The collection of Group B rally cars was another eagerly-awaited highlight, the first time such a line-up has
been offered at auction. The impressive provenance of these cars attracted enormous interest, resulting in
some strong results. The 1988 Audi Sport Quattro S1 changed hands for €2,016,600 gross, over twice its
estimate and the highest price paid at auction for a rally car worldwide.
Another rally star, the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Evolution found a new owner for €977,440 gross. A record price
for a Peugeot 205, attracting further applause.
The 1986 Lancia Delta, a rare factory Group B car in Martini livery, also sold well above estimate, fetching
€810,560 gross.
Matthieu Lamoure, Managing Director of Artcurial Motorcars, boasted: "All glory to competition! Artcurial held,
by itself, the international automobile week in Paris this year. The record price achieved for the Matra is a
tribute to the engineers who designed it and Henri Pescarolo and Graham Hill, the drivers that steered it to
victory. This race car has left a museum to join a private collection and we expect to see it return to action
once more on the track."
Bidders in the room and on the telephone waged a fierce battle over the 1985 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo, with
exceptional provenance. The car found a new owner in the room, for €667,520 gross, making it the most
expensive Renault 5 ever sold. The 1985 Lancia 037 sold for €548,320 gross and finally, the 1986 factory Ford
RS200 changed hands for €381,440 gross.
Amongst British cars on offer, a very rare example of Aston Martin’s most exclusive cabriolet, the 1965 Short
Chassis Volante, an original left-hand drive car and the only Volante delivered new in Autumn Gold, sold for
€1,158,600 gross. From the same collection, the Aston Martin DB5 Vantage changed hands well above its
estimate for €810,560 gross. Eligible for the most prestigious events worldwide, the 1959 Aston Martin DB4
GT in Aston racing green, found a new owner for €1,358,000 gross. Finally, rare, original and sophisticated,
the Bristol 405 Drophead Coupé fetched €172,840 gross.
Automobilia / Giuseppe Neri Collection
Almost exclusively dedicated to Ferrari, the Automobilia sale attracted enormous attention from marque
enthusiasts and realised €905,554 gross, double its estimate, with 94% of lots selling.
A highlight of the Giuseppe Neri collection was the last F1 V12 engine built by Ferrari at Maranello, which
found a new owner for €169,000 gross. A type 056 F1 engine also changed hands for €41,600 gross, well
above estimate.
Following a long bidding battle on the internet, the telephone and in the room, one of the two sections of
bodywork from Alain Prost’s Ferrari 641 finally sold to a bidder in the room for €143,000 gross, over seven
times its estimate.
The Formula 1 models all fetched strong prices of up to €26,000 gross.
The second part of the sale was dedicated to an enthusiast’s collection of workshop memorabilia, comprising
spare parts, catalogues and manuals. Many lots fetched prices well above estimates including five pairs of
Ferrari mechanics’ overalls that changed hands for a total of €11,050 gross.
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