The 2025 Paris auctions: Artcurial’s Friday sale

Local heroes Artcurial have just wrapped up proceedings in a distant hall on the main Rétromobile exhibition complex. As ever, things are never over until they are over, but working with on-the-night figures we anticipate a likely gross for the 111 cars offered in excess of €16.5m at around 75% sold by number.

It seemed to be an afternoon and early evening for selling cars – but only at low prices. When the official figures come out next week, we expect around two thirds were bought below lower estimate.  Only four cars beat upper estimate.

The headlining Ferrari 275 GTB was registered in the UK so is liable for import duties if heading for mainland Europe. It looked stunning and had just come out of a restoration by best-in-the-business Modena firm Bacchelli & Villa.

The was another 275 GTB in the auction, alloy-bodied but needing a restoration back from semi-racing spec to as-delivered. It sold for €2,108,000.

At a glance+:

* Gross, motor cars: €16,778,4000
* Percentage sold by number: 74%
* Top-selling car: 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB €2,248,000 gross, €1,975,000 net (est. €2.2m to €2.6m)  

As always, the room was packed and, like we saw at Bonhams yesterday, bids came thick and fast right to the end – just in not very large amounts.

Other results of note (all prices gross)*:

* 1952 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1300 'Split-Windscreen', €417,600. Non-original engine but great restoration and 60 years in one family ownership big pluses.
* 1937/1948 Packard Super Eight “Yacht” By Chapron, Not Sold. For the man or woman who cannot decide if they want a boat or a car. Crazy creation (below) from the pages of Jules Verne.

* 1934 Aston Martin Mk II Short Wheelbase, €139,200. Good buy for someone wanting one of the best looking pre-war cars, one that also comes with a great badge. Small (non-original) engine an issue only on paper. And this one has history with model experts Bertelli.
* 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’, Not Sold. Not special enough at €1.3m to €1.6m.
* 1965 Bentley S3 Continental Flying Spur By Mulliner Park Ward, Not Sold. Fabulous car at what must now be considered a fabulous estimate.
* 1962 Porsche 356 B Carrera 2000 GS, Not Sold. Replacement engine (again) and fine, but a bit non-original restoration by modern racing team Roock, held bidders back. Interesting comparison with the 356 Pre-A 1300 'Split-Windscreen'.

Artcurial will offer a further 14 cars tomorrow.

*Report updated 10 February 2025 with official results.

Expect a full round-up of all the results from the 2025 Paris auctions with market comment from Simon next week on K500.

Artcurial in Paris, 7 February 2025 – results

Total gross cars: €16,778,440
Number of cars not sold: 29
Number of cars withdrawn: 1
Total number of cars: 111
Number sold: 82
Percentage cars sold by number: 65%
Percentage of cars sold below low estimate: 65%
Percentage of cars sold not met avge of estimates: 83%
Percentage of cars sold met/exceeded top estimate: 2%
Average value of cars sold: €204,615
Average year of cars offered: 1968
Percentage of cars offered at No Reserve: 42%

Photos by Thomas Berns/K500