Lucky seven: RM’s millionaire Le Mans legends in Paris

There are two types of cars that shouldn't be missed at a classic auction in Paris: French icons such as a Citroën Déesse or Alpine, and Le Mans racing legends. On 5 February, RM will combine the two when it offers a selection of entries that includes seven cars with multi-million-euro estimates...

The ‘lucky seven’ are led by a 1955 Jaguar D-type, estimated at 4.1m – 4.7m euros. While that car was raced in Australia in period the 1953 Gordini Type 24 S is a genuine veteran of the French classic. Not only was it entered at Le Mans in 1953, with Jean Behra at the wheel it won that year’s Tour de France Automobile. It also has period Montlhéry, Mille Miglia and Carrera Panamericana history.

Carrying an estimate of 3m – 4m euros, what better entry for a Paris Rétromobile-week sale?

Also in the catalogue is the car that finished second at Le Mans in 2008, Peugeot’s 908 HDi FAP (1.4m – 1.8m euros) sports-prototype, and a veteran of no fewer than five Le Mans races, the 1982 Rondeau M482 Le Mans GTP car. Not part of the ‘club’, it’s estimated at ‘just’ 200,000 – 300,000 euros.

But to complete the seven, why not bid on the 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza (1.8m - 2.1m euros), the 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS (1.0m - 1.4m euros) or, perhaps best of all, the third-place Rothmans Porsche 956 from the 1982 Le Mans 24 Hours. The latter is part of the sale’s ‘Harburg Collection’ and has a guide price of 2.1m - 2.9m euros. There is also a 1973 Porsche 917/30 Can-Am car, for 2.1m - 2.9m.

Photos: RM Auctions