It’s a Knokke-out: Bonhams’ €8.1m 2018 Zoute sale

It must be the sea air. Once again, the Bonhams Motoring Department held a successful auction at the smart and affluent Belgian coastal resort of Knokke-Heist. Among the cars sold was a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Convertible ordered new by boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

At a glance:

* Gross: €8,118,421 (2017, €5,543,225)
* Percentage sold by number: 86% (2017, 81%)
* Top-selling car: 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series 5 Vantage, €1,121,250 gross, €975,000 net (est. €950k to €1.25m)
* Well sold? The 1973 Citroën DS23 IE Décapotable that went for €425k all-in. Huge money
* Well bought? Either the €276k 2012 Porsche GT3 RS 4.0 or the €178.25k 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’. Neither was exactly ‘cheap’ in terms of today's prices but, long-term, might be seen that way
* One to take away? The No Reserve 1995 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo 2. €55.2k gross for the navy-blue car was under low estimate. Maybe the 65k on the clock put some off

After lacklustre September sales in London (RM Sotheby’s, disappointing at 50% sold) and Goodwood (Bonhams, OK at 66% sold), the strong sell-through of 86% by number and 14% of cars beating top estimate will come as a relief. The Zoute sale, though, has been a happy hunting ground for the Brits in previous years.

Bonhams is claiming a world record for the left-hand-drive DB4 Vantage and few would disagree. A price of €1.121m is retail, LHD DB5 money ca. 2013-2014. In today’s more considered market, the experts thought the punchy estimate hardly attainable. With matching numbers, though lacking its original red interior, the now black/black car was first delivered in the US and is to an interesting original spec of twin fuel tanks. Recent restoration work by recognised experts Kevin Kaye (USA) and RS Williams (UK) undoubtedly helped its cause.

Other significant results were recorded by the €989k 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Coupé, the €207k 1966 Porsche 911 2.0-litre sunroof coupé and the €132.25k 1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Convertible. The latter (pictured, top) was ordered new for the self-proclaimed ‘Greatest’,  Muhammad Ali. Its hammer price of €115k almost tripled its lower estimate, proving the power of ownership by an iconic celebrity.

The final, fuel-injected Citroën DS23 IE Décapotable by Chapron (above) is the one to have. And last Friday a buyer had to have Lot 27, one of only four 2.3-litre cars built. The with-commission price of €425k brings it in at around $490k – comfortably the most expensive DS Décapotable in the K500 Index.

So, a good day by the seaside for Bonhams. Next stop for the Bond St boys on the European circuit is Padova, where last time only 48% of the catalogue sold. We wish them well in 2018.

Bonhams at Zoute, 5 October 2018 (2017)

Total gross cars: €8,118,421 (€5,543,225)
Number of cars not sold: 6 (6)
Number of cars withdrawn: 1 (0)
Total number of cars: 42 (32)
Number sold: 36 (26)
Percentage cars sold by number: 86% (81%)
Percentage by value average low/high estimate: 74% (88%)
Percentage of cars sold below low estimate: 39% (27%)
Percentage of cars sold not met avge of estimates: 75% (58%)
Percentage of cars sold met/exceeded top estimate: 14% (12%)
Average value of cars sold: €225,512 (€213,201)
Average year of cars offered: 1969 (1975)
Percentage of cars offered at No Reserve: 43% (22%)

Photos by Bonhams