The first big auctions in the European calendar have just taken place at Rétromobile Paris, and as usual Hagerty were there to experience the sales first-hand.
Overall, auction sales tended to be strong, with many cars exceeding their estimate – possibly the result of a large number of private buyers.
Notable cars were many: at RM Sotheby’s a very original early Porsche 912 sold for an astonishing €92,000 (estimate €40,000 to €60,000). With values of early 911s on the whole static or dropping from their peak in 2016/17, this is an interesting result for the 4-cylinder model that used to be so unloved.
Talking of unloved, the Ferrari 250 GTE is always the poor relation to its other 250 stablemates. RM sold one in Paris for a whopping €516,875, some way higher than the top Hagerty Price Guide value of £420,000.
Bugattis also sold well: a 2017 Chiron for €3.3m and the 1993 EB110 Super Sport Prototype for €1.152m, as did other newer cars: a 2005 Maserati MC12 sold for a shade over €2m.
Other high-ticket items didn’t fare so well: the ex-Johnny Hallyday Iso A3/C, a Ferrari 275 GTB ‘Long Nose’ and a Ferrari 166MM Spider all failed to find new home.
2005 Maserati MC12 sold at RM Sotheby's Paris for €2m
Two Ferraris, a 275 GTB Long Nose (left) and 166MM Spider (right) both failed to sell
