2015 Rétromobile sales: The numbers, the K500 Index and Market Sectors

By Steve Wakefield

10th February 2015

Now that we have all three auction houses’ figures, the K500 Index has been updated. Inevitably affected by the strength of the US dollar, the overall index on 10 February 2015 stood at 449.87: that’s a small increase from 447.91 last Friday.

Considering that the gross figure from 2014 to 2015 went from 58.6m euros to 86.6m euros, and that the California Spider and DB5 Convertible in particular set such high numbers, without the currency factor we’ve no doubt the rise would have been more significant.

Bonhams, RM Auctions and Artcurial. Dollar conversions for comparison only, correct on day of the sale.

2015 combined gross: 86,561,764 euros / $97,987,917 (2014: 58,590,606 euros / $79,070,318)
Number of cars not sold 69
Total Number of cars 388
Number sold 319
Percentage cars sold by number 82%
Percentage cars sold by value (average low/high estimate) 80%

Bonhams:

Gross: 21,493,075 euros / $24,330,161 (2014: 16,086,425 euros / $21,716,674)
Number of cars not sold 35
Total Number of cars 145
Number sold 110
Percentage cars sold by number 76%
Percentage cars sold by value (average low/high estimate) 66%

RM Auctions:

Gross: 19,220,145 euros / $ 21,757,204 (2014: 17,701,680 euros / $ 23,897,268)
Number of cars not sold 13
Total Number of cars 67
Number sold 54
Percentage cars sold by number 81%
Percentage cars sold by value (average low/high estimate) 64%

Artcurial:

Gross: 45,848,544 euros / $51,900,552 (2014: 24,802,501 euros / $ 33,483,376)
Number of cars not sold 21
Total Number of cars 176
Number sold 155
Percentage cars sold by number 88%
Percentage cars sold by value (average low/high estimate) 99%

2015 Top-selling cars by value:

1. Artcurial 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider 16,288,000 euros
2. Artcurial 1956 Maserati A6G 2000 Gran Sport Berlinetta by Frua 2,010,880 euros
3. Artcurial 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/2 'Long nose' 1,988,000 euros
4. Bonhams 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible 1,897,500 euros
5. Artcurial 1949 Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport SWB by Saoutchik 1,702,000 euros
6. RM 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L 'Lusso' 1,624,000 euros
7. RM 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS 1,428,000 euros
8. Artcurial 1934 Mercedes-Benz 380 K Cabriolet A 1 1,416,000 euros
9. Artcurial 1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada 1,244,400 euros
10. RM 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 1,232,000 euros

2015 Top-selling Ferraris by value:

1. Artcurial 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider 16,288,000 euros
2. Artcurial 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/2 'Long nose' 1,988,000 euros
3. RM 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L 'Lusso' 1,624,000 euros
4. RM 1990 Ferrari F40 1,176,000 euros
5. Bonhams 1990 Ferrari F40 724,500 euros
6. RM 1969 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona 705,600 euros
7. Bonhams 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' Spyder (conversion) 649,750 euros
8. RM 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Coupé 580,000 euros
9. Bonhams 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Coupé 552,000 euros
10. Artcurial 1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB 482,760 euros

Year-on K500 Index and Market Sector performance 2013 – 2015

K500 INDEX: 449.87 (2014: 436.46, 2013: 395.26)

Pre-58 Ferrari: 682.40 (2014: 690.16 2013: 642.95) - "Fewer and fewer interesting cars coming to auction. Less exciting early road cars unfancied compared with 1960s equivalents”

1958-73 Ferrari: 631.65 (2014: 604.02, 2013: 541.00) "Still growing but market becoming more fussy. A 275 GTB is not guaranteed to sell if in wrong colour and at unrealistic estimate. Peak Dino”

Post-73 Ferrari: 301.93 (2014: 236.93, 2013: 201.12) "F40s and 288 GTOs now followed by early Boxers and Testarossas"

Porsches: 460.60 (2014: 446.31, 2013: 397.33) "Yet further slowing since Scottsdale"

Pre-war European: 295.22 (2014: 308.74, 2013: 308.62) "Static to falling. Only exciting, significant or genuinely rare cars will find buyers at top money"

Post-war European: 465.30 (2014: 445.10, 2013: 388.63) "Good growth, sector index significantly affected by weakness of euro. Maseratis and 'other' Lamborghinis on the rise"

Post-war racing cars: 517.87 (2014: 519.60, 2013: 481.23) "Few cars to market, very dependent on eligibility and unquestionable history"

Pre-war American: 388.68 (2014: 427.81, 2013: 372.08) "In decline with occasional hotspots for special-coachwork cars"

Post-war American: 541.62 (2014: 480.41, 2013: 443.84) "Stronger after Scottsdale. Perhaps the muscle car phenomenon has returned. Street Cobras will always sell"

Affordable classics: 211.46 (2014: 205.54, 2013: 175.75) "Steady and true, like the many thousands of MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey enthusiasts worldwide"