RM Sotheby's Paris auction has much more to offer than a few bonkers racing cars.
BY MÁTÉ PETRÁNY Pictures : RM Sotheby's
RM Sotheby's Paris auction is full of four-wheeled machines you'd lose a finger for, but these are the ones that'd most likely make you sell your house. The auction starts next week, so buy your plane ticket if you haven't already.
1952 Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle
This late split rear screen Beetle left the factory on 4 March 1952, only to get dispatched to the Swedish Volkswagen agent Scania Vabis. Its owner taxed it until 1963, then put it in storage until 2014, which makes this car one of the most original 1950s VWs in existence. With 48,000 miles on the clock, it retains its factory bodywork, paint, trim, engine, gearbox, tools, and luggage – not to mention the original roof rack, ski holders, and even the original owner's wooden skis. Just keep it away from the hipsters.
Estimated to fetch: €55.000 - €80.000 (R990, 000 – R1, 4 million)
1970 Lamborghini Jarama 400 GT
The Jarama is a Bertone-designed classic with a 350 horsepower double overhead-cam V-12 engine, a five-speed manual transmission and four-wheel disc brakes. It also super rare, since Lamborghini only built 328 examples. A top speed of 162 mph, the magnesium wheels off the Miura, 48.000 miles on the clock. What more could you ask for?
Estimated to fetch: €130.000 - €175.000 (R2, 34 million – R3, 15 million)
2000 Porsche 911 GT3 Club Sport
For track-obsessed GT3 buyers, Porsche built the 996 Club sport, which was simply too cool to wear a license plate. The list of basic ingredients included a 360-hp naturally aspirated flat-six, a manual transmission, adjustable suspension, a full roll cage and Nomex-covered driver's seat, but Porsche also had to throw out most of the interior, since the 996 GT3 was actually heavier than the 996 Carrera. This yellow car comes from a Swiss collection with less than 5000 miles on the odometer.
Estimated to fetch: €100.000 - €130.000 (R1, 8 million – R2, 34 million) without reserve.
1957 Lancia Appia GT by Zagato
It's a tiny Lancia hand-built by Zagato. That should be enough information.The Pininfarina and Vignale-bodied versions of this 43 horsepower wonder were sold by Lancia, the Zagato-bodided examples were never marketed by the factory.
Estimated to fetch: €180.000 - €200.000 (R3, 24 million R3, 6 million)
2000 Ferrari 550 Maranello WSR
The 550 is one of Ferrari's best grand tourers, and the factory only built 33 of these 'World Speed Record' editions to celebrate covering 100 kilometres at an average speed of 304 km/h (100 miles at 190.3mph), and 184 miles in one hour at Nardo. These come with the Fiorano handling pack, carbon bucket seats with Daytona stitching and race harnesses, a leather-trimmed roll cage and suede-covered steering wheel, sports exhaust, enamel wing badges and Corsa brake callipers.
Estimated to fetch: €230.000 - €250.000 (R4, 14 million R4, 5 million)
1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GT
Built for homologation to meet Group 4 regulations, the 924 Carrera GT was the turbocharged version of the standard 924. Only 406 were made, packing 210 horsepower and three colour options. This silver on black comes from the same Swiss collection as the yellow 996 GT3 Club sport, and with 45,000 miles. It's all about the balance with these transverse Porsches, and it's hard to find a more eighties shape than this.
Estimated to fetch: €70.000 - €90.000 (R1, 26 million – R1, 62 million)
1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA
Aluminium doesn't get thinner than on an Alfa GTA. The Italians called it a 'Peraluman' alloy bodywork, and it made the Sprint GTA tip the scales at 1631 lbs dry. Only 501 were built, and this early car was specified with such Autodelta racing options as the sliding-type windows, aluminium bellhousing, alloy air box, fibreglass doors, oil catch tank and extra-wide Campagnolo magnesium wheels.
Estimated to fetch: €350.000 - €425.000 (R6, 35 million-R7, 65 million)
1965 Mercedes-Benz 600
The maintenance costs of a Mercedes 600 are massive, but just look at it. This navy blue limousine went to a Dutch industrialist family with such extras as air conditioning, a velour interior, rear door curtains, a twin rear-view mirror, a veneered instrument binnacle and soft closing doors. If you buy it and the hydraulics let you down, it's not half bad as an apartment parked at a fancy location.
Estimated to fetch: €70.000 - €95.000 (R1, 26 million – R1.7 million)
1989 Ferrari F40
If you can buy a Ferrari F40, buy a Ferrari F40. It's that simple. Being from 1989, this is a non-cat, non-adjust version, which makes the deal even sweeter. Bought new in Italy and stolen only once, it also comes with air conditioning, wind-up windows and four-point Sabelt racing harnesses.
Estimated to fetch: €950.000 - €1.050.000 (R17, 1 million – R18, 9 million)
1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale
Ever wondered what an Alfa BAT concept looked like once they put it into production? The answer is the Giulietta SS, with 100 horsepower and a stunning aerodynamic body by Bertone. This car spent most of its life with a Parisian family, retaining its original 'Bluelette' paint. Today, it's the perfect weekend warrior, ready for its next 120 mph run.
Estimated to fetch: €120.000 - €150.000 (R2, 1 million – R2, 7 million)
2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato "No. Zero"
The Aston Martin V12 Zagato is one of the sexiest objects humanity has come up with in the last ten years, and this is the most exclusive version of the 65 they built. Created by Aston's Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman, for a special client, it comes with a scarab beetle badge (handmade from actual beetle wings), and a key etched with the well-known Zagato 'Z' unlike any other Zagato. It's also white, and labelled as "No Zero" despite being chassis number 31235.
Estimated to fetch: €625.000 - €675.000 (R11, 25 million – R12, 1 million)