A 1964 Porsche 904 GTS, estimate €1,300,000 – 1,600,000,
formerly owned by one of Hollywood's greatest names, the actor
Robert Redford, is one of the stars at Bonhams Grandes
Marques à Paris Sale on 3 February. Opening the Bonhams
Motorcars Europe 2022 calendar, the sale will be staged in the
heart of the city at the Grand Palais Ephémère, by the Eiffel
Tower.
The last of the famous Porsche ‘giant killer’ racing cars, the 904
was a mid-engined, fibreglass-bodied GT racer which garnered
sports-car racing success, notably in the Targa Florio, and even
picked up a podium place in the Monte Carlo Rally. Originally
owned by Steve Earle, founder of the Monterey Historic Races at
Laguna Seca, this GTS was campaigned by subsequent owner
Steve Berg at prominent North American venues including Laguna
Seca, before it was later acquired by Redford, who kept it for
nearly a decade.
The 904 lines up with a select gathering of classic and contemporary supercars representing great automotive
names. One of the highlights is a 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari, one of only 499 examples of the F-1 inspired
hybrid Special edition hypercar from Maranello, which is in pole position, with an estimate of €2,000,000 –
2,500,000.
The Formula 1 and GT-inspired model was described by the Modena manufacturer as the ‘most ambitious’
Ferrari. It was the first production car to be equipped with the F1-derived HY-KERS hybrid system. Its
electric motor and 6.3-litre V12 engine combination, with a total power output of 950hp, delivers a
sub-three-seconds acceleration from 0-100km/h and a top speed of more than 350km/h. This car, finished
in yellow over black interior, has covered fewer than 930km from new and is offered by its second owner.
Another Italian in Paris is a 1996 Bugatti EB110 GT Coupé, estimate €1,100,000 – 1,300,000. The first
new Bugatti to be produced since 1956 was the brainchild of Romano Artioli, who revived the brand, was
designed by Marcello Gandini and built by hand in Campogalliano in Italy’s ‘motor valley’.
Despite competition from contemporary rivals such as the McLaren F1 and Jaguar XJ220, the EB110 set
four world speed records, including for the fastest series production sports car. On the road its 3.5-litre V12
engine fed by four turbochargers promised a top speed of 340km/h. Only 95 GT examples were produced.
The car offered has had three owners from new, covering a total of 10,000kms.
Les Grandes Marques à Paris Sale will offer its largest array yet of collectors' motor cars, spanning more
than 100 years of motoring excellence and history. Included is a stunning collection of veteran motor cars
offered from single-family ownership of more than 120 years. The sale is also renowned for presenting the
finest pre-war motor cars and the 2022 edition continues this tradition.
Arguably the most special of the golden age supercar marque Bugatti, is a 1936 Type 57C Special
Coupé, estimate €1,600,000 – 2,000,000. Known as ‘Le Patron’ it was used by Ettore Bugatti himself, as
well as factory drivers Jean-Pierre Wimille and Robert Benoist before the Second World War and afterwards
by Bugatti’s General Manager Pierre Marco.
'Le Patron' was also a development car testing new ideas and components for twenty years and so has
many unique features, including its bespoke coachwork (believed to be the last designed by Ettore’s son
Jean) and a highly developed supercharged engine. This significant and completely original car has had only
a handful of private collector custodians since it left its factory ownership and is offered by one of Europe’s
foremost private collectors who has owned the car for the last decade.
Lining up with the Bugatti is another supercharged powered marvel of the 1930s, a 1934 Mercedes-Benz
380K Cabriolet A, estimate €1,200,000 - 1,600,000. Designed as a luxurious long-distance touring car,
the Sindelfingen 380K was the predecessor to the mighty 500 K and 540 K models. In total just 16
Cabriolet A variants were produced over two years.
The Dolleschel Collection presents an array of great automotive names of the pre-war period, including
Delauney-Belleville, Panhard and Hispano-Suiza. The latter is represented by four examples, led by a
time-warp’ 1921 Hispano-Suiza H6B Torpedo, estimate €300,000 – 400,000, with its original Duvivier
coachwork and interior as commissioned by its first owner, Francophile New Yorker John Jay Ide, the
great-great-grandson of U.S. diplomat John Jay, the first justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
A further highlight from this important collection is a 1902 Panhard & Levassor Type A2 7HP Tonneau à
entrée par l’arrière, estimate €300,000 - 360,000. A remarkably authentic example and one of the best
survivors of its genre, retaining its original matching numbers, coachwork and even leather trim work, this
car has successfully participated in the London to Brighton Run with its custodian.
The Grandes Marques à Paris Sale
The 2022 auction moves to a new venue – the Grand Palais Ephémère, a new exhibition pavilion on
the Champs de Mars hosting Grand Palais events while the original is undergoing major renovations.
The sale will be held as a traditional live auction on Thursday 3 February, with bids accepted from clients
in the room (respecting social distancing and all local COVID-related guidelines).
The sale will also be available on the Bonhams App, which provides registered bidders the opportunity to bid
in real time online via Bonhams.com while watching the auctioneer and videos of cars
