Low-mile Alpina sets the youngtimer pace in Paris

By Lizzie Pope

| 10 Jan 2020

Classic & Sports Car – Low-mile Alpina sets the youngtimer pace in Paris

The latest batch of the RM Sotheby’s Youngtimer Collection is headed to auction in Paris next month, and it’s led by a sparkling 1993 BMW Alpina B12 5.7 Coupé.

Much of the outstanding single-owner collection of modern classics was sold last year, with more than 150 of them offered over five sales. They proved hugely popular, with an incredible 155 out of 157 cars selling.

Now the auction house is aiming to repeat the trick in 2020 – with a further 11 eye-catching classics from the same collection going under the hammer in Paris next month.

The BMW Alpina B12 5.7 Coupé is expected to achieve the highest price among the youngtimers on offer, and with good reason: it’s one of just 57, boasts 412bhp and near-300kph potential, and in its 27 years it has covered fewer than 9000km.

Admittedly, with a €300-350,000 guide price, it won’t come cheap. But if you’ve not quite got the funds for that, you could console yourself with another BMW at the same sale – a 1987 M6 with a €80-€90,000 guide price will also cross the block.

Love a hot, rare Mercedes? Then you’re in luck, because a glut of super-desirable three-pointed stars will be auctioned next month, too.

If V12 power is your thing, there’s a 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL70 AMG, or how about a ‘Hammer’-spec ’89 560SEL AMG – that’s an original, pre-merger AMG. These carry pre-sale estimates of €150-200,000 and €100-140,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, the collection’s 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300CE AMG 3.4 will be looking for a new home with a €80-120,000 estimate, plus there’s a 1979 example of the undercover hero that is the 450SEL 6.9 for sale, too (€80-90,000).

Don’t fancy a German car? Don’t worry!

The trio of British-built modern classics in RM Sotheby’s Paris sale includes a one-of-55 1997 Bentley Turbo RT Mulliner (€90-110,000), plus two younger cars, a 2007 Aston Martin Vanquish S that’s done less than 20,000km (€130-160,000) and an ’07 Bentley Arnage T (€60-80,000).

Or for a more left-field choice, check out the 2008 Spyker C8 Laviolette. The example in question is Silver with a Tropicana Orange-trimmed cabin and was a factory demonstrator – it is expected to achieve €200-250,000.

Gord Duff, Global Head of Auctions at RM Sotheby’s, said: “Following the incredible collector interest and the success of the Youngtimer Collection across our 2019 sales, we’re excited to bring another great group of desirable, beautifully maintained, and low-mileage modern classics to the Paris auction.

“The B12 5.7 is a standout car at the top of every modern classic collector’s list, and this example checks absolutely every box with its six-speed manual transmission, low-mileage, and sharp Alpina Blue colour.

“The Spyker is another car seldom seen at auction and that collectors are really starting to take notice of, quickly making it a staple modern-day collectible in its own right.”

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