Bonhams will hold its third annual Automobiles d ‘Exception à Retromobile sale on January 23, 2010 at the Porte de Versailles in Paris, taking place during the 35th Rétromobile exhibition.
Bonhams will offer 99 motor cars and 50 items of automobilia by auction, headlined by a 28-car collection belonging to an Andalusian industrialist that includes five Hispano-Suiza cars with elegant coach-built bodies and a 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza estimated at more than a million euros.
Matthieu Lamoure, Director of European Motorcar Department at Bonhams said: “Bonhams is excited to be offering 99 exceptional collector cars (including 20 cars which will be offered without reserve) at Retromobile. The last two sales we’ve held at Retromobile have been very successful and we are confident that this years’ offering – which includes motor cars as diverse as the unique ‘lake find’ to a superb Alfa 8C Monza offered at prices to suit different budgets – will prove similarly popular with collectors and yield great results!”
Alongside the collection, Bonhams will also be offering a restored 1926-27 1.5-litre supercharged straight-eight Talbot-Darracq. One of the most charismatic, exciting and advanced Grand Prix cars of the so-called ‘Roaring Twenties’, the car has attracted a pre-sale estimate of €400,000-600,000.
Other highlights include a 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport (estimate €550,000-650,000), a rare 1931 Avions Voisin C14 ‘Chartre’ – one of only two ever built – which has a pre-sale estimate of €380,000 – 460,000 and a 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I coupé estimated at €800,000 – 1,000,000.
Last but not least is a touring Bugatti which lay at the bottom of a Swiss lake for over seventy years. The Brescia Bugatti has inevitably suffered some damage during its extensive stay underwater, however some 20% are still salvageable (half of the chassis and most of the aluminium casings) which means that it is possible to save the car, preserving it in its original splendour and glory. It could also prove to be a most interesting restoration project. This intriguing motor car has attracted a pre-sale estimate of €70,000-90,000.
In 2009, Bonhams offered 86 automobiles for sale, with 61 finding a new owner, reflecting a 71% sales rate. Total sales volume was $14,497,088, inclusive of buyer’s premiums. The average price per car sold was $237,657.
2010 Retromobile Auction Preview – Bonhams
[Source: Bonhams]
