PARIS.- RM Auctions returned to Paris last night to stage its second sale in the French capital, selling €19.353.750 worth of automobiles to a packed room of eager enthusiasts. With bids also coming in strongly via the phone desk and on the Internet from 34 countries, 82 percent of all lots were sold on the night with no less than five achieving sums in excess of €1.0 million. The gorgeous 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso Berlinetta, chassis no. 5085 GT, was the night’s top seller, garnering a very strong €1.624.000. The 250 GT/L ‘Lusso’ is considered by many to be the most stylish of all front-engined V12 Ferraris, a view that was supported by the vigorous bidding witnessed in the auction room.

Max Girardo, Managing Director of RM Europe, said: “It’s fantastic to return to Paris and post an even better result than we did in 2014. We are delighted that the sale is now well-established on the European calendar. The auction room was absolutely packed and the atmosphere was terrific, so it’s no surprise that we are able to achieve such a strong result. It is always our objective to concentrate on quality rather than quantity and the average lot price of €333.000 is testament to that.”

The second biggest seller of the night was the simply lovely 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, chassis no. 904-026, freshly restored and with documented ownership and extensive successful competition history. This delightful sports racing Porsche is eligible for many of the world’s great events, and the €1.428.000 that car achieved was a reflection of the market’s strong appreciation. Rounding out the top three sales was the much in demand 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster. One of the most iconic of all post-war sports cars, 300 SLs are coveted by collectors all around the world, and the ultra-desirable alloy-block model offered fully deserved its €1.232.000 selling price.

Proving that it isn’t just the Ferraris of the 1960s that are in high demand, the low-mileage 1990 Ferrari F40 presented in Paris attracted enormous interest. Regarded as one the greatest supercars of the modern era, the beautiful example on offer achieved an exceptional €1.176.000. The list of million-euro-plus sales also included the visually imposing, bright green 1965 Iso Grifo A3/C Stradale. Appropriately dubbed the ‘Green Apple’, the car is a desirable early rivet-body example and was offered in perfect, fully restored condition, bringing a strong €1.036.000.

RM Auctions Paris – Top 10 Sales

Lot 135 - 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L 'Lusso' Berlinetta €1.624.000
Lot 144 - 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS €1.428.000
Lot 150 - 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster €1.232.000
Lot 146 - 1990 Ferrari F40 €1.176.000
Lot 157 - 1965 Iso Grifo A3/C Stradale €1.036.000
Lot 139 - 1964 Aston Martin DB5 €840.000
Lot 152 - 1969 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta €705.600
Lot 141 - 1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre “Honeymoon Express” €672.000
Lot 130 - 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé €580.000
Lot 129 - 1970 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Spyder €550.000

RM Auctions continues its 2015 auction calendar with its well-established Amelia Island sale – the official auction of the esteemed Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance – March 14 in Florida, closely followed by its presentation of the prized Andrews Collection, May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas. The company’s next European sale, Villa Erba, will be held May 23 on the shores of Lake Como, Italy, during the celebrated Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este weekend.