The 2017 Paris Sales: €14m for Bonhams at the Grand Palais

In a turnaround from last year, Bonhams increased both its Paris sale gross (to €14.2m, from €12.4m) and sell-through rate: 68% of cars found new owners, compared with 58% 12 months ago.

Gauged against estimates, prices were unconvincing, with 72% of cars failing to beat low estimate.

You can download a list of results, sorted by make and model HERE.

At a glance:

* €14,182,791 gross (2016: €12,389,18). 68% cars sold by number (2016: 58%)
* 1935 Aston Martin Ulster top-seller at €1.75m net (est. €1.6m to €1.8m)
* Up: Facelia Cabriolet doubles its upper estimate to sell for €86,250; some good prices on 1990s Porsches; another good showing for an Ulster at Bonhams
* Down: unexceptional auction fare
* Sideways: Veterans – there is still a market for them, and Bonhams has all the brass polish and tweed

To set the record straight, the Grand Palais venue was neither ‘windy’ nor ‘draughty’ – the heating had been set to max. ‘Cavernous’, ‘echoey’, ‘confined to the far end of the hall’ and ‘long in duration’: all were descriptions applied to the marathon event by those attending it.

Interestingly, for the second day running in Paris, top-selling car was once again a pre-War racer: the Aston Martin Ulster. Last night RM did, though, also have the luxury of a raft of high-value modern Porsches at No Reserve and a smaller catalogue. And Bonhams did well with the 1996 Porsche 911 (993) Turbo X50, a car we tipped and one that was hammered away for €210,000, €60,000 over upper estimate.

The Ulster went to a collector’s agent in the room after a brief battle from €1.65m onwards. The well-regarded Bentley S1 Continental Convertible was hampered by tax liabilities should it leave Switzerland. It sold, but under estimate.

The final leg of the race will finish later tomorrow afternoon, with Artcurial’s blockbuster catalogue at Rétromobile.

Bonhams in Paris, 9 February 2017 – Provisional results

Total gross cars: €14,182,791
Number of cars not sold: 41
Number of cars withdrawn: 1
Total number of cars: 130
Number sold: 89
Percentage cars sold by number: 68%
Percentage by value average low/high estimate: 50%
Number of cars met or sold below low estimate: 64
Percentage of cars met or sold below low estimate: 72%
Number of cars sold below avge of estimates: 78
Percentage of cars sold below avge of estimates: 88%
Number of cars sold above top estimate: 5
Percentage of cars sold met/exceeded top estimate: 6%
Average price of cars sold: €159,357
Average age of cars offered: 1965
Number of cars offered at No Reserve: 25
Percentage of cars offered at No Reserve: 19%

Photos by K500