Bonhams Achieves Record Sales in 2023

This past year was a strong one for the newly rebranded Bonhams|Cars division, with 17 live sales and a number of online auctions finishing with £209.4 million ($264.75m) in combined sales.

The company has announced that it sold over 1,120 lots in total — including 21 that brought over £1m ($1.2m) each. This represents a 34% growth over previous years, according to the company. The number of new bidders was also up 20% over previous years.

“Bonhams|Cars experienced remarkable growth internationally and is poised to expand its reach even further, aiming to engage a wider and more diverse audience in the coming years,” said Maarten ten Holder, Bonhams|Cars Managing Director. “With our revamped identity, we’ve hosted extraordinary sales, matching the exceptional quality of vehicles sold this year, achieving impressive figures and setting new world records.”

Of course, the big highlight was the $30.25m sale of the 1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta at the Quail Lodge auction in Monterey, CA in August — the second most expensive car sold at auction globally in 2023, and the most expensive car sold during Monterey Car Week this past August. Linkage contributor Steve Ahlgrim went in-depth on this car in Linkage #014.

Bookending the year, back in January, the company sold a 1912 Simplex 50hp in Arizona for $4.8m — also a record, this one for the most expensive pre WWI car at auction. Dave Kinney discussed this car in Linkage #011.

Additionally, Bonhams also made news with the sale of the 2000 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R driven by the late Paul Walker in Fast & Furious 4. At $1.36m, it set a new world record auction price for the model. Bob Sorokanich took a close look at it in Linkage #013.

Other significant sales included:

1959 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta ‘Tour de France’, sold for €4.8 million (US$5.2 million) at The Zoute Sale.

1973 Martini Racing Works Team Porsche Carrera RSR ‘R7’ Endurance Racing Coupé, sold privately for GBP£3.12 million (US$3.9 million), securing a world record for a Porsche 911.

2007 Koenigsegg CCGT GT1 Competition Coupé, sold for £3.3 million (US$4.1 million) at Goodwood Festival of Speed.

2006 Maserati MC12 Corse, sold for US$3.8 million at The Scottsdale Auction.

Learn more here.

Images: Bonhams