Artcurial Realizes $38.2m at Rétromobile 2023

Artcurial’s 2023 Rétromobile sale in Paris on February 3, 4 and 5 concluded with a healthy €35,497,198 sales total — or $38,183,803. Of the vehicles offered during the first two days, 75 percent sold to new garages, with 85 percent of all automobilia lots offered on day three trading hands.

Image: Kevin Van Campenhout, courtesy of Artcurial

Despite the headlining lot remaining unsold, the auction house was pleased with the outcome of this year’s sale. “Even though the Ferrari 250 LM didn’t find a buyer, the rest of the sale was a great success with 75% of cars changing hands, with the emphasis on provenance and history amongst the many collections on offer,” said Matthieu Lamoure, Director of Artcurial Motorcars.

Even without the 250 LM being sold, Ferrari models were well represented among the top sales, taking the first, second and fourth spots. At the top of the sales list was a no reserve 1951 Ferrari 340 America Barchetta Touring Superleggera from the Bart Rosman Collection selling for $6,143,079. One of seven produced, the barchetta was driven at the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1951 Tourist Trophy, 1953 12 Hours of Sebring and Daytona Speedweek of 1954.

Behind the 340 America was an ever-popular 1992 Ferrari F40 that traded hands for $2,384,345. The Classiche Certified supercar was well preserved with 24,300 km on the odometer. The final car from Enzo’s namesake company was a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L which realized $1,830,637 across the block. Exquisitely restored, the matching-numbers GT/L was also Classiche Certified.

Image: Peter Singhof, courtesy of Artcurial

The two other vehicles to break into the top five sales were models from France’s own Bugatti. Landing in the third spot was a 1929 Bugatti Type 35C that finished in fourth place at the 1929 Monaco Grand Prix and is believed to be one of the most authentic examples of the model to remain. The other well-preserved beauty from Molsheim was a 1931 Bugatti Type 43 Grand Sport “Prima Donna” with a known and continuous history confirming its authenticity. The two no-reserve Bugattis from the Bart Rosman Collection sold for $2,384,345 and 1,646,067 respectively.

Other notable sales include a 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort at $1,134,211 and 1991 Porsche 962C that traded hands for $1,173,321. As was the factory-built 1979 Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC rally car selling for $893,028 and an always intriguing 1961 Citroën 2CV Sahara at $104,295.

Complete results from Artcurial’s Rétromobile auction can be viewed here