BONHAMS RETURNS TO RETROMOBILE WITH A FLEET OF EXCITING MOTORCARS IN TOW
Bonhams has announced a highly exciting line-up of exceptional and rare motorcars for its sale at Retromobile, held in Paris at the earlier date of 23 January 2010.
An exceptional collection of twenty-eight collectors’ motor cars is being offered by Bonhams, representing the first time that these cars have been offered in the public domain. Collected by an Andalusian industrialist, highlights include a c1930 Bentley 4-Litre/8-Litre Le Mans-style Tourer (estimate €450,000-550,000), a 1929 Mercedes Benz 630K “Town Car” (estimate €400,000-600,000), a 1935 Hispano-Suiza T56 torpédo Fiol (estimate €450,000-600,000), a 1931 Cadillac V16 série 452 dual-cowl phaéton (estimate €350,000-450,000), and a 1920 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost 40/50HP Double Phaeton (estimate €250,000-350,000).
Alongside the collection, Bonhams will also be offering an immaculately restored 1926-27 1.5-litre supercharged straight-eight Talbot-Darracq. One of the most charismatic, exciting and advanced Grand Prix cars of the so-called ‘Roaring Twenties’, the car is expected to race off the rostrum and has attracted a pre-sale estimate of €400,000-600,000. Other highlights include The ex-1955 Paris Salon & 1955 Turin Motor Show 1955 Pegaso (estimate €400,000-500,000), a 1927 Bugatti Type 44 Roadster (estimate €120,000-160,000), a 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport (estimate €550,000-650,000) and a hugely rare 1931 Avions Voisin C14 ‘Chartre’ – one of only two ever built – which has a pre-sale estimate of €380,000-460,000.
These will be joined by The ex-Geneva Motor Show, ex-Pebble Beach concours 1970 Monteverdi Hai 450 SS coupé prototype (estimate €400,000-500,000), a 1947 Talbot-Lago T26 Record (estimate €115,000-125,000) and an exquisitely converted 1971 Citroen DS21 Convertible Limousine (estimate €130,000-150,000) – which stands as an incredible testament to the craftsmanship of coachbuilder Chapron and the Citroen brand as a whole.
Meanwhile, a series of early motorcars are also listed in the catalogue: a 1911 De Dion Bouton CQ 8CV (estimate €35,000-55,000), a 1917 Overland New Series Model 75B Type C (estimate €15,000-30,000), a 1911 Clement Bayard Landaulet Type AC4C2 (estimate €55,000-75,000) and an 1899 Georges Richard type A Double Phaeton (estimate €70,000-110,000).
One of the most extraordinary lots ever to be offered at auction - a touring Bugatti which lay at the bottom of a Swiss lake for over seventy years – will also be going under the hammer at Retromobile. The Brescia Bugatti has inevitably suffered some damage during its extensive stay underwater, however some 20% are still salvageable (half of the chassis and most of the aluminium casings) which means that it is possible to save the car, preserving it in its original splendour and glory. It could also prove to be a most interesting restoration project. This intriguing motor car has attracted a pre-sale estimate of €70,000-90,000.
Matthieu Lamoure, Director of European Motorcar Department at Bonhams said: “Bonhams is excited to be offering 100 exceptional collector cars (including 20 cars which will be offered without reserve) at Retromobile. The last two sales we’ve held at Retromobile have been very successful and we are confident that this years’ offering – which includes motor cars as diverse as the unique ‘lake find’ to a superb Alfa 8C Monza offered at prices to suit different budgets – will prove similarly popular with collectors and yield great results!”
