1927 Bugatti Type 35B Takes Top Spot at Bonhams Monaco

Bonhams’ Monaco auction is always a spectacle. The location is dripping with history and money, which typically translates to a good selection of historic and expensive lots on offer. That was certainly the case for Bonhams in 2022, as the Monaco sale achieved a final total of over $13.5m.

Leading all sales was a 1927 Bugatti Type 35B that sold for €2m — about $2.1m. The iconic French automobile had been in the ownership of the consignor for 47 years and remained in highly original condition. Coincidentally, it was a Bugatti Type 35B that won the first Monaco Grand Prix back in 1929.

A second Bugatti also made quite a splash: A 1929 Bugatti Type 37 that sold across the block for €862,500 or $895,706. The T37 retained its matching-numbers chassis and engine and had been in long-term family ownership for over six decades.

Leading a cavalcade of Ferraris was a Classiche certified 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS convertible. The open-top beauty sold for €1,495,000 — $1.6m. Already rare with just 200 produced, the example at Bonhams was further distinguished from the rest having been formerly owned by Jean-Pierre Beltoise — winner of the 1972 Monaco Grand Prix.

Other notable sales included a 1988 Porsche 959 Komfort for $1,492,844 and a 1956 AC Ace Bristol roadster at $478k. Two Formula One cars also realized strong prices. The 1999 Williams-Supertec Renault FW21 racing single-seater hammered sold for $376k, just behind the $400k paid for a 1962 Brabham 1½-litre Brabham Climax BT3.

Click here for complete results from Bonhams’ Monaco auction