February 2025, Paris, France

Part 2 of the Retromobile 2025 article is devoted to cars to buy, with auction houses and dealers of classic and exceptional cars. Back to the 1st part on major exhibitions, manufacturers, museums and clubs.

Auctions Houses

As every year, Rétromobile is the occasion for auctions, either on the show floor like Artcurial, or in other venues during the show period. For some other auction houses, it’s an opportunity to present their upcoming sales.

Artcurial exhibited over a hundred cars and a wide selection of automobilia on its very large stand. As always, there was a wide choice of models, from popular cars through curiosities to the rarest and most prestigious models. The company showcased a series of 5 Ferraris, named the “Silver Collection” because of their color: 250 GT Lusso, 275 GTB, Daytona and the rare 550 Barchetta. In the same hues, a 550 Maranello stands out for its illustrious first owner, Michael Schumacher, for whom it was a “company car”. Also from Maranello, a beautiful 275 GTB was on display, one of only 93 with aluminum bodies.

Among Mr. B’s collection for sale were some exceptional cars, including 3 featured on a podium. The Delage D6-70 raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 1930s, while the Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix is one of the few factory cars. The only white Bugatti EB 110 GT (1995) produced is also a low mileage first hand. From the same collection, the 1904 Gladiator, perhaps the oldest French Grand Prix car in existence, is equipped with a huge 4-cylinder, 9.4-liter engine!

Another Bugatti catches the eye, a “factory” blue Type 57 Stelvio cabriolet, i.e. actually built by Bugatti (only 45 units produced). If you wanted to buy a Porsche, the Artcurial sale would have been a good opportunity, with a wide choice of 356s and 911s, coupes, roadsters, convertibles or targa, and some rather rare cars, such as this 356 Carrera 2L GS (around a hundred inits), or this red Speedster Carrera 3.2L Turbolook revisited by RUF.

A Maserati enthusiast could have completed his collection with an Indy, a Bora, a Merak and a Khamsin, all four in red. Also on a podium, the McLaren Senna is a hypercar you don’t often come across, and this one benefits from a specific paint scheme, inspired by Fernando Alonso’s McLaren F1 at the 2018 Abu Dhabi GP.

A small group of competition cars included 2 cars prepared for African rallies, a Porsche 924 Bandama (1980) and a factory Mercedes 280 E “Safari”. I’ll end this review with a few rarities and curiosities.

The 2 CV “Sahara”, perhaps one of the only cars to have been built in small series with 2 engines, one at the front and the other at the rear (before the advent of electric power of course). The Mercedes 600 Pullmann once belonged to the Swedish royal family. The Isdera Spyder is a roadster built by a small German manufacturer in just fifteen units.

And finally, one of the most spectacular vehicles in the sale was this Packard Super Eight “Yacht”, bodied as a boat (though not amphibious) by Chapron at the request of Louis Reard, inventor of the bikini, for use as an advertising truck.

For its major sale, Bonhams took over the Grand Palais glass roof, providing a magnificent setting for its cars. Once again, there was a selection of popular cars (not always cheap, like the 2CV or the VW Combi, whose prices are skyrocketing), pre-war beauties, more recent sports cars and a few racing cars. Several Bugatti cars were on display, with a 1925 Type 35 being the star attraction. At Bonhams, too, several Porsches were on offer, from the 356 to the 911, including a sparkling yellow Speedster from 2019.

The sale also featured a fine selection of relatively recent Aston Martin, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lamborghini and Maserati sports cars, as well as a rare 1967 Ghia 450SS. Among the pre-war cars, there was a fine selection of German Mercedes and BMWs, as well as the French Chenard et Walker 1924 and a Delage 1929 with a skiff body. In the racing car category, the most impressive was undoubtedly the 1978 BMW Schnitzer Groupe V, and the most curious was the engineless 2008 Force India VJM01 F1 transformed into an art car by British painter Dexter Brown.

Rally-raid option with a Range Rover V8 T2 from 1990 or an impressive MINI John Cooper Works X-raid Buggy from 2017. Special mention also for the Matra 640 replica. Following the car’s violent crash during testing prior to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 2nd chassis had not been used. This “replica” was rebuilt from unused mechanical components, following the original plans that were found.

Aguttes presented a number of cars from its spring sale scheduled for March 16, 2025 in Paris. In addition to the aforementioned DS and Sunbeam GP, Aguttes brought along a number of rarities, such as this Jaguar XK 120 re-bodied as a berlinette by Barou and seen racing in 1950 and 1951, or this 1929 Bugatti Type 40 Grand Sport in original but relatively well-preserved condition, or finally this 1949 Maserati A6 GCS 2000 “Monofaro”, so named because of its single headlight in the middle of the grille.

RM Sothebys also had a sale during the Retromobile week but presented a number of cars in private sales or internet auctions on its stand. The Ferrari F355 is not an exceptional Ferrari model, but it was (also) owned by Michael Schumacher, giving it an extra aura. Still Ferrari, but with a much rarer model, a two-tone Monza SP2 barquette, a model from the “Icona” range, special limited series inspired by models from the past.

The Porsche 918 Spyder is also a hypercar produced in limited series, but this one, in a bright acid green, must be quite unique. Much rarer, the Pagani Zonda “Tricolore” was built in only 3 examples. Its name comes from the “V” stripes with the colors of the Italian flag painted on the all-carbon body, painted the same blue as the planes of the Italian acrobatic patrol.

Less well known, Broad Arrow also offers auctions and private sales and was exhibiting an exceptional and extremely rare Porsche 911 Turbo “930” equipped with a genuine TAG-Porsche V6 1.5-liter Formula 1 engine. This is a “real” V6 Turbo engine developed in the early 1980s by Porsche for McLaren, and which enabled Niki Lauda and Alain Prost to win numerous GPs in 1984 and 1985. Developed by Dean Lanzante in England, this TAG Porsche was built in 11 examples, since 11 engines were available.

Dealers

As every year, Retromobile is the meeting place for the major international dealers of exceptional cars, who offer their customers ever more impressive selections! German, English, Belgian, Dutch, Swiss and, of course, French compete in terms of stand size, quality of presentation and, of course, the standard of the cars on offer.

While Ferrari, Mercedes and Porsche are the most numerous overall, all sports and prestige brands are represented on the stands. Rather than attempt an exhaustive list, I’ve chosen to highlight one or two cars per dealer in the article, although the others may be presented in photos. Gallery Aaldering presented an authentic 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Convertible by Vanvooren, built in only 6 units.

At Arts & Revs, a more recent Bugatti, an EB 110, was presented alongside its quadri-turbo V12 engine. The 24 Hours of Le Mans were in the spotlight on the Ascott Collection stand, with a Rondeau M379C (1981) and a Jaguar XJR-12 (1990). The Lancia Stratos HF is a true rally icon of the 1970s, and Asphalt Classics’ 1976 “Stradale” version is one of 400 “road” models built for homologation.

AVC Prague exhibited a spectacular Tatra T77 from 1935, an imposing streamlined sedan with a rear-mounted V8. Produced in very small numbers, around twenty remain in the world today, rarely in this state of restoration. On the stand of German dealer Axel Schuette were 2 splendid Mercedes-Benz Roadsters from the 1930s, a 500K from 1934 and a 540K from 1937, emblematic of these powerful compressor sports cars.

CarJager, the up-and-coming French company, offered several recent GTs, such as this 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista in a rather rare “Bleu Tour de France” configuration. The BMW 3.0 CSL exhibited by Daniele Turrisi was presented in 2023 for the 50th anniversary of the M department as a tribute to the 1972 3.0 CSL. Built in just 50 units, it is based on an extensively revised M4 coupe, with exclusive bodywork and an engine pushed to 560 hp. This model sports the typical M colors. The BMW 507 roadster is often considered one of the most beautiful BMWs, but its very high price made it a commercial failure (only 250 units). But this rarity is what makes it so attractive to enthusiasts today, and Eberhard Thiesen was exhibiting 2 cars.

As we celebrate 110 years of Maserati, the 1956 Maserati A6G by Zagato seems to me a good idea at Fiskens. Dressed by the great Italian coachbuilders of the time, the A6Gs marked Maserati’s debut in Grand Touring before the factory-built 3500 GT. Girardo & Co, English but great Ferrari specialists, told part of the history of the prancing horse with a number of sporty models, including this 250 GT SWB which finished 2nd in the 1960 Tour de France Auto.

At Joe Macari’s, the choice was between a rather kitschy mauve Aston Martin Valkyrie with gold trim and a Singer ACS, a kind of Porsche 911 Dakar before its time, but even more raid-like. Amid a number of hypercars at Kidston’s, the white McLaren F1 was perched on a dais, doors wide open.

For me, the star of the show at Lukas Huni was the 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante, one of the most desirable of all Bugattis, especially in this extremely rare version with compressor and aluminum bodywork. Never restored, this Bugatti 57 is in impeccable condition.

Another Rondeau was on display at Mechanic Modern & Classic, this time the M379B, winner of the 1980 Le Mans 24 Hours. On the Messina Classics stand, the choice was between an Aston Martin Valkyrie (yet another one!) or a Gemballa Mirage GT, an exacerbated version of the Porsche Carrera GT, which was already not lacking in character. While Phoenix Green Garage is a British Lancia specialist, they also offer other brands, such as a 1933 Bugatti Type 59.

At Saga Classic, a French Mercedes specialist, 300 SL Gullwing, SLS and above all a very rare AMG One. Porsche maintenance and restoration specialist Serge Heitz presented a 1955 Speedster 356 1500GT.

The Squadra presented the first Zagato AGTZ, a design inspired by the Alpine A 220 long tail of the 1968 Le Mans 24 Hours. In addition to the design inspiration, the Zagato AGTZ is unique in that it comes with 2 rear hoods, allowing a choice between a long-tail style like the A220 or a truncated rear end.

Motorcycles

Following on from the success of 2024, Rétromobile once again set aside a large area specifically devoted to motorcycles. At the heart of the area was an exhibition devoted to the motorcycles of Eric de Seynes, the historic head of Yamaha in France. Around this area, as with the cars, a growing number of manufacturers (BMW, Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Indian, Triumph, Yamaha…) exhibited old and new motorcycles. Motorcycles were also featured on a number of stands, including the Artcurial auction area.

Accessories, toys, artists

Traditionally at classic car shows, many visitors come in search of the missing part(s) for their oldtimer. As every year, Retromobile becomes a huge market for parts and accessories, including clothing. Sellers of magazines, books and posters devoted to cars and transport are also well represented.

If you can’t afford to buy a “real” car, don’t worry, miniature dealers will be able to offer you a wide range, but beware: some highly detailed and complex models can cost as much as a car on wheels! Finally, let’s not forget the traditional artists’ village, where painters, photographers and sculptors exhibit their work.

Photos on this page belong to Automobile Museums, no reproduction rights without the Owner’s express permission.