The Bonhams Chantilly Concours 2015 auction was staged 5 September on the grounds of Château de Chantilly in Chantilly, France. Held in association with the Chantilly Arts and Elegance Concours d’Elegance, the debut sale resulted in €7.5 million in total sales.
Philip Kantor, Bonhams European Head of Motor cars, said, “For a sale just in its first year, the Bonhams Chantilly Sale has achieved an excellent result, with a total €7.5 million achieved for the exclusive collection of just 28 cars. Our first black-tie evening sale, the event was an elegant celebration of beautiful and rare motor cars, one that we hope to continue for years to come.”
The top result at Bonhams’ inaugural Chantilly sale went to the one-off Maserati Boomerang that sold for €3,289,500 after bidding in the room and on the telephones. The Boomerang was a signature concept car of the 1970s. Designer Giorgetto Giugiaro used geometric shapes and ruler straight lines to create its angular appeal, ensuring the unusual Maserati emerged from the decade to be one of the great style influences of the motoring industry.
Elsewhere from Maserati, the 1968 Maserati Mexico 4.7-Litre Coupe sold for €646,300. Named in honour of Cooper-Maserati’s victory in the 1966 Mexican Grand Prix, the Maserati Mexico was unveiled at the 1966 Turin Motor Show to fanfare. The motor car offered however was a bespoke Frua creation, the most attractive of the three one-offs produced in the relationship between Maserati and car designer Pietro Frua. Restored to its initial light green paintwork, with original Bordeaux leather, the Mexico won the Best of Show award at the Maserati 100th Anniversary celebrations.
Further highlights at the Bonhams Chantilly Concours 2015 auction included eight motor cars from the collection of French businessman and art collector, Alain Dominique Perrin. Most notable of the collection was a car steeped in French pop music history – the 1977 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 originally owned by famous French singer and composer, Claude François.
Claude, or CloClo to his fans, was one of France’s biggest pop stars, with a legacy that remains today as he continues to be one of the country’s biggest-selling recording artists. Claude famously wrote and composed the original version of My Way, a song made internationally famous by Frank Sinatra. After bidding in the room, the 1977 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 sold for close on €100,000 to a private European buyer.
Bonhams Chantilly Concours 2015 – Top Five Auction Results
1. 1971 Maserati Boomerang Concept – €3,289,500
2. 1968 Maserati Mexico 4.7-Litre Frua Coupe – €646,300
3. 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet C – €609,500
4. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe – €598,000
5. 1959 AC Ace Bristol – €304,750
For complete auction results, visit Bonhams Chantilly.
James Knight, Bonhams Group Motoring Director added, “This auction is a welcome addition to our series of blue riband sales. We look forward to our sale at the Goodwood Revival next week and the very special single-owner sale in Denmark later this month.”
For further information, visit Bonhams.
[Source: Bonhams]
