Paris, 30th November, 2022

RM Sotheby’s is delighted to announce an all-new location in the “golden triangle” of Paris for its upcoming French auction to be held at the beginning of 2023. With the cars being sold next to one of the most iconic museums in the world, there is no doubt the quality of the cars will match that of the artwork housed next door.

The 2020 McLaren Senna LM is one of just 35 such cars produced and was created through a joint collaboration between the McLaren Special Operations department and Lanzante Motorsport. The LM model went through a comprehensive series of modifications, including a power upgrade to 814 horsepower and extra venting by the front fenders.

Italian designers have penned some of the most beautiful cars ever produced, and the Paris sale already features some stunning examples. The auction features a stunning 1972 Iso Grifo Targa Series II, which is one of only four open-topped examples to benefit from the more resolved second series styling. Delivered to the Sonntag dealership in Koblenz, it has resided in the current owner’s collection for more than 20 years (Estimate: €700,000 - €900,000).

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The iconic Papaya orange livery pays homage to the McLaren F1 GTR that won at Le Mans in 1995, 25 years prior to the Senna LM’s launch. This example is presented in as-new condition with a mere 15 kilometres on the clock. These outstanding supercars rarely come to auction, and it is estimated at €1,400,000 - €1,600,000.

Another car that is renowned for its crisp styling and modern lines is the 1970 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Spyder by Ghia. Offered in fully restored condition and retaining its matching-numbers engine, this is an excellent example of one of Maserati’s most coveted models. This car is one of just 83 4.7-litre Ghibli Spyders constructed and is estimated to fetch between €675,000 - €750,000.

Many consider Lamborghini’s earliest designs to be the company’s best, and the 1964 Lamborghini 350 GT by Touring is one of the great Italian gran turismos. The car offered benefits from a recent full restoration and is believed to be one of approximately 50 examples that were aluminium bodied. It was Ferruccio Lamborghini’s first road car, and with 270 horsepower being driven through a five-speed manual gearbox, the 350 GT certainly packed a punch and took the fight to Ferrari (Estimate: €550,000 - €600,000).

Another fascinating example is the 1963 OSCA 1600 GT by Zagato. The final model produced by the Maserati brothers, just 128 examples were produced, with 98 featuring bodywork by Carrozzeria Zagato complete with signature “double-bubble” roof. This particular 1600 GT was campaigned in-period by first owner Alberto Luti, scoring a class win at the Coppa Belvedere hillclimb in 1963 (Estimate: €380,000 - €450,000).

Benjamin Arnaud, RM Sotheby’s Director of Sales, France says: “We are delighted to present these outstanding early consignments for our Paris sale, an undoubted flagship event in the auction calendar. The sale has always been known for its eclectic nature, and 2023 will be no exception. It’s also fitting that our 10th anniversary of the sale has moved to an incredible new location at the Salles du Carrousel in Louvre Palace.”

However, it is not just Italian marques starring in Paris, with a fine ex-Works 1982 Renault 5 Turbo Group 4 also being offered at the sale. This is a great example of Renault’s rally icon, which competed in Group 4 racing throughout the 1980s (Estimate: €350,000 - €400,000).

Always in demand, the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 is the quintessential British GT car of the 1960s. Offered with a British Heritage Certificate, the car is resplendent in ‘007’ specification in Silver Birch over black, and also boasts rare factory-fitted air conditioning. This stunning LHD example spent its early life in the USA and has more recently been in a private collection, it is estimated at €680,000 - €780,000.

Porsche is well represented at Paris with a delightful 1951 Porsche 356 ‘Split-Window’ Coupé by Reutter and a 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo 'Flachbau'. The 356 is offered in restored condition and presents as a fine example of a “Model 51” variant of Porsche’s legendary sports car (Estimate: €450,000 - €550,000). The 911 Turbo ‘Flachbau’ is a fabulous slice of 1980s excess. This particular example is offered in astonishing condition, and with a mere 22,500 miles on the clock, it is undoubtedly one of the finest examples available on the market today. It is estimated at €190,000 - €240,000.