A 1929 Bentley 6½ Litre Speed Six Tourer topped Bonhams’ Paris sale yesterday earning €828,000.
It was a 1963 Aston Martin DB4 'Series V' Vantage Convertible that caused the biggest sale-room stir, though, as it more than doubled its pre-sale estimate to hit €805,000.
The one-family-owned car was one of few to be fitted with the Vantage ‘SS’ engine when it was sold new in Switzerland.
Third-placed result went to a 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Coupé that was formerly owned by the company founder, and netted a cool €690,000, while a 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K cabriolet earned €672,750.
In just its second visit to the Grand Palais, Bonhams made nearly €13million from 86 cars, 84 ’bikes and more than 100 pieces of automobilia.
The machines of former architect Charles H Brown raised more than €1.2million, largely thanks to a 1931 Bentley 8 Litre Sports Tourer that made €483,000.
Billed as a collection that charted the history of the car, Brown’s lots included a 1927 Renault Torpedo (€166,750), a 1928 Detroit Electric Model 95 Type 24B coupe de ville (€48,300) and a 1909 Stanley Model E2 10HP Runabout steam car (€50,600).
