2020 Paris sales: Artcurial flies the flag...

Friday afternoon means one thing at Rétromobile: local firm Artcurial and all the fun of the fair, played to a packed auditorium in the bowels of the big exhibition complex at the Porte de Versailles. We give you a flavour of what sold earlier today, the “Oohs!”, “Ahhs!” and auctioneer Matthieu Lamoure breaking into song...

Expect a fuller report early next week when the numbers are in from the ever-likeable Three Musketeers.

Until then, we can report – as usual – a packed saleroom, and a less frenetic, but still idiosyncratic style from the men at the rostrum. “Allez mes amis!”, exhorted Maître Poulain to his partners, amid much laughter and back-slapping. Artcurial sales are certainly individual – and fun.

Lamoure warmed the saleroom up for the Hallyday Mustang with a video of the late French singing star giving his all, even joining in on occasions. It was a hard act to follow and in truth the final hammer price of €205,000 (€237,800 gross) was a little disappointing. The star’s Ford GT sold for a low-estimate €365.4k gross.

Earlier in proceedings the giant Mercedes 710 SS failed to sell, though we believe the Porsche 906 did, for around €1.7m incl. premium. The 1983 Ferrari 126 C3 F1 car went well: sold in the region of €1.4m all-up.

Overall, working on provisional figures, expect a gross of €18.5m for the motor cars, at a sell-through by number of 67% – an identical figure for all three auction houses.

Full Rétromobile Week results to come from K500, with a comprehensive listing of cars sold at Paris this year ranked by marque and model.

Photos by K500