1956 Porsche 356A Carrera Speedster: 300,000 - 400,000 euros

Paris-based auctioneer Artcurial has assembled another stylish catalogue of cars for its forthcoming 'Automobiles sur les Champs' sale.

There are ‘75’ numberplates aplenty; indeed, the opening lot, a 1969 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow I (12,000 - 16,000 euros, no reserve), carries the famous Parisian identifier and appears très chic in its dark green with beige hide interior. The following lot is another Rolls, this time a RHD, 15,000 - 25,000-euros 1973 Corniche Coupé in silver.

Among the 68 motor cars you won’t find many in ‘resale red’, let alone 1970s all-shades-of-gold abominations - this is Paris, after all. The headlining entry comes from the ‘discovered’ collection we featured recently, the 1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (500,000 - 700,000 euros), and it’s joined by many other achingly desirable cars to suit the sophisticated location.

There’s a 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Cabriolet for 120,000 - 150,000 euros, a 1957 Mercedes 300 SL Roadster (475,000 - 525,000 euros) and three convertible Porsche 356s, the pick of which must be the 1956 356A Carrera Speedster. It’s lacking its original engine, being fitted with a more tractable, 105bhp 356 unit, but does have an original four-cam Carrera GT motor from a 356B boxed and included in the price (300,000 - 400,000 euros).

1969 Lamborghini Miura S: 320,000 - 380,000 euros	1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III Coupé: 100,000 - 140,000 euros

For those who prize originality above all, the preceding lot, a matching numbers, Porsche-authenticated 1957 356A 1600 Speedster (135,000 - 155,000 euros) might be a more suitable bet. Other cars you certainly wouldn’t kick out of the Classic Driver garage in the morning include any of the Chapron-bodied Citroëns, the 1966 Maserati Mistral (20,000 - 30,000 euros), the RHD 1961 Aston DB4 Series 3 (160,000 - 180,000 euros) and the 1954 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Series IV, at 90,000 - 130,000 euros.

1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Cabriolet: 120,000 - 150,000 euros	1962 Citroën DS 19 Cabriolet: 120,000 - 140,000 euros

Looking at some of the pre-War entries, some of the most significant are also from the estate of Jean Serre, and these include the 1935 Hispano Suiza K6 by Letourneur & Marchand (300,000 - 400,000 euros) and the 1931 Bugatti Type 46 Coupé by Vanvooren at 300,000 - 400,000 euros.

Just a day after the annual running of the Le Mans 24 Hours, maintaining some sense of order amongst this feast of Gallic extravagance will be the 1922 Bentley 3 Litre Sports Tourer, reasonably estimated at 160,000 - 220,000 euros. And one to buy? We rather fancy Lot 244, the No Reserve 1967 Lancia Flaminia Cabriolet by Touring for 25,000 - 45,000 euros, another Jean Serre entry. Hood-down, driving south on an RN road, I can smell the lavender already...

The Monday, 13 June 2011 Artcurial sale will be held at Hotel Marcel Dassault, 7 Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris. Automobilia 17:00, motor cars 19:00.

Please click HERE to see a full lotlist.

For further information, visit www.artcurial.com.

Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Artcurial
 

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