CONCOURS-READY CLASSICS LEAD BONHAMS 8TH GRAND PALAIS SALE

CONCOURS-READY CLASSICS LEAD BONHAMS 8^TH GRAND PALAIS SALE

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé sold for €1,207,500

Yesterday, 7 February, Bonhams held its eighth sale at the magnificent Grand Palais. The marathon sale saw more than 140 cars crossing the rostrum over several hours and spirited bidding taking place beneath the cavernous glass domes of the Grand Palais. The top lot of the sale was the imposing and elegant 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A, formerly owned by His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal, former King of Jordan. It sold for €1,581,250to a European bidder in the room.

Following closely behind was the immaculate 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé which sold for €1,207,500 – a testament to its absolutely pristine condition. Concours-ready motor cars were of great interest in the sale. The 1950 Porsche 356 Split-Window ‘Four-Digit’ Coupé boasted wins at both Zoute and InterClassics Brussels and sold for €805,000 to a European bidder.

1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A sold for €1,581,250

Bentleys were popular throughout the sale, and one of the lengthiest bidding battles of the sale was the competition to own the impressively original 1928 Bentley 6½-Litre Four Light Weymann Fabric Sports Saloon. It eventually sold for €1,150,000 to an online bidder. The 1931 Bentley 8-Litre Sports Tourer also performed strongly, achieving €787,750.

1928 Bentley 6½-Litre Four Light Weymann Fabric Sports Saloon sold for €1,150,000

Other highlights included:

• 1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer sold for €278,300
• 1937 Alfa Romeo 6C-2300 Berlina by Stabilimenti Farina achieved €264,500
• 1939 BMW 327/328 Sports Cabriolet sold for €212,750
• 1934 Lagonda M45 T7 Tourer realised €212,750
• The ex-Toyota Team Europe, Didier Auriol/Bernard Occelli, 1994 Toyota Celica ST185 Turbo Group A Rally Car achieved €207,000

Philip Kantor, European Director of Motoring, commented: ‘The top lots of the sale perfectly illustrated the diverse range of Bonhams expertise. We offered everything from pioneering veterans to ultra-luxurious, concours-ready classics to an enthusiastic, international crowd. The top lots such as the Mercedes-Benz Gullwing, the Mercedes-Benz 540K, the Porsche 356 and the Bentley 6½-Litre were all outstanding examples of some of the most desirable and iconic models in the automotive world and rightly commanded impressive prices. The Grand Palais is one of the most astonishing auction locations in the world, and we were proud to offer such a high calibre of motor cars and automobilia.’

MASTERPIECES OF GERMAN ENGINEERING STAR AT BONHAMS GRAND PALAIS SALE

MASTERPIECES OF GERMAN ENGINEERING STAR AT BONHAMS GRAND PALAIS SALE

On 7 February, Bonhams will hold its annual Paris auction, Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais under the imposing wrought-iron domes of the Grand Palais. The 2019 sale marks Bonhams eighth sale at the landmark Parisian building and will feature some of the most sought-after classic, collectors’, and competition motor cars in the world.

The last word in luxury German road cars

Several of the most desirable lots in the sale are landmark examples from the finest German marques in the world. The 1957 BMW 507 is a Series 1 example (€1,800,000 – 2,200,000), meaning that it is eligible for some of the most prestigious events in the world including the Mille Miglia and the Tour Auto. It is one of only 34 Series 1 examples built and has matching numbers throughout. The interior is delightfully original, and the engine is effectively ‘as new.’ The eye-catching teal exterior makes this one of the most distinctive and attractive examples of BMW’s most beautiful model.

The second masterpiece of German engineering is the 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A (€1,700,000 – 2,300,000) that was originally owned by HRH King Hussein of Jordan and is being offered directly by his family. The rarest of the Cabriolet examples built by the German marque, the ‘A’ has the shortest chassis, lending the stately and imposing car a slightly sleeker silhouette.

Arguably one of the most recognizable and desirable classic cars in existence is the Mercedes-Benz Gullwing. The 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ Coupé (€1,100,000-1,500,000) offered is in immaculate concours-ready condition and is believed to be the only Gullwing in the world fitted with a new factory-supplied aluminium engine. It has been exhibited and taken part in some of the most prestigious motoring events in the world including the Concours Arts et Elegance Richard Mille in Chantilly, the Flying Stars exhibition at Mercedes-Benz Paris showroom and the Spain Rally FIA.

A variety of important Porsches are included in the sale, such as the blisteringly fast 1997 Porsche Ruf CTR2 – for many years the fastest production vehicle in existence. Capable of reaching 69pm in under 3.5 seconds and with a top speed of 220mph, this is arguably the ultimate 90’s performance car. It outperformed the Ferrari F50, Jaguar’s XJ220 and equalled the astonishing Nissan R390 GT1. Rare, exotic and dazzlingly powerful.

A second interesting offering from the Stuttgart marque is the timeless 1950 Porsche 356 Split-Window ‘Four Digit’ Coupé (€800,000-1,100,000), a concours-ready example of one of the most iconic sports cars ever created. This seriously rare split windscreen version is thought to be one of only 30 survivors and has won prizes across Europe such as ‘Most Iconic Car’ at the Zoute Concours d’Elegance and ‘Best Restoration’ at InterClassics Brussels. It is in absolutely original condition and would make a remarkable addition to any collection.