For the 16th edition of Automobiles sur les Champs on 1 November, Artcurial Motorcars will offer a superb 1955 Mercedes 300 SL « Gullwing » presented with an estimate of 1.100.000 € to 1.300.000 €.
A total of 65 lots will come under the hammer of Maître Hervé Poulain, accompanied by the celebrated duo, Matthieu Lamoure and Pierre Novikoff.
Artcurial Motorcars’ Automobiles sur Les Champs sales have become highly anticipated events. Over the course of a weekend, la plus belle avenue du monde becomes the backdrop for a tempting array of collectors’ automobiles, barnfinds and highly sought-after Youngtimers.
Heading the line-up this autumn will be a superb 1955 Mercedes 300 SL “Gullwing”. This wonderful example has had limited owners, and was one of the first examples to be sold new in England. In fact there is an amusing anecdote about its original purchase.
Sir Jeremy Boles, a motor-racing enthusiast who was just 23 years old at the time, was in the process of ordering this car at the 1954 London Motor Show when his friend, the celebrated racing driver Mike Hawthorn, made a last-minute attempt to dissuade him from buying a non-British car!
This intervention was unsuccessful however and a few weeks later, in early 1955, Jeremy Boles took delivery of his new car at Brooklands of Bond Street in London, liveried in silver grey metallic, with leather and blue-checked fabric interior. Find out more.
Over the last ten years, Artcurial Motorcars has established itself as the specialist for barnfind discoveries. Starring in this sale will be a stunning 1960 AC Ace Bristol Roadster, sold new by Chardonnet, the famous Parisian importer.
This car has had just two owners from new, having been acquired by the current owner from his best friend in 1971. The story surrounding the purchase of this car is extraordinary, resulting from a competition held by the newspaper Ouest-France. The current owner came up with the answers to the competition and gave these to his best friend who entered and en- ded up winning all the major prizes. He promptly sold the French cars he had won in order to buy the motor car of his dreams, this AC Ace Bristol Roadster!
Eleven years later, in gratitude, he sold the AC Ace for a token price to his best friend who has kept it ever since, without ever really driving it. As a consequence, this amazingly original example has covered just 18 000 km from new! The car has been conserved without ever being restored and still has its original paintwork.
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
There is a complete history file including the original order and invoice and various pieces of correspondence dating back to the 1960s and 1970s. It is estimated to fetch between 300 000 € and 500 000 €. Find out more.
Another rare vehicle, a 1928 Chenard & Walcker Type Y8 “Tank” will also be offered in the sale. This lot was owned for a long time by the curator of the Royal Belgian Cine- ma. It passed to the current family when he died in 1988, and has spent many years in the Brussels area.
Despite missing its engine, this example represents an exciting restoration project, being a rare and historically important model. The body appears to be complete and shows signs of an earlier restoration, the dashboard still has its two large O.S. dials, and the car has retained its gearbox. Estimate : 20 000 € – 30 000 €, no reserve. Find out more.
A collection, belonging to Hubert André, a Parisian enthusiast for American and unu- sual cars, will also be presented in the sale. Amongst the curiosities in the collection is a 1973 Bond Bug three-wheeler equipped with a 1000cc Yamaha engine, estimated at 15 000 € – 20 000 €, a wonderful 1973 De Tomaso Pantera GTS complete with its factory file, estimated at 100 000 € – 130 000 €, a fully restored first generation Range Rover V8 , estimate 30 000 € – 50 000 €, two motorcycles and a Lambretta scooter. The majority of the vehicles in this collection will be offered at no reserve.
ABOUT ARTCURIAL
Founded in 2002, multidisciplinary Paris based auction house, Artcurial confirmed its leading position in 2019 on the international art market scene. With three sale venues (Paris, Monte-Carlo and Hong Kong), Artcurial achieved an overall sales total of 203,1 M€ in 2019. Artcurial covers all the major specialist fields: From Beaux-Arts to Decorative Arts, Collectors’ Cars, jewellery and watches, Fine wine and spirits. With a strong international bias, Artcurial maintains its presence abroad with offices in Milan, Vienna and Brussels, Monte-Carlo and Munich and representatives in Beijing and Tel Aviv, as well as twice-yearly exhibitions in New York. In October 2015, Artcurial held its first sale in Hong Kong and Morocco. Find out more.
Report by artcurial.com
