13 eye-catching cars for sale in Paris next month

Stop and stare

The classic car world is soon to descend on the French capital once again, as the excellent Rétromobile show returns to Paris on 5-9 February 2025.

At this time, several of the world’s biggest auction houses will be holding sales and here we are looking at the RM Sotheby’s event, that’s coming to the Salles du Carrousel of the Louvre Palace from 4-5 February.

There’s a mouth-watering catalogue of consignments, but here we are zoning in on some of the biggest head-turners, presented in chronological order.

1. 1937 Simca-Gordini 8 (est: €400-600,000/£330-495,000/US$415-600,000)

What could be more French than the product of two of the country’s brands, painted in the nation’s famous racing blue?

This car made its competitive debut with Amédée Gordini behind the wheel. The event was the Bol d’Or at Montlhéry on 6-7 June 1938 and Gordini drove it to victory.

It is also believed to have been driven by double Formula One drivers’ champion Emerson Fittipaldi.

What is beyond doubt is that this car was campaigned at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1938 and ’39, and while mechanical issues thwarted the first attempt, Guy Lapchin and Claude Plantivaux steered it to 13th overall and second in class a year later.

2. 1953 Buick Roadmaster Convertible (est: €50-80,000/£41,500-65,000/US$50-85,000)

American cars of the 1950s often turn heads and this Buick, which is being offered with no reserve, is no exception.

It was delivered new to Paris 72 years ago and was with the same family from that time until 2010 – clearly a well-loved car.

While the cream paintjob with a deep-red interior seen here are not the colours in which it left the factory, it does retain its matching-numbers, 5.3-litre Fireball V8.

3. 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Coupé by Zagato (est: €800,000-1m/£650-850,000/US$850,000-1,050,000)

Zagato’s designs are often eye-catching and this rare Alfa Romeo definitely ticks that box.

RM Sotheby’s believes it is one of only 39 such cars with this lightweight Zagato body.

In its early years, chassis 01845 was enjoyed and raced, before it was tucked in a garage for four decades.

Collector Corrado Lopresto discovered it in 2013 and oversaw a nut-and-bolt restoration that sought to preserve as much of the car’s originality as possible.

It subsequently topped its class at 2014’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and, in 2022, it received extensive mechanical attention to prepare it for historic motorsport – indeed, it is eligible for the Mille Miglia.

4. 1954 Bentley R-type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon (est: €1.8-2.4m/£1.5-2m/US$1.85-2.5m)

This HJ Mulliner-bodied Bentley R-type, chassis BC39LC, was exhibited on the marque’s stand at the Brussels motor show in January 1954.

This car is one of 13 left-hand-drive examples with a manual, central gearshift and lightweight seats, plus it has had rear-wheel spats from new and it is rare because it left the factory with fitted luggage.

Following a restoration, it secured a second-in-class prize at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and today it still has its original body and engine.

Despite its high pre-sale estimate, this Bentley is being offered without reserve on Tuesday 4 February 2025.

5. 1955 Abarth 208 A Spyder (est: €550-650,000/£455-550,000/US$550-650,000)

This Abarth isn’t just eye-catching because of its bright, striking paintjob, but also because there is nothing else like this classic car.

It wears unique bodywork by none other than Giovanni Michelotti, shaped when he was working for Boano.

This car spent its early years in the USA with a handful of owners, moving from New York to Delaware, to Long Island and then to Maine, before returning to New York.

More recently, it has been preserved and repainted in its original colours, and heads to auction with Abarth’s certificate of authentication.

6. 1958 BMW 507 Roadster Series II (est: €1.75-2m/£1.45-1.65m/US$1.8-2.1m)

It is believed we have another former show car with this BMW 507 Roadster, which is said to have been displayed in Munich at the BMW Pavillon when new and painted Altelfenbein (old ivory), after which it was shipped to Havana, Cuba, on 7 June 1958.

Its consignor returned it to Germany in the mid-1980s and began a six-year restoration, at considerable expense.

Today, it is fitted with a V8 engine of the correct type, but its original motor is included in the 5 February sale, as is a hardtop.

7. 1966 Aston Martin DB6 Shooting Brake (est: €550-700,000/£455-600,000/US$550-750,000)

It is perhaps not surprising that we’ve included this classic car in our rundown of eye-catching lots in the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2025 auction.

This is said to be one of only three Aston Martin DB6 Shooting Brakes by FLM Panelcraft and the only example that’s left-hand drive.

It has lived quite the life, having left the factory in Pacific Blue with Beige Connolly leather, before its first buyer in Texas commissioned its unusual conversion.

The wagon has since been kept in The Netherlands and France, and is now in a rather fetching shade of pale green.

Prospective bidders might be pleased to know it has its matching-numbers, 4-litre, straight-six engine, and it came from the factory with, among other items, air conditioning, a heated rear windscreen and a limited-slip differential.

8. 1969 Lamborghini Islero S (est: €250-300,000/£205-250,000/US$260-310,000)

We love the original Bronzo Scuro Metallizzato paintwork of this Italian-market Lamborghini that’s been consigned to the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2025 auction.

It’s a real stop-and-stare classic car because only 225 Isleros were made, of which just 100 were the S model, like this.

The 3.9-litre V12 and its great looks hardly diminish the appeal, either.

This example has spent some time in the USA and was restored in 2011 – and it is being offered on 4 February with no reserve.

9. 1970 Citroën DS21 Décapotable (est: €140-170,000/£115-140,000/US$145-175,000)

The Citroën DS celebrates its 70th birthday in 2025 and this British-registered example turns 55 this year.

Not only is this one of the most famous and eye-catching Citroën models, this car’s pale-blue colour ups the ante, aesthetically speaking, and it has been in the care of its current keeper for more than a decade.

It was restored in the 2000s, and just last October around £3600 (c€4300/US$4400) was spent on a service as well as suspension work.

10. 1974 Mercedes-Benz 600 ‘Six-Door’ Pullman Landaulet (est: €1.3-1.6m/£1.1-1.35m/US$1.35-1.65m)

You so seldom see any Mercedes-Benz W100 600 and just 26 were built in this configuration, each a bespoke creation.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it started life serving as an official state limousine, in the case of this car for the government of Portuguese Guinea (today known as Guinea-Bissau, located in the west of Africa), at which point it was painted black, with black-leather trim and options including a Becker Grand Prix TR radio with remote control, a flagpole mounted on the right wing, a tropical battery, a car phone and underbody protection.

By 1991 it was registered in California and in 2003 was imported to Germany.

11. 1981 Ferrari 512BB/LM (est: €2-2.5m/£1.65-2.05m/US$2.1-2.6m)

This Ferrari is ready to race again, having had a considerable amount invested into it between 2022 and 2024.

It is one of 16 third-series examples of the 512BB/LM built and made its racing debut at the Monza 1000km of 1981, where it scooped top honours in the GTX class and finished 15th overall.

It also contested that year’s Le Mans, but failed to finish. Yet, a mere fortnight later, it claimed first in class and fifth overall at the Six Hours of Enna in Sicily.

At the Mugello 1000km in 1982 it again won the GTX class, this time coming 10th overall and, sadly, its second attempt at Le Mans, in 1984, also ended in retirement.

This car’s final competitive outing was the Imola 1000km of 1984, which also, unfortunately, brought a DNF thanks to engine failure after 91 laps.

Let’s hope its winning bidder on 5 February will return it to the race track.

12. 1984 Renault 5 Turbo 2 (est: €80-100,000/£65-85,000/US$85-105,000)

It is hard to believe this homologation special is 41 years old in 2025.

This example is finished in its original shade of White Pearl, teamed with a beige, cloth interior, and after leaving the factory on 30 January 1984, it has spent the vast majority of its life in Japan.

In July 2021 it was exported from there to the UK and its most recent owner is in Germany.

It’s being offered on 5 February with no reserve.

13. 1986 Porsche 911 turbo ‘Flat Nose’ (est: €140-180,000/£115-150,000/US$145-185,000)

Our final pick from this catalogue is a seriously eye-catching classic car that is still powered by its original, 3.3-litre engine.

When new it was sold to Qatar and returned to Europe in 1993, when it came to the UK. Its current custodian’s tenure began in February 1995 – that’s 30 years with one owner.

After spending about 20 years not moving, in July 2024 it was recommissioned including having its engine rebuilt.

We also love its factory-correct Garnet Red Metallic colour.

To find out more about this and all the other cars in the RM Sotheby’s Paris sale on 4-5 February 2025, please click here.