Classic automobiles drive Christie's to Paris

COLLECTOR: Christie's first auction in France is staged in conjunction with the organisers of the Rétromobile classic car event, writes Joe Armstrong

Two rare early Bugattis, a one-off prototype Maserati Boomerang and a 1932 Duesenberg Derham go for auction at the Rétromobile classic car event in Paris next month.

Christie's first auction in France, on February 12th, is staged in conjunction with the organisers of Rétromobile, which attracts 100,000 visitors annually - including renowned international collectors.

French law recently changed to allow non-French auctioneers to hold sales there. Mr Rupert Banner, head of Christie's London car department, told The Irish Times: "We're delighted that as soon as the rules have changed we're able to have a sale there."

Two original early Bugattis highlight the auction. Regarded as perfect driving machines, the Type 37 and Type 51 "Grand Prix" models were virtually the same car, distinguished from each other only by the engine. The Type 37 has a four-cylinder engine, while the later Type 51 boasts a supercharged eight-cylinder engine.

The provenance of the Type 37 is impressive and it is expected to fetch €220,000 (£173,260) to €250,000. Owned first by Claude Renoir, son of famous painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, it was delivered straight from the factory in September 1927 to Villa les Colettes in Cagnes-sur-Mer, the Renoir family home, as a present from Claude to his wife Paulette. Pierre-Auguste had bequeathed the property - subsequently the Renoir Museum - to them.

According to Christie's, a subsequent owner claims that Claude Renoir sold the car because he was "frightened by his wife's driving".

The Type 37 was raced only once, in the April 1933 La Course de Côte de Saint-Jacques, which it won. It exchanged hands several times before 1963, then remained with one owner for almost 40 years. The owner restored the car, but never drove it after completing the restoration.

The Type 51 is the final development of the classic Grand Prix racing Bugatti, introduced in 1924. From 1930 to 1933, the Type 51 Bugatti was a major contender for winning top Grand Prix honours and "effectively the definitive Grand Prix Bugatti".

Owned by only four people, this is the first time that this Type 51 has been offered publicly for sale. "As a result of that, it's a very, very good car," says Mr Banner.

It has been restored and is estimated at €900,000 to €1,050,000.

A one-off Maserati Boomerang, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, is expected to make €600,000 to €800,000. Boomerang was first displayed as a non-functional model at the Turino Motor Show in 1971 but the following year it was transformed into a fully operational vehicle. It has been restored and has won several awards.

"We're delighted also to have consigned a major collection of 19 cars to the sale by a European consignor, which is dominated primarily by American classics," says Mr Banner.

This Hans Lüscher consignment is expected to total €3,500,000 to €4,500,000. It includes a 1932 Duesenberg Derham Body J441, estimated at €420,000 to €520,000 and regarded as the pinnacle of the US luxury car of the period.

A 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet B is estimated at €280,000 to €380,000, while a 1906 Mercedes Double Phaeton is expected to fetch €280,000 to €320,000.

Other highlights include a 1924 Mercedes 630 Typ/24/100/140 PS (estimate: €300,000-€400,000); a 1930 Cadillac V16 Sport Phaeton (estimate: €320,000-€420,000); and a 1926 Hispano Suiza H6B, which is expected to fetch as much as €400,000 to €500,000.

A 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Derby Tourer should make €150,000 to €180,000. Introduced in 1925, the Phantom I replaced the Silver Ghost model. Christie's describes this left-hand drive US version as "an example of an older restoration, which now has a nice patina of age".

jmarms@irish-times.ie