A whopping 65 cars, concepts and full-scale models from the reserve collection of Citroën Conservatoire has been sold ahead of a move from the historic Aulney sous Bois factory – and some of the numbers will make your head spin.
The fascinating lots crossed the block on 10 December, with many far exceeding their pre-sale estimates. A trio of Meharis caused the biggest stir, with each of the 4x4s models triggering frenzied bidding on their way to posting remarkable results.
All three of the off-roaders were built in 1979, with the top estimated example making the biggest figure – but not by much. Expected to sell for as much as €10,000, the green example went on to achieve €28,000. The other two cars – each estimated to fetch between €2000-4000 – went on to make €24,640 and €20,160, respectively.
Proving that 2CV-derived four-wheel-drive vehicles were the flavour of the day, a pre-production FAF from 1980 also flew past its pre-sale estimate of €3500 on its way to a dizzying €21,280.
Despite the huge interest in Citroën’s older machines, the top price of the day went to the 2010 Tubik concept – though not the working prototype. The full-sized styling model eventually sold for €36,960, followed by a non-functional replica of Sebastien Loeb’s 2014 WTCC C-Elysee, which made €25,312.
A pair of GSs also performed very well. A 1977 Phase 2 model breezed beyond its €2000-4000 estimate to make #13,440, while an earlier Phase 1 car from 1973 more than doubled its expected result by selling for €11,200. A 1961 Ami 6 reckoned to make just €1200 also defied expectations to get away for €8960.
It wasn’t such great news for a few of the concepts, however: the styling model for the 1980 Xenia fell far short of its €15,000-25,000 estimate, making just €7280, while the 2002 C8 Oxygene by Sbarro achieved just €8960 – shy of its €10,000 lower estimate.
In addition to the four-wheeled lots, Citroën also auctioned 90 pieces of automobilia. There was plenty of promotional material ranging from press photographs and posters to stand furniture from its modern motor show appearances, but the most interesting lots came from its old factories. Two cast-iron Ciroën nameplates came from the Levallios plant, along with several conveyor trollies from the Javel and Asnieres factories – a fascinating link to Citroën’s past and a rare opportunity for enthusiasts. Both fetched more than €2000, comfortably surpassing their €600 estimates.
Greg MacLeman is a contributor to and former Features Editor of Classic & Sports Car, and drives a restored and uprated 1974 Triumph 2500TC
