The 20 most expensive cars sold at the Paris auctions 2020

The highlights from last week’s mega-sales

If you were in the market for a classic Ferrari, Porsche, Bugatti or BMW last week then Paris was the place to be.

As the wonderful Rétromobile show entertained thousands of enthusiasts, three of the big auction houses – RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams and Artcurial – hosted glittering sales in the city.

All three were packed with multi-million pound classics, and between them they made nearly €60m.

So what was the week’s top lot? Here’s a countdown of the 20 most expensive, starting with number 20.

20. 2009/2019 MAT New Stratos Coupé

Sold for: €690,000 (£584,568)

That’s a lot of money for what’s at best an affectionate homage and at worse a copy of a much-loved, legendary classic.

Wearing a carbonfire body and based on the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, MAT’s one-of-25 reimagining – number one, no less – might be an acquired taste, but you’re unlikely to see many others.

19. 1952 Pegaso Z-102

Sold for: €713,000 (£604,053)

Spain’s first post-war car is essentially a roadgoing racer – so totally our cup of tea. And its 2.5-litre quad-cam V8 was the first such power unit used in a production car.

This car’s first owner must’ve loved it, seeing as he kept it until 1984! Let’s hope its new custodian has an equally happy relationship.

18. 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SZ

Sold for: €724,500 (£613,796)

There’s no mistaking Zagato’s handiwork in this Mille Miglia-eligible lot in Bonhams’ Paris sale.

It’s one of around 38 built and retains its matching numbers engine and chassis, yet sold for a smidgeon under its pre-sale estimate of €750,000-1,000,000.

17. 1965 AC Cobra 289

Sold for: €751,000 (£635,011)

This eye-catching timewarp Cobra emerged from a Swedish collection to dazzle at Artcurial’s sale.

The well-preserved classic was with the same owner for 50 years and was sold with plenty of period accessories; let’s see if its next owner can also hit the half-century.

16. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL

Sold for: €764,375 (£646,321)

Built in Germany and with previous owners in the USA and Portugal, this glamorous roadster went to auction in its original hue and with its original engine, body, and steering box.

It’s not known if it’ll do more globetrotting with its new keeper, but having been fastidiously cared for by its vendor, it should definitely be ready for its next adventure.

15. 1934 Talbot AV105

Sold for €879,750 (£745,324)

This colourful Talbot has been a successful racer for 80 years now: it won at Brooklands way back in 1936 and scooped overall victory on the Flying Scotsman rally as recently as 2013.

It’s also seen action at the Goodwood Revival, the Mille Miglia and at 2012’s Le Mans Classic – where it collected a trophy – and will be sold with current FIA HTP papers, ready for its new owner to continue its proud tradition.

14. 1936 Delahaye 135 Special

Sold for: €917,800 (£776,050)

This gorgeous Delahaye 135 Special is one of only 16 produced and was raced at the 1937 Le Mans 24 Hours, though it sadly retired on lap 36.

It went to auction in wonderful condition, having been comprehensively restored, and although now fitted with an engine from a 135 MS model, the original unit was also included in the sale.

13. 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL

Sold for €1,033,333 (£875,440)

The 300SL is an all-time classic whether in Gullwing or Roadster form, and this must be one of the nicest examples of the latter variety sold recently. 

It’s finished in classic silver with a red-trimmed interior, has covered around 91,500km from new and is one of only 200 built with disc brakes and an all-aluminium engine.

12. 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

Sold for: €1,073,750 (£907,914)

Speaking of the 300SL, here’s another one, but this time in Gullwing form.

It was the first Gullwing delivered to Sweden and was campaigned extensively in Scandinavia by its first owner, Olle Perssons, with an appearance at the 1955 Helsinki Grand Prix among its races.

More dramatically still, that same year Perssons used it to set a Swedish ice record on Lake Varpen, achieving 188.8kph. Cool (literally).

11. 1993 Jaguar XJ220 C

Sold for: €1,085,800 (£918,103)

This XJ220 is a Tom Walkinshaw Racing-built double Le Mans entrant in its original spec – no wonder it topped €1m with Artcurial on Friday.

OK, so it never actually saw success at La Sarthe and hasn’t been raced since, but it’s still pretty awesome.

10. 1991 Ferrari F40

Sold for: €1,112,800 (£940,933)

The F40 needs little introduction: the poster car for a generation of enthusiasts, it offered immense performance for the time, with headline figures of 0-100mph in 8.3 seconds and a top speed of 201mph. 

Not that this one has seen much of the road yet, having completed fewer than 18,000km so far in its life. Here’s hoping its new owner takes it out for a spin more regularly.

9. 1983 Ferrari 126 C3-068 Formule 1

Sold for: €1,438,900 (£1,216,669)

There were plenty of motorsport cars on offer in Paris, but only one that has tasted victory in a Formula One Grand Prix.

This Ferrari 126-C3 is that car, and it proved very popular at Artcurial’s auction, selling for more than double its pre-sale lower estimate of $600,000.

One of four 126-C3s that competed in the 1983 F1 season, it finished second in that year’s Austria, with René Arnoux at the wheel, and that same team then went one better in the very next race, taking first place in the Dutch GP at Zandvoort.

8. 2012 Bugatti Veyron

Sold for: €1,523,750 (£1,288,414)

Unsurprisingly in a list like this, low mileages are not uncommon but, even so, this Veyron’s fewer-than-4000km-in-the-hands-of-just-one-owner will take some beating.

And while no-one needs a two-tone rear wing or a carbonfibre display box for your car key, that’s exactly what its new owner will be getting with it.

7. 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K

Sold for €1,610,000 (£1,363,992)

It’s refreshing to see a three-pointed star that’s not a 300SL feature so high up an auction sales list, and this one-of-31 500K Cabriolet A is rather special.

Its last owner clearly though so, too – they bought it way back in December 1969.

What’s more, it was originally delivered new to French actor Henry Garat, and among the paperwork it was sold with were two of his movie posters.

6. 1931 Invicta 4½ Litre S-Type

Sold for €1,610,000 (£1,363,992)

What’s notable about this Invicta – other than its €1,610,000 sale price – is that it was sold in delightfully unrestored condition.

Oh, and that it was sold with its original (non-folding) windscreen and side screens, and its original engine. It’s also said to run extremely well, proving that maybe looks can be deceiving.

5. 1966 Porsche 906

Sold for: €1,730,600 (£1,463,317)

The curvaceous Porsche 906 was unlucky to be born in 1966, the year in which Ford’s Le Mans programme finally came to fruition, with GT40s taking the top three places.

If not for that, the superb 906 would surely have won: the model claimed positions four to seven in the 1966 race and also triumphed at that year’s Targa Florio.

This example didn’t quite hit those heights, but it was extensively campaigned by several Italian amateurs throughout ’66 and ’67 and is in remarkably good condition today considering its competition history – a fact which doubtless helped it find a new buyer in Paris.

4. 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS

Sold for: €1,917,500 (£1,621,351)

The first Porsche to feature a glassfibre body is also one of the prettiest cars ever to hail from the Stuttgart firm. But it was as a racer that it really made it its name, with victory in the Targa Florio and a 4th-place finish at Le Mans among its achievements.

This example didn’t quite hit those heights, but it did compete at the 1969 Tour de France, and at the Coupes de Vitesse at Montlhéry in 1971, finishing 4th overall. 

It’s since had a Type 906 two-litre, six-cylinder engine fitted, but was sold with its original four-cylinder unit, should its new owner wish to return it to factory condition.

3. 1958 BMW 507

Sold for: €1,996,250 (£1,687,939)

Is the 507 the most beautiful BMW ever? Sounds about right to us: Count Albrecht Goertz’ outrageously sensual body has always stood out among the Bavarian firm’s designs. 

Just 252 507s were sold between 1956 and 1959, and of these only 34 were exported to the United States – of which this is one.

It recently completed a comprehensive restoration to its original factory appearance and went to auction in wonderful shape. 

2. 1965 Ferrari 275GTB

Sold for: €2,502,800 (£2,116,255)

Rarity, stunning looks and a rich race history… this Ferrari 275GTB really does have it all, which is presumably why one buyer was persuaded to shell out more than €2.5m for it.

It competed in over 40 international races in period, with its biggest success being a class victory in the highly competitive 1966 Monza 1000km.

1. 1931 Bugatti Type 55 Two-Seat Supersport

Sold for: €4,600,000 (£3,889,553)

So here it is, the most expensive car sold in Paris this year.

And it’s not hard to see why it made so much money: it started life as a works Le Mans racer, entered into the 1932 edition and driven by Guy Bouriat and Louis Chiron, though a split fuel tank led to its retirement from the epic endurance race.

A few months later it was rebodied by Figoni with the sweeping, two-tone coachwork it still wears today and it later enjoyed victory on the 1933 Paris-Nice rally.

Its pre-sale estimate of $4-7m made it the third priciest car on offer in Paris, behind a Jaguar D-type and Mercedes 710SS, but neither of those cars found a buyer – leaving this pre-war beauty as the undisputed star of the week.