Mercedes SL smashes record
But Ferrari tipped as auction’s star misses reserve by a million Euros
Although Artcurial’s star lot, the 1971 Le Mans fifth-placed Ferrari 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ ran out of gas at € 5.4m (£4.7m) – a full million Euros short of its pre-sale reserve – there were buyers for both Swedish Government-entered Mercedes-Benz 300SLs.
The roadster with hardtop, driven only 1372km by one owner since new in 1963 and still original beneath a respray, raised a world record £2.31m with premium. Whereas the 1956 Gullwing still flew to a similarly applauded £867,680 result despite appearing to be cosmetically scruffy after covering more than 68,000km. The proceeds of both cars went to a charity supporting the education of children in need.
Three more record prices were paid during the nearly five-hour marathon held in a seriously overheated auction tent that was more like a sauna than a saleroom. For a hardly driven 2014 ‘Newtimer’ Merc SLS GT AMG Roadster Final Edition sold for a milestone £474,673 and a 1960 Le Mans-tested DB HB55 Lightweight Coupé achieved a streamlined £99,018. A Michelotti-crafted 1968 Fiat 850-based Shellette with a fringed canopy for the Monaco quayside still made a cool £32,666 having been immobile for more than 20 years.
In all 116 cars were offered (of which 40 were made available at no reserve) with 63 going to new owners. That’s a 54 per cent sale rate with the sale raising a £10.5m sale total.
Richard Hudson-Evans
A more affordable Le Mans sale record was the 1968 Shellette – yours for £32,666.