A soon-to-expire plane ticket to Paris was all the excuse needed for a jetlag-be-damned 3 day trip for Retromobile, the
Bonhams Paris sale, and making contacts in the City of Light. Winnowing the 1400 photos from this visually stimulating trip means splitting up my 3 days into 3 posts, the first of which concerns the second annual Bonhams Paris sale
outside of Retromobile (having been unceremoniously given the boot two years ago to make way for family-of-the-management Artcurial Auctions), this year at the Halles Freyssinet, the oldest reinforced concrete industrial building in Paris.
La Freyssinet is better known as home to many of the Paris Fashion Week runway shows, but this month the catwalk had equally sexy Facel Vegas and Laverdas under the bright lights. And, if you have the cash, you can take the models home with you...which may also be true during Fashion Week, but we won't go there...
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| Mezzanine level held the food concession and a lounge - and a great spot to watch the action |
Bonhams collected a stunning array of vintage cars into the hall, and managed to make the industrial space quite chic on the sales floor, with supercharged Amilcars and Bentleys vying for floor space with the auction seating and Automobilia cases. The motorcycle collection was sourced from all over Europe, and ranged from a 1902 Clément (which I added to my currently modest garage lineup) to some fairly new Ducatis. The photos tell the story; some good stuff was available in Paris, and plenty of bidders filled the auction floor.
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| 1937 Alvis 'Long Bonnet' 4.3L...sold for E90,850... |
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| 1928 Amilcar C6 Voiturette; supercharged straight 6... |
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| 1942 Harley WL, ex-military, now in civvies |
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| Recently-bodied Bentley-Petersen with stunning lines, and reflections! |
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| The big Bentley looked like a Talbot-Lago on steroids, and sold for E385,250 |
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| Another Bentley, this time a 'trad' '29 8-Litre Tourer...which sold for E615,250... |
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| This BMW R69S-based racer sold for E19,550... |
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| The 1902 Clément which has me needing a Davey Crockett coonskin cap...I'm a Pioneer! |
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| Crazy little MV Agusta in Disco Volante trim, with kiddie-car chair. Fun at E11,500... |
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| Another Disco Volante, this time a 1954 Alfa Romeo re-creation... |
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| 1958 Norton Dominator 99, beautifully restored, sold for E8625... |
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| A different kind of 'nose art' on this 1961 Facel Vega HK500 coupé... |
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| ...which is simply one of my favorite cars, especially as it was made in Paris.... |
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| ...and collectors have taken notice too, as prices have skyrocketed; this one sold for E81,650... |
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| Considering the bidding on one of the Facel Vegas...yes you'd look perfect in it! |
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| Bonhams behind the scenes; white-suited pushers waiting for the next bike... |
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| 1943 Indian 741 Scout, also ex-military, now leading a more relaxed life, sold for E13,800 |
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| The Domi awaiting its star turn... |
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| Two hours later, this man was falling asleep in his soup... |
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(Note: Bonhams is the principal sponsor of The Vintagent)
8:55 AM
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