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1.3.05
Christie’s auctioneers held their auction of about 25 cars during Retromobile. A 330 GTC was the only Ferrari included in that sale but there was also a fabulous OSCA MT4 Coupé Vignale of 1955. This is the Turin motor show car, very well preserved and unrestored with a wonderful patina. It has had only three owners in fifty years and was clearly one of the main attractions in Paris. It sold for strong 405,000 Euros including buyer’s premium to a Swiss bidder. This is further confirmation that only very original examples of landmark designs achieve stunning prices. Retromobile is very well known for being THE kick-off meeting for the new oldtimer and vintage car season and the number of important collectors, dealers, enthusiasts and car nuts is really impressive. As always, the first weekend of the show is clearly the best and ideal for networking and meetings. This year, I observed the following people: Jon A. Shirley (US collector), Glenn Mounger (Pebble Beach Concours), Bruce A. Meyer (Beverly Hills Ferrari collector and very active for the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles), Patrick Ottis (San Francisco-based restorer), Lord Montague of Beaulieu (UK collector), Junichiro Hiramatsu (Japanese Ferrari collector), Gregor Fisken (English vintage car driver and car dealer), Friedhelm Loh (German Mercedes and Ferrari collector), Ted Walker (Ferret photo specialist), Christian Philippsen (Monaco-based consultant), Jacques Swaters (Garage Francorchamps founder), Adolfo Orsi (Orsi-Maserati family from Italy), Didier Moreau (Club Ferrari France), Jean-Louis Maitron (Secretary Club Ferrari France), Keith Bluemel (UK historian), Jean-Pierre Garçonnet (French historian), Ron Stern (UK collector), Lukas Hüni (Swiss dealer), Mr. Temperle (big time Swiss Delahaye collector), Georg Séchy (Swiss Serenissima collector), Jean Sage (French collector), Michel Zumbrunn (renowned Swiss studio photographer), Bart Rosman (Dutch Bugatti and Ferrari collector), Mike and Ben Horton (UK book specialist), Urs Paul Ramseier (Villa d'Este Concours organizer), Simon Kidston (President Bonhams Europe SA), Doug Freedman (American Ferrari collector and former FCA president), Tony Singer (US memorabilia specialist), Martin Eyears (US dealer), Erich and Christian Traber (Swiss collectors), Joel Fumey (renowned model maker for French Ferrari collector Pierre Bardinon), Richard Sutton (Goodwood Motorsport Director), Egon Zweimüller (Austrian restorer and Ferrari collector), Walter Bäumer (photographer and German Maserati expert), Steven Tillack (US restorer), Graham Gauld (UK historian), Cris Bertschi and Lao Iacona (automobilia specialists from Argentina), Egon von Hofer (Austrian collector), Mario Aquati (Monza Automobile Library), Hilary A. Raab (US collector), Keith Martin (publisher of Sportscar Market Letter), Jean-Claude Bajol (French Ferrari collector), Glyn Morris (Dalton Watson Ferrari book publisher). And there were so many more VIPs! Racing legends such as Gianclaudio “Clay” Regazzoni from Switzerland, Rallye Specialist Jean-Claude Andruet and French Formula-1-Pilot Jean-Pierre Beltoise were all happily signing autographs. It was incredible and fascinating to watch. On the stand of event organizer “Ferraris against Cancer” was a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione on display. A very nice lightblue Scaglietti Berlinetta with black interior and serial number 2787 GT. It is one of only twenty SEFAC Hot Rod SWBs built. Oldest Ferrari at Retromobile 2005 was Antoine Midy’s silvergrey 212 Export Spider with rare Motto body. This car has a long Italian and South American racing pedigree. On the stand of French auctioneer Osenat was a red F50 on display, parked right next to a two-tone painted 375 America Coupé Pininfarina. However, this beauty, owned by Henri Chambon, was not for sale. German specialist Axel Schütte showed two Ferraris on his large stand. One was the recently acquired 14-louver 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta 0629 GT. This automobile was originally raced and rallied by Paolo Lena and Orlando Palanga, as well as by Salvatore Fabregas who during the 1957 Tour de France slightly damaged the Ferrari on the legendary Col de la Turbie (there is a spectacular photo in Jess Pourret’s great 250 GT book). The highlight on Schütte’s stand was the metallic silvergrey 250 GT Interim Berlinetta, a significant historic Ferrari. Serial number 1521 GT is the fifth of only seven units built and placed 7th OA in the 1959 Tour de France with French race ace Pierre Dumay. Meticulously restored in Modena for a Scandinavian owner, Schütte sold 1521 GT during the first weekend in Paris. Dominique Bardini of Paris, who used to race Competition Daytonas at Le Mans in the early 1970s, had three Ferraris on his stand. Outstanding was a celeste blue (silverblue metallic) 330 GTS Spider which was parked next to a darkblue 250 GT Coupé by Pinin Farina and a 308 GTB prepared for racing by Swiss Ferrari dealer Karl Foitek. Retromobile 2005, this year held in a new and much bigger hall at Porte de Versailles, had something for everyone. There were stands with old magazines, photographs, stop watches, club badges, all sorts of automobilia, stands of the various vintage car clubs, stands where scale models were offered, and exhibitors who sold bits and pieces from headlamps to license plate frames to engines and tires. Retromobile in Paris is a clear MUST for every serious car guy!
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