a 1987 Ferrari 512 BB1, estimate €160,000 – 200,000, featuring Formula 1 derived technology and engineering.
The Bonhams Paris Sale is known for offering the finest pre-war motor cars and last year achieved a world record for the world’s finest pre-war sports car, a 1931 Invicta 4 1/2-Litre S-Type Low Chassis Sports with unique ‘sport cabriolet’ coachwork by Carbodies which sold for €1,610,000.
The standout result of 2020 was the €4,600,000 achieved by a 1932 Bugatti Type 55, which was a works entry in the 24 Hours of Le Mans driven by two of the era’s most celebrated racing drivers, Louis Chiron and Count Guy Bouriat-Quintart. The Bugatti was the most valuable lot in the sale – and also the ‘top lot’ across all of this year’s Rétromobile sales.
An early pre-war consignment to the 2021 sale is a 1933 Lagonda 16/80 2-litre, with coachwork by Vanden Plas, estimate €110,000 – 140,000, a rare survivor as one of only 12 commissioned by Lagonda with bodywork by foremost coachbuilder Vanden Plas.
Representing modern classics will be a former Paris Motor Show model, a 1990 Opel Lotus Omega, estimate €60,000 – 80,000, the fastest production four-door saloon car of its day, with a top speed of 282 kmh.
The high-performance flagship of Opel, it was hand-built by Lotus, another General Motors owned brand at the time, at its UK factory. This was the second example produced and one of three used as press cars.
Report by bonhams.com
