K500 insider’s guide: Paris classic car auctions, 2022 vs. 2020

Due to the resurgence of Covid earlier this year, the usual Rétromobile week sales were split in two: Bonhams and RM in February, Artcurial in March. All had excellent results. We give you the hard numbers to demonstrate how much better the figures were in 2022 than two years ago, the last time all three crossed swords in Paris.

The gross is always dependent on the quality of the catalogues, but look at the percentage sold by number – significantly up, now at over 80%, aided by more at No Reserve. Fewer cars sold below low estimate, and more beat upper. Average price per car in 2020 was €172k. This year, the figure is €216k, and that’s with a greater number of cars offered.

While the average year of cars offered has barely shifted – Paris Rétromobile is a bastion of European pre-War enthusiasts – just look at the make-up of the Top 10.

In 2020 that included a 1931 Bugatti, 1931 Invicta, 1935 Mercedes 500K and 1958 BMW 507. This time, it’s almost a total lock-out for limited-edition, more recent Ferraris, with the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 and 1968 Porsche 907 racing car as outliers. The combined value of the Top 10 cars totalled €19,875,100 in 2020 – this year that figure is €29,487,075, an increase of 50 per cent.

This continues the trend seen since Monterey last August. Expect really great 300 SLs, 1960s GT Ferraris and quality sporting pre-War entries to come to the fore again there this year, mixed in with a flood of more modern Ferraris, Porsche and Bugattis consigned from vendors eager to strike while the market is hot.

Paris Auctions, February-March 2022. Bonhams/RM Sotheby’s/Artcurial combined (2020 figures in brackets)

Gross: €79,441,978 (€56,660,613)
Number of cars not sold: 61 (105)
Number of cars withdrawn: 3 (4)
Total number of cars: 368 (330)
Number sold: 307 (225)
Percentage cars sold by number: 83% (68%)
Percentage by value average low/high estimate: 66% (42%)
Percentage of cars met or sold below low estimate: 48% (60%)
Percentage of cars sold below avge of estimates:  71% (83%)
Percentage of cars sold met/exceeded top estimate: 17% (11%)
Average price of cars sold: €215,875 (€171,699)
Average year of cars offered: 1967 (1964)
Percentage of cars offered at No Reserve: 56% (36%)

Top 10 sales in Paris, February-March 2022

1. Artcurial 1968 Porsche 907 €4,292,000
2. Artcurial 1996 Ferrari F50 €4,068,000
3. RM 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO €3,464,375
4. RM 1996 Ferrari F50 €3,436,250
5. Artcurial 2003 Ferrari Enzo €2,780,000
6. Artcurial 2013 Ferrari LaFerrari €2,651,200
7. Bonhams 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari €2,558,750
8. RM 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 €2,367,500
9. Artcurial 1989 Ferrari F40 €2,052,000
10. Bonhams 1996 Bugatti EB110 GT €1,817,000

Read the K500 reports on Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s and Artcurial on K500.com.

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