The sale of the Lepeltier collection
Michel Lepeltier’s 308 GTB Vetroresina (s/n 19275) in an extremely rare lime green
colour (”Verde Germoglio”) that had only covered 7.935 kms. from new was the first
car in the sale. Fitted with a non-original exhaust system and some mildew on the
passenger seat, it fetched 45.948,-SFr — almost 34.400,-€ for its German buyer after
the German VAT will have been paid upon the hammer price. A strong result for a 308
GTB Vetroresina that for sure reflects its original mileage and its rare and spectacular
colour. Likewise remarkable were the 190.632,-SFr that were paid for Lepeltier’s
yellow, one-owner-from-new 365 GTB/4 Daytona (s/n 15069) by an enthusiast from
northern Germany. Swiss dealer Carlo Perego paid 300.855,-SFr for Lepeltiers
metallic gold 275 GTB/2 Shortnose, s/n 06827. Interestingly, its typical 1960’s / early
1970’s colour was NOT original: The metallic silvergrey paint could be seen on
several spots beneath the car’s current livery. Michel Lepeltiers 250 GT Lusso (s/n
4509GT) had been the car that started off his passion when he bought it as a used
car in 1965. The burgundy example had had a major crash repair in Italy in its first
year that has obviously been carried out very carefully since it is hardly visible on the
car. Despite of that, together with the 275 GTS with badly repaired accident damage
(190.632,-SFr), Lepeltier’s 250 GT Lusso was the poorest in the collection in regard
to its condition. The well-known French dealer Jean Guikas of GTC S.A.R.L. fame
paid 240.232,-SFr for this two-owner Lusso — a lot if one thinks about the work that is
needed to bring the car to presentable condition. Another low mileage-car from the
collection was the 512 BB s/n 30865 that Michel Lepeltier had bought new on March
12, 1979. With only 9.067 kms. on the odometer, it will stay in Swiss ownership for
96.942,-SFr. A lovely yellow Dino 246 GT (s/n 06024) was one of a very few cars that
Michel Lepeltier had restored. At 85.920,-SFr, it represented a good and realistic buy.
The speedometer of the F40 from the collection showed 3.078 kms. Several buyers
started a bidding contest on it; eventually it was hammered to a family friend for
366.989,-SFr. ”Michel Lepeltier etait un ami et un bon homme!” (”Michel Lepeltier was
a friend and a righteous man!”) proclaimed the buyer, gaining applause from the
attendants. The highly original, metallic silvergrey 275 GTB/4 fetched 504.768,-SFr,
reportedly paid by an Italian enthusiast. Lepeltiers 288 GTO went for 344.944,-SFr to
the garage of Carlo Perego. The ”creampuff” of the Lepeltier collection, the 250 GT
SWB Berlinetta s/n 2649GT that had received a modified nose with covered
headlights in the early 1970’s, was sold for 1.050.372,-SFr to collector Dr. Mauro
Bompani of Modena/Italy. According to Dr. Bompani, he will have the car restored
back to its original specifications. After all, it seems that the sale of the Lepeltier
collection was a hidden no reserve sale since virtually all cars were sold, some of
them clearly below the lower estimate.
|