Last Friday, July 9, the legendary Le Mans race circuit played host to an auction celebrating over 40 years of classic car auctions - at which 60 automobiles rolled off the auction block with a 78% sell-through rate.
In the end, the sales totalled €6.8 million; a great success for the Artcurial Motorcars department with 55% of the lots on offer sold to foreign buyers.
Of these, four vehicles cleared the €500,000 barrier, with 16 selling well over €100,000 while the sound of vintage cars revving echoed outside the saleroom tent.
![]() Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bentley |
There was an enthusiastic response to the eight-car collection of a Paris businessman, which brought a total of €2,261,700 against an overall estimate of €2,200,000.
An exceptional 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV with just 5,000km on the clock sold to an American collector for €680,700; while an iconic, fully restored Ferrari 275 GTB4 found a Greek buyer for €837,500.
Meanwhile, an AC Cobra 289 Mk II, in great demand among collectors, for €423,200 after a lengthy bidding battle.
Elsewhere, the 1930 Bentley Speed Six Tourer Le Mans continued the love affair it had enjoyed with Le Mans in the 1930s.
After its victories at Le Mans, countless owners had their limousines rebuilt as a Le Mans tourer - like the one offered by Artcurial, which had been altered in 1938.
The historic automobile was fiercely disputed by three bidders, before finally selling to a German in the room for an incredible €736,700.
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