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Rétromobile Paris: Art and the car

Paris having been the art capital of the world for many years before being dethroned by New York, it would be legitimate that in its 39th edition, from February 5 to 9, 2014, Rétromobile It will try to become the classic salon where the car is seen in a way as an artistic achievement.

Although I do not share them personally, we are witnessing many currents of opinion that are currently oriented in that sense. In their favor could be invoked the fact that the most prestigious auction houses in the world, specialized in the sale of works of art, are now turning to organize classic car auctions. But more than an artistic movement, in my opinion, it is a commercial and highly speculative movement.

The rise of the trend is evident when verifying that a car auction was traditionally organized in February in the same area of ​​the Versailles gate exhibition park where Rétromobile takes place, while in 2014 three large auctions were held in Paris during the week of the Parisian show. One of them, organized by Artcurial, in the same recital of Rétromobile, another in the Grand Palais of the Champs-Elysées organized by Bonhams and a third in the place Vauban -Les Invalides-, organized by RM.

Added the catalogs of the three houses they show a sales figure hardly imaginable just a few years ago, with specific weight to be listed on the stock market.

The Lamborghini Miura, always ready to attack
The Lamborghini Miura, always ready to attack

More than a consideration of the classic car as a work of art to what in reality we are witnessing a shift from speculation in securities to tangible goods, as are cars with a certain capacity for appreciation.

Where that speculative race will take us in the classic car world is hard to predict. Whether it is a bubble that will burst like the one in 1991 is a question that we will leave to the experts' discussions.

As noted, Rétromobile is organized on the doorstep of Versailles and its origin was the idea of ​​recovering the atmosphere that reigned during the Paris motor show before and after the war, organized in the Grand Palais on the Champs Elysees. The British house Bonhams, after the failure of its auction at Rétromobile in January 2010 (coinciding with the worsening of the Greek debt crisis) moved the event precisely to the Grand Palais. His position in the living room was occupied by the French Artcurial who knew how to exploit it with greater success. The auction of the Canadian RM was organized for the first time in Les Invalides in 2014, without being able to speak for the moment of consolidation.

Typically British, an authentic Jaguar D on the Fiskens booth
Typically British, an authentic Jaguar D on the Fiskens booth

As we know, as the facilities of the Grand Palais became small, the Paris motor show moved to the Versailles exhibition park under the name of Mondial de l'Automobile and the Bonhams auction, when it separated from Rétromobile, was located in the Grand Palais . It is therefore curious to observe that round trip between the Grand Palais and the Porte de Versailles, poles to which the new event in Les Invalides is added to complete a classic tripod.

THE SPECULATIVE MOVEMENT

The true fans of classic cars are beginning to be alarmed by the strong speculative movement that is registered in the activities of international auction houses. Who buys at those prices? With what purpose?A typical hobbyist looks for the cars he likes at the cheapest possible price, to restore or bring them into working order and, of course, to use them.

The atypical activity we attend consists of making heavy investments in vehicles that are not going to be used on the road, but which are going to be kept in a kind of safe to be resold when profits are made. As if they were a coupon for a bag or a painting by Juan Gris.

Swiss merchant Lukas Hüni deploying his heavy artillery, heavily loaded with Ferraris (see gray 250LM in background)
Swiss merchant Lukas Hüni deploying his heavy artillery, heavily loaded with Ferraris (see gray 250LM in background)
This game - in the sense that playing on the stock market is used - inevitably leads to a speculative movement: you do not buy the car that the buyer likes for their enjoyment, but rather the one that is considered to have more potential for appreciation in the short term. But even that potential for appreciation is manipulated in the cases of hoarding of models that were manufactured in few units. Something notorious in the case of the so-called limited series.

Another parasitic phenomenon that appears like this is the proliferation of speculators in classic cars, in the same way as the "professionalization" of the cars that are auctioned and re-auctioned, limiting their active lives to going from one fair to another.

Let's recognize, however, that auctions have an advantage: the prices are real and public. Just as you will never know how much you pay for cars sold between individuals, the prices of cars sold at auctions are checked by public notaries.
-notaries in Spain and assimilated persons in other countries-, published and subject to taxes.

Alfa Romeo P33 / 2
Alfa Romeo P33 / 2
Let us recall some prices reached in auctions during 2013, which have broken all historical records for many makes and models. Prices indicated from lowest to highest (the auction house is indicated in parentheses):

[su_spoiler title = 'RECORD PRICES REACHED IN AUCTIONS IN 2013 ′ show =' false ']

♦ Citroën Ami 6 from 1963 (Artcurial): 33.693,00 euros;
 
♦ Shelby Mustang GT500 cabriolet from 1968 (RM): 197.382,00 euros;
 
♦ Cadillac 62 convertible from 1956 (RM): 224.084,00 euros;
 
♦ Messerschmitt Tiger of 1958 (RM): 240.701,00 euros;
 
♦ Jaguar SS100 roadster from 1938 (Bonhams): 296.772,00 euros;
 
♦ AC Cobra 427 of 1965 (Artcurial): 439.212,00 euros;
 
♦ Chrysler CL Imprerial cabriolet from 1933 (RM); 516.142,00 euros
 
♦ Duesenberg J Torpedo from 1930 (Bonhams): 522.173,00 euros;
 
♦ Invicta S-Type Tourer from 1931 (Bonhams): 553.167,00 euros;
 
♦ Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing (RM): 874.504,00 euros;
 
♦ Lamborghini Miura SV from 1972 (Bonhams): 908.340,00 euros;
 
♦ Mercedes-Benz 540K cabriolet A from 1938 (Bonhams): 981.232,00 euros;
 
♦ Stutz DV32 cabriolet from 1933 (RM): 1.130.553,00 euros;
 
♦ 365 Ferrari 4 GTB / 1973 Daytona spider (RM): 1.233.223,00 euros;
 
♦ 330 Ferrari 1967GTS cabriolet (RM): 1.446.766, euros;
 
♦ Maserati 250 S from 1957 (RM): 2.517.858,00 euros;
 
♦ Aston Martin DB4GT Bertone from 1960 (Bonhams): 3.797.475,00 euros;
 
♦ Ferrari 340 MM competition from 1953 (RM): 9.856.000,00 euros;
 
♦ Ferrari 275 GTB / 4 NART spider (RM): 20.882.307,00 euros; Y
 
♦ Mercedes-Benz W196R from 1954 (Bonhams): 22.701.864,00 euros. [/ su_spoiler]

The fact that it was not a single, isolated and exceptional event that a car exceeded the price of twenty million euros indicates to us that the historic automobile no longer has a value in relation to its practical use, but rather as an object subjected to speculation. Nobody puts twenty million euros in a car if it is not because they are thinking that they will make a profit by reselling it. That is purely and simply the philosophy of speculation.
Porsche 917, the only magnesium specimen, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1971
Porsche 917, the only magnesium specimen, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1971

Feet on the ground

As The Escudería We are not specialists in the stock market, but fans of the automobile, let us put our feet back on the ground and resume our visit to Rétromobile.

Let's start by mentioning that the organizer, due to the success of previous editions, has taken a further step in expanding the room by moving its location to Pavilion No 1 at the Porte de Versailles, measuring 44.000 square meters, gaining 8.000 square meters on the surface available in previous editions.

Even so, Pavilion No 1, with the additional incentive of the best atmosphere by having daytime lighting through huge glass areas, it is falling short in its premiere by Rétromobile, since it should receive between 80.000 and 90.000 visitors. At the prices of the tickets in force, the collection per box office would be 1.440.000,00 euros - it is true that the rental, organization and personnel costs are very high.

There is no doubt about Lukas Hüni's passion for Rétromobile, in addition to his "normal" stand he also brought his private collection from Lancias
retromobile_2014_lancia_flaminia
1- There is no doubt about Lukas Hüni's passion for Rétromobile, in addition to his "normal" stand he also took his private collection from Lancias
2- Lancia Flaminia 2500 Sport Zagato from 1959. Note the double bulging of the roof characteristic of Zagato's realizations

One of the attractions of this year has been the special exhibition of the Lancia heritage through the private collection of the Swiss dealer Lukas Hüni. Let us remember that Hüni is one of the regular exhibitors at Rétromobile and that, in addition to his stand of vehicles for sale, he occasionally brings thematic parts of his private collection to Paris. In 2013, for example, he won the most praiseworthy comments when he appeared in a recreation of the 1955 Paris motor show based on several copies of the Citroën DS.

The most outstanding Lancia examples from the Lukas Hüni collection were:

[your_quote]

• Lancia Lambda Torpedo from 1924, the first monocoque car, with the steel chassis and body structure in an inseparable set.

• Lancia Aurelia B20 coupé from 1952, with bodywork by Pinin Farina. The Aurelia was a very advanced car for its time, with a V6 engine and transmission transaxle.

• Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider from 1955. Quoted much higher than the previous one.

• Lancia D24 racing, 1954. Derived from the Aurelia, it is the only racing car in the hands of a private collection, with frame 0005.

• Lancia Flaminia 2500 Sport Zagato from 1959. A pre-series car, also derived from the Aurelia and with the double domed roof characteristic of Zagato realizations. [/ su_quote]

Perfect recreation of a Bugatti 57 body
retromobile_2014_citroen_c10
1- Perfect recreation of a Bugatti 57 body
2- Citroën C10 prototype from 1956

Moreover, the generic theme of the 2014 edition was «The builders in Rétromobile», title that grouped a wide selection of vehicles that are briefly mentioned below.

→ Alfa Romeo: A 2 TZ1965 and a 1926 RL Super Sport were present at the stand of the Alfa Romeo Club of France.

→ Bugatti: In the recent production of the revival of the trademark, a luxurious booth next to a Bentley featured a Bugatti Veyron, recalling Pierre Veyron's victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1939.

→ Citroen: A brand generously represented by the factory in each edition of Rétromobile, with one of the largest, best-stocked and presented booths, always reminiscent of its rich history of continuous innovation. Among other recent vehicles were a 4 C1932 and a 10 C1956 concept car.

Mercedes-Benz always lives up to the mark. Splendid panorama with Juan-Manuel Fangio's car
retromobile_2014_porsche_550
1- Mercedes-Benz always lives up to the mark. Splendid panorama with Juan-Manuel Fangio's car
2- Porsche 550 Spyder brought directly from the Stuttgart museum

→ Mercedes-Benz: With a 120-year tradition in motor sport, important racing cars from the Stuttgart museum were on display, such as a 1914 Grand Prix car. and the aerodynamic W196R of Juan-Manuel Fangio, with which he participated in Reims in 1954, emerging victorious in the event.

→ Peugeot: The Peugeot Adventure is the name of the brand's museum, which always comes with well-chosen vehicles to Rétromobile, such as a 402 Darl'mat cabriolet from 1938 or a Simca Comète Monte Carlo from 1955.

→ porsche He came with several exceptional cars from his museum in Stuttgart in support of the importer's stand for France, a road-approved GT1, derived from those built for the 24 hours of Le Mans; the 917 Le Mans 24 Hours winner 1971 K (short) and a handsome 550, selected from the four prototypes built for the 24 1954 Hours of Le Mans. The car on display was ranked first in its class.

Although not the largest, it is one of the most beautiful panoramas of Rétromobile, the tribute to Jean Rédélé
Skoda has a history as rich as it is little known. An aerodynamic similar to the Tatras
1- Although not the largest, it is one of the most beautiful panoramas of Rétromobile, the tribute to Jean Rédélé
2- Skoda has a history as rich as it is little known. An aerodynamic similar to the Tatras

→ RENAULT It could not be absent with a splendid 700 m2 stand to celebrate three anniversaries at the same time: the 100 years of the requisition of the AG1 type Paris taxis to be used as troop transport in World War I; the 50 years of the R-8 Gordini - we remember the Spanish version inspired by the Gordini that was the R-8TS of FASA-Renault-; and the 30 years of the Espace minivan.

In addition, in one of the best-presented spaces, magnificent Alpine systems stood out, both road and racing, which paid tribute to its creator Jean Rédélé.

→ Volkswagen It is a brand that continues to surprise when discovering its history. A 935 prototype 1935 was certainly reminiscent of the aerodynamic Tatras.

→ Record cars: In tribute to JG Parry-Thomas and Sir Malcolm Campbell, the famous Babs and the 350 hp Sunbeam considered as the first Bluebird or blue bird.

Record car, Babs
Sunbeam joined Babs in the category of record hunters
1- Record car, Babs
2- Sunbeam joined Babs in the record hunter category

ART AND CURIOSITIES

Rétromobile also indulged in certain extravagances, such as a selection of cars from the Maharajas of India - if a decorative motorized float such as the Swan could be called a car.

Worth mentioning was the set consisting of a Ferrari 330 P4 exhibited with the Scuderia Ferrari truck, a Fiat Bartoletti, which transported him to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967 in which the Ferrari qualified in second place.

A neighborhood made up of 45 artists adds a colorful note to Rétromobile. An association of artists who cultivate the specialty is well organized and grows from year to year. In their small town, painters are in charge of their works and are willing to talk about the details of their most recent achievements. Some paintings already match the prices of the cars they represent (there are many works between 5.000,00 and 10.000,00 euros, although they are also of excellent quality in the range between 1.000,00 and 3.000,00 euros).

A Rolls-Royce fit for a Maharaja of India
A Rolls-Royce fit for a Maharaja of India

The chapter of curiosities in Rétromobile is so wide that it would need hours of narration. We will highlight a very particular crib: When Jean Bugatti was born in 1909, the carpenters at the Molsheim factory made a crib and gave it to his father Ettore to celebrate the event. The crib will be auctioned shortly by the Osenat house. Not even family memories are saved from auctions. However, on this occasion the connection with the car is assured since possibly Jean Bugatti had his first dreams as a designer of fabulous cars in that cradle.

AUCTION RESULTS

At the time of closing this chronicle some figures were known.

The Bonhams auction on February 6 at the Grand Palais produced some noteworthy figures:

[your_quote]

♦ Mercedes-Benz SSK, 1/12 scale model, 8.125,00 euros

♦ Facel Vega II coupe from 1962, to restore, 155.250,00 euros

♦ 911 Porsche 1989 Speedster, € 310.500,00 (possible world record)

♦ Citroën DS21 Caddy cabriolet from 1966, 310.500,00 euros (matching the Speedster)

♦ Aston Martin DB4 GT from 1962, 1.184.500,00 euros

♦ Ferrari 275 GTB / 4 from 1968, 2.218.333,00 euros.

[/ su_quote]

Rétromobile is not the cradle of the car, but it found the cradle of Jean Bugatti
Rétromobile is not the cradle of the car, but it found the cradle of Jean Bugatti

As for Artcurial, a 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ, chassis AR750042, was awarded for 810.000,00 euros, to which the buyer must add commission and tax costs up to a total outlay of 955.440,00 euros.

THE SPANISH BRUSH STROKE

Although Spanish exhibitors have not yet decided to go to Rétromobile, national touches appear sporadically. The Artcurial house highlighted in a place of honor a Pegaso Z-102 with a hazardous life in its Saoutchik body, originally a cabriolet, transformed into a coupe and later reverted to its convertible state with the inevitable intervention of the handsaw. Artcurial awarded the Pegaso with a hammer blow for 600.000,00 euros, which added the commissions, become a disbursement for the buyer of 715.200,00 euros.

The dream figure of the hundred million old pesetas paid for a Pegasus is thus widely exceeded in a public way. The Pegasus has been restored since it left the San Diego museum, where it resided for a time, and was painted a very pale shade of blue that was easily confused with white. The seat upholstery is now black and white, instead of completely black as it once was. Its chassis number is 0102.153.0136.

At the end of the auction we discover that its lucky buyer is Catalan.

Vintage photo, 1954, courtesy of Movendi
Although at the moment it is indirect, there is always some Spanish presence in the room. In this case represented by the Osca of the Marquis de Portago
1- Vintage photo of the Marquis de Portago, 1954, courtesy of movendi
2- Although at the moment it is indirect, there is always some Spanish presence in the room. The Osca of de Portago, today

A significant car in the history of Spanish drivers is the 4 OSCA MT1954, used in competition by Alfonso Cabeza de Vaca Marqués de Portago. The Marquis de Portago participated with the OSCA in the Nürburgring and Tour de France races in 1954, retiring before finishing both. 

As we know, the unfortunate career of the Marquis de Portago was marked by dropouts due to mechanical breakdowns and accidents. The historical black and white photograph showing Portago at the 1954 Tour de France is provided courtesy of Movendi, which currently has him for sale.

Assessment

Rétromobile is not the first classic car show in Europe, nor is it the largest in terms of exhibitors, number of visitors or area in square meters. It is very expensive for exhibitors in terms of booth rental and it is also not the cheapest and most affordable for simple visitors. However, there is something that makes it different from the others. Something difficult to achieve by pointing in one direction or the other.

Cutline
Pegaso Z-102 0136, before being repainted and auctioned by Artcurial (Courtesy of RM Auctions)

What makes Rétromobile special is its very peculiar style due to the set of elements that make it up. It has a French style, warmer than the cold Germanic rationality, but better organized than the improvisation reigning in the countries of the south. It has a certain elegance where two friends can stop at the door of the most exclusive restaurant to eat a sandwich of anchovies without clashing.

At Rétromobile, the international environment mixes with visitors and exhibitors from all over the world with an autochthonous and typically French environment where anyone gets behind the wheel of an R-6 loaded with lunch boxes and loaves of bread and sits on a step or in the curb to eat a salchichón sandwich opening a bottle of wine from their region of origin.

The entrance price of 16 euros can be considered reasonable, especially considering that children under the age of twelve do not pay, thus facilitating the visit to families. However, parking can far exceed that amount, since it is billed by hours of stay and not by a fixed amount per day, as is the case in most European lounges.

The art gallery, with 45 artists, is a fair of its own accord
The art gallery, with 45 artists, is a fair of its own accord

INTEREST FROM THE POINT OF VIEW ...

of the historic automobile: 10/10
market of parts and accessories: 7/10
of modeling: 10/10
from the art gallery: 10/10
Comfort of the facilities: 10/10
Communications, accesses, hotel facilities: 10/10
Public attention: 8/10
Presentation, setting, access to the stands: 8/10
The 246 Dino is still priced well, even in restoration projects
The 246 Dino is still priced well, even in restoration projects

DISADVANTAGES: Massive arrival of visitors, especially on Saturday and Sunday. Long queues form first thing in the morning at the ticket offices and circulation in the interior corridors is laborious. You have to have a lot of patience to be able to take photos without obstacles from the public.

A negative detail is the behavior of the security personnel of the Artcurial auction, who with their excess of zeal in the controls -both at the entrance of its closed enclosure and, what is less explained, at the exit- produces long queues, It makes it difficult for the public to approach cars to photograph them and sometimes borders on the limits of good manners. It should be noted that the auction houses organize their own space independently and with their own staff, different from the Rétromobile organizer.
 
 
 

Full-size images (1.280 px. Approx.)


 
 
 

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Written by mario laguna

Mario Laguna, author of the book "The Pegaso Adventure", scholar and observer of the history of motor racing, brands and characters. Regular visitor to automobile competitions, whether of current or historical categories, international contests of elegance, lecturer ... Read more

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