RM Auctions, the world’s largest auction house for investment-quality automobiles, hosts its inaugural Paris sale, 5 February, at the historic Place Vauban in central Paris. Held during the world-famous Retromobile week, the highly anticipated auction features more than of 50 stunning automobiles, each carefully selected by RM’s expert team of specialists. Representing the best examples of racing, sports and touring cars from both pre- and post-war periods, the sale includes eight motor cars expected to achieve in excess of €1 million each.
For those unable to attend the event in person, RM Auctions offers a range of remote bidding options, including absentee, Internet and telephone bidding, and the auction will stream live at rmauctions.com providing real-time coverage of the event. The complete digital catalogue is available here, http://www.rmauctions.com/digitalcatalogs/2014/PA14/.
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The top result at the debut Paris sale from RM Auctions went to the 1955 Jaguar D-Type, part of the Harburg Collection, which sold for €3,696,000, establishing a new world record for a D-Type at auction.Chassis XKD 520, which boasts an extensive early racing history, was the seventh production D-type made. It was sold new to Australian Bob Stillwell, who raced the car with success in the 1956 and 1957 seasons, including winning the 1956 Bathurst 500.
Another car from the Harburg Collection, and the second biggest seller, was the 1982 Porsche 956 Group C Sports-Prototype, chassis 004, which ran as a Works car at Le Mans finishing 3rd in 1982 driven by Hurley Haywood, Al Holbert and Jurgen Barth, completing a 1-2-3 finish for the Porsche Works team that year. With continued history as a Works car during 1983 and 1984, chassis 004 was the focus of much attention during the auction, resulting in a record price of €2,352,000.
Another Harburg car, the 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider, chassis 0498 M, secured €1,960,000, rounding off the top three sellers of the 2014 RM Auctions Paris sale. Further sales from the Harburg Collection included the 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, raced in period at the hands of Dickie Stoop, that sold for €1,288,000.
Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Europe, said, “We’ve had a fantastic night here in Paris. We wanted our debut sale to impress by bringing some exceptional cars to market, and with over €17.7m sold and almost 80 percent of all lots finding new homes, we have continued our amazing track record in Europe. Without a doubt, it was an honour to offer the Harburg Collection, which perfectly demonstrates that the market is hungry for quality cars with important historical provenance.”
Another notable sale was the 1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman Landaulet, an original example offered in ‘barn find’ condition, that sold for €537,600, against its pre-sale estimate of €80,000-€120,000.
RM Auctions Paris 2014 – Top Ten Auction Results
1. 1955 Jaguar D-Type – €3,696,000
2. 1982 Porsche 956 Group C Sports-Prototype – €2,352,000
3. 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider – €1,960,000
4. 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS – €1,288,000
5. 1936 Delahaye 135 S – €1,008,000
6. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster – €823,200
7. 1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 ‘Six-Door’ Pullman Landaulet – €537,600
8. 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 S – €520,800
9. 1990 Ferrari F40 – €515,200
10. 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster – €448,000