Maradona’s Porsche gives Bonhams the lead at its first internet-only sale

Selling at over double top estimate, the 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 964 'Works Turbo Look' Cabriolet ordered new by Argentine professional footballer Diego Maradona headed the results at Bonhams’ inaugural timed online auction.

The silvery beige 911 was actually equal first with a left-hand drive Aston Martin DB4 that sold for an identical, market-correct €483,000, but we'll give it to the 911 in a penalty shootout. The figure includes Bonhams’ still-punishing 15% buyer’s premium, surely out of place in today’s streamlined, low-cost online world?

At a glance:

* Gross: €3,848,093
* Percentage sold by number: 63%
* Top-selling cars: 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 964 'Works Turbo Look' Cabriolet €483,000 gross, €420,000 net (est. €150k to €200k, pictured, top)
1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series 2 €483,000 gross, €420,000 net (est. €450k to €600k)
* Well sold? Has to be The Golden Boy’s Porsche. A match-winning performance
* Well bought? Tricky, but, at €172,500 all-in, the 1971 Citroën DS21 I.E. Décapotable might have gone for more another day, or a few years ago

The Maradona 911 was the real deal, with all the right paperwork (see above). An interesting and desirable car in its own right, the car was clearly a machine familiar with the Hands of God on its wheel, rather than another four-wheel trinket bought by Elton John or fellow footballer David Beckham.

Looking at the DB4, it suffered from the market’s fixation with the DB5 and was clearly only in average, ‘driving’ condition – not that that would have made much difference in 2021, where Astons inhabit a strange landscape. The LHD car sold just below low estimate. A fully working but tired DB2/4 Mk 1 sold for €115k with premium. Cheap.

Elsewhere, it was an odd spread of results: a 1964 Morris Mini Cooper S (est. €30k to €40k) sold for €63.25k gross, a No Reserve 1955 Studebaker Commander 'Carrera Panamericana' Replica was given away for €20,700 and a raft of Not Solds after the headlining Porsche hit the back of the net explains the only average sell-through of 63% by number.

Bonhams Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris online auction ending 10 March 2021 – results

Gross: €3,848,093
Number of cars not sold: 28
Number of cars withdrawn: 1
Total number of cars: 75
Number sold: 47
Percentage cars sold by number: 63%
Percentage by value average low/high estimate: 46%
Percentage of cars met or sold below low estimate: 47%
Percentage of cars sold below avge of estimates:  87%
Percentage of cars sold met/exceeded top estimate: 9%
Average price of cars sold: €81,874
Average year of cars offered: 1973
Percentage of cars offered at No Reserve: 16%

Photo by Bonhams