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Christie's at Rétromobile, Paris 12th February 2005 - Auction Review

Accurate estimating by the Christie’s Motoring Department staff ensured the unique ex-Turin and Geneva Salons 1972 Maserati Boomerang sold for EURO 781.250, that’s some £540K - or a whisker over $1m.

The guide price had been EURO 700.000 - 800.000 so with buyer’s premium (as all our prices do), it was sold pretty spot-on estimate. This was a significant figure for a Maserati that was a functioning road car - albeit not terribly user-friendly - not one of the much more collectable racing cars. Likewise the 1955 O.S.C.A. MT4-2AD, (another Turin Show car) moving on to an American collector for EURO 396.250 (against an estimate of EURO 350.000 - 450.000). No such luck for some of the other headliners, the Gp. C cars in particular being disappointing not to sell.

Another conceptual exercise went for good money, the 1972 Aston Martin DBS V8 by 'Ogle' selling for EURO 79.900. Christie’s continued the trend set in London before Christmas of selling Astons well, all four cars going and the LHD, ex-Robert Mitchum 1961 Aston Martin DB4 (EURO 141.000) worthy of particular mention.



1972 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible
Sold for EURO 35.250


1972 Aston Martin DBS ‘Ogle’
Sold for EURO 79.900

Zagato’s styling in the early Sixties tended to swing from the brutally-attractive such as the DB4GTZ or Alfa TZ to the decidedly off-the-wall, such as the Lancia Flavia Sport "Competizione" sold at Rétromobile 2005, the ex-René Trautmann 1964 car that you can see below racing in-period at Monthlery. For EURO 54.050, someone bought a significant car at a very good price.



With the 1929 OM 665 Superba Four Seater Open Tourer Not Sold at a previous Christie’s auction in London, one can only say once again that it only needs the right people bidding at the right time and place for good cars to sell. In our preview we recommended it to those considering pre-war Alfas, Astons or Bugattis, as a quality, reasonably priced alternative. Well, the car was finally sold for EURO 111.625, more that double its estimate, so someone out there must be listening. Another tip from the preview, the 1969 Toyota Sports 800, sold on-estimate for EURO 28.200, but sadly we couldn’t ‘do the triple’ with the 1974 De Tomaso Pantera GP III 'Competizione' failing to sell. Another time, another place perhaps.

In addition to the motor cars, Christie’s sold the ‘No Reserve’ collection of automobilia for three times its estimate for EURO 125.714. In total the sale achieved EURO 2.147.116.

Christie’s next Sale of Exceptional Motor Cars will be in London, at their usual Jack Barclay Showroom saleroom on 19th April. There is still time to consign, please call the team at the address below. An early entry is the 1936 Talbot 3.5 Litre 110 Four Seater Sports Tourer by Vanden Plas, estimated at £60,000-70,000.

For the full results, please CLICK HERE.

Christie's International Motor Cars Ltd
The Jack Barclay Showroom
2-4 Ponton Rd
Nine Elms
London SW8 5BA

Tel: + 44(0)20 7389 2851
Fax: + 44(0)20 7627 8917
[email protected]

Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Christie's