A 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix car will cross the auction block with No Reserve at RM Sotheby’s upcoming Paris sale, set for February 7 at Place Vauban during Retromobile week. Offered from long-term French ownership, the T35, chassis no. 4394, was delivered new to marquis Georges Cholmondeley in early 1925. It is being offered complete with a large collection of period photographs with Lord and Lady Cholmondeley, including one with Malcolm Campbell at Brooklands. The Bugatti (above, photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s) displays lovely original patina and is offered in excellent condition complete with original chassis, body, gearbox, axles and differential, without reserve.
The Bugatti leads an auction assemblage with half the cars being offered with no reserve, including a 2005 Maserati MC12 and a 1992 Ferrari F40 from private collections. The Maserati, chassis no. 12085, has been well maintained throughout its life, having covered but 12,500 kilometers from new. The Ferrari, chassis no. 93710, comes with books, tools and its rare original luggage. The F40 has been recently serviced and is ready to return to the road.
Following 2017’s successful sale of a private Porsche Collection, RM Sotheby’s will again offer and enticing selection of Porsche 911s from the Seventies to Naughties for its Retromobile Sale, including a rare narrow-body 1989 911 Speedster in remarkably original condition and boasting a mere 577 kilometers from new, and a 1975 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI “Jubiläum” anniversary model. With just 25 European MFI-engined Carrera models ever made, this example has covered a mere 600 kilometers since a meticulous restoration. Other Porsches confirmed include a 1994 911/964 Turbo 3.6 with desirable X88 pack and two modern GT2s; a 2002 911/996 GT2 Mk1 and a 2008 911/997 GT2 Clubsport.
Two other cars with outstanding histories from long-term ownership are also slated for the Paris auction. The first is a 1958 BMW 507 Roadster Series II, chassis no. 70127, that has had only two owners and, remarkably, has been maintained by the same BMW-trained mechanic from new. The second is a 1967 Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2, offered from single-family ownership since new, when it was purchased by its first and only Dutch owner directly from the Lamborghini factory where he met with Ferruccio Lamborghini himself. For further information about these and all the other collector cars coming up for sale at RM Sotheby’s Paris auction please visit www.rmsothebys.com
The sale will be held at Place Vauban immediately after the Festival Automobile International, which runs through February 4 and features beautiful concept cars that pay tribute to designers from around the world. For further information on Festival Automobile International, please visit www.festivalautomobile.com
