Bonhams opens the 2026 Monaco auctions with €10.24m sale at the Fairmont

The Brits kicked off a smaller-than-usual Grand Prix Historique auction schedule in the Principality this year with a 41-car sale earlier this afternoon. Thirty-three cars found new owners and the event grossed €10,237,875. A highlight was the four-car group of DTM racing cars, all of which sold, topped by a 1995 Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti at €552,000.

The auction was held in what was formerly the casino at the Fairmont hotel – a first, and something of a coup for Bonhams. The location was far more convenient than previous years’ sales at the Villa La Vigie, a shuttle-bus ride away from the action on the track. Regular British auctioneer Richard Stafford was at the controls of a Monaco sale that resulted in the Bond Street firm’s best sell-through there since our records began in 2010: 80 per cent by number.

The 2021 Lamborghini Sián just eased over the line as top seller, grossing €2,012,500. The 2024 Ferrari 812 Competizione Aperta (€1.75m to €2m) came close to finding a buyer at €1.425m – the classic “just one bid away, sir.”

At a glance:

* Gross: €10,237,875 (2024, €5,789,419)
* Percentage sold by number, motor cars: 80% (2024, 63%)
* Top-selling car: 2021 Lamborghini Sián €2,012,500 gross, €1,750,000 net (est. €2.1m to €2.5m)
* Well sold? The DTM cars, a highly specialised market
* Well bought? In at No Reserve, the 1961 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series I delivered new to Pirelli for tyre testing. Though no longer in its original colour of Grigio Conchiglia, the navy blue Ferrari 2+2 won many admirers and sold over low estimate for €293,250 all-in

Of the DTM racers, it was the works 1992 BMW M3 (est. €325k to €425k) that generated the most interest. Englishman Steve Soper’s old mount was bought after fierce bidding for €483,000 with Bonhams’ across-the-board 15% premium.

Other results of note (all prices gross):

* 1989 Lamborghini LM002, €448,500. Big money for the ever-popular ‘Rambo Lambo’. This sinister black example was believed to have been delivered new to Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
* 2004 Ferrari 575M Maranello, €92,000. Attractive car in stylish Grigio Ingrid with Bordeaux interior, but cursed by the unfavoured semi-automatic gearbox. Still well bought.
* 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT, €316,250. Had a certain charm, but catalogue wording such as “always maintained by [vendor’s] in-house mechanic” would be a turn-off for some.
* 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 S Roadster, €724,500. Another solid figure for what is now a standard at Monaco auctions.

* 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, Not Sold. Disc brakes, but non-original colours and a replacement gearbox (like so many). An unremarkable silver US-spec car (converted to European specification) that, despite a keen estimate of €1.18m to €1.28m, failed to excite.

So a strong performance for Bonhams, which bodes well for RM Sotheby’s here in Monte Carlo tomorrow – and for the Brits’ Miami Grand Prix auction next weekend.

Bonhams at the Fairmont Monte Carlo, 24 April 2026 – results (2024)

Total gross cars: €10,237,875 (€5,789,419)
Number of cars not sold: 8 (18)
Number of cars withdrawn: 2 (2)
Total number of cars: 41 (49)
Number sold: 33 (31)
Percentage cars sold by number: 80% (63%)
Percentage by value average low/high estimate: 53% (28%)
Percentage of cars sold below low estimate: 88% (58%)
Percentage of cars sold not met avge of estimates: 94% (81%)
Percentage of cars sold met/exceeded top estimate: 3% (13%)
Average age of cars offered: 1987 (1982)
Average price of cars sold  €310,239 (€186,755)
Percentage of cars offered at No Reserve: 24% (41%)

Photos by K500