Auction News: F1 Ferrari Up For Auction in Paris!
The immense Retromobile exhibition takes place in Pais early next year, with the HistoricRacingNews.com team there in force, and already the Artcurial Motorcars auction has some tempting lots confirmed.
Highlight of their 209 sale was a 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta which sold for nearly 17 M€ / 19 M$. and once again they will present an array of machinery exceptional in rarity, originality and provenance, and we have picked out a few early race-related gems. The 2020 sale will take place on Friday 7th February at the Parc des Exposition, Parc de Versailles in Paris.
Ferrari 126 C3
Standing out in the 2020 Retromovile sale will be the F1 1983 Ferrari 126 C3 single seater (pictured above) from the prestigious Manoir de l’Automobile collection in Lohéac. It was entered by the Scuderia Ferrari in the 1983 World Championship and driven by Patrick Tambay and René Arnoux. Arnoux raced this car to victory in both the German and the Dutch Grand Prix that year. Ferrari dominated the 1983 season with the 126 C2B and 126 C3, winning the Constructors Championship.
Delahaye 135
Another iconic pre-war model on offer will be the 1936 Delahaye 135S, chassis n°46625. One of France’s premier marques in the 1930s, Delahaye was committed to racing successfully at the highest level and this car is one of just 16 competition 135S examples built by the marque. In 1937 it took part in the Le Mans 24 Hours. With such racing provenance, this rare car is highly eligible for historic events such as the Grand Prix Historique de Monaco, Goodwood Revival and the Mille Miglia.
Ferrari 275GTB
The 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB #6785, delivered new to full race spec with 6 carburettors, has an impressive racing provenance. The car took part in over 40 international races between 1965 and 1968, including rally, track and hillclimb events. It featured on the cover of the Ferrari Yearbook in 1966, having won the GT class in the Monza 1000km that year. The car also competed in the European hillclimb championship with rounds at Mont Ventoux, Ollon-Villars and Cesana Sestriere, and the Rallye Solitude Lyon Charbonnière. This competition 275 GTB has been preserved in Swedish ownership for the last two decades and is offered with fully documented history.
DB Le Monstre 1
Also boasting Le Mans history is the 1959 DB HBR4, known as “Le Monstre”. Chassis 1110 was bought new by Jacques Rey who won the Index of Performance in the 1959 Tour de France Automobile in this car. His team-mate, André Guilhardin, then modified and lowered the body by 11cm which increased the top speed of this extraordinary looking machine to an astonishing 190 km/h. With its new body, the car participated in the 1961 Le Mans 24 Hours, finishing 20th overall and 2nd in the Index of Energy Efficiency. Recently restored and well known in DB circles, this unique French race car would be welcome at all the most prestigious events today.
Ford Mustang GT Coupé Hardtop
Johnny Hallyday never made a secret of his love for fine automobiles and owned a superb collection of machines. He acquired this Ford Mustang GT Coupé Hardtop (pictured below) in 1967, racing it the same year for the Écurie Ford France with Henri Chemin, Director of Communications for Ford France. In June 1967 he drove it to 2nd place in the Coupe ACIF at Monthléry, and in August of the same year, he also took part in the famous Mont Dore hillclimb.
