Vitesse, élégance et luxe: pre-war motoring treasures to be offered by RM Sotheby's in Paris

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Very soon, Salon Rétromobile will be taking place again, and that the world will descend on Paris for a week-long automotive extravaganza. In addition to the main show itself, another major attraction will be the RM Sotheby's auction, scheduled for February 4-5th. It's always a pity, of course, to visit a city like Paris and not go home with a souvenir, and RM Sotheby's has an outstanding selection of 10 pre-war cars which would slot very nicely into any enthusiast's garage.

Million-euro masterpieces

The grand headline lots are a 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Sport Spider by Zagato (2,250,000-2,750,000 euros), a 1929 Bugatti Type 37 (980,000-1,300,000 euros) and a 1931 Talbot AV105 works racer (950,000-1,250,000 euros), all of them beautiful machines with exceptional provenance. The Alfa Romeo was originally sold to Switzerland and its first known owner, from July 25th, 1933, was Marguerite Ulrich of Blonay. It was used for regular excursions into Germany but was reputedly concealed behind a wall when war broke out to protect from damage or theft during a possible Nazi invasion, and it did not move again until it was uncovered by Louis Visinand in 1955. The American Allan Dulles, from the Office of Strategic Services (later the C.I.A.) owned it from 1956 to 1957, when it passed to Swiss racing driver Emmanuel de Graffenried, who in turn sold it to America. The intrigue continues, as it was in 1958 that Californian dealer Hawley Marion sold it to a certain Ferrari racer named Phil Hill, who was just a few years from achieving star status in Formula One. He would keep it until 1988, and the car was restored in 2003.

The Type 37 was originally enjoyed by Léon Boucher of Limoges, a Bugatti dealer with a penchant for hill-climbs. The car was not registered until 1934, when Parisian André Fayette became the owner, but the next year it was back in Limoges with a very fortunate 21-year-old named Jean-Pierre Labouze, who likewise kept it only a year. It changed hands several times more, and ended up back in Paris for a time, but every owner has been documented across the car's 96-year life. Although it did not have any notable competition history in period, that fact perhaps accounts for its survival in a well-preserved state post-war, and its subsequent prominence in the French vintage car world. It took part in an historic race at Le Mans in 1958, driven by George Delaroche, who had been runner-up in the 1934 24 Hours, and in 1966 it was present at the public opening of the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans. Following some sympathetic commissioning in 2004, it now appears in beautiful oily-rag condition.

The Talbot, GO 51 (chassis 31051), must be the most famous car of the trio. One of four works-prepared racers (GO 51 to GO 54) campaigned by the Fox & Nicholl team at the 1931 Le Mans 24 Hours, GO 51 débuted at the Brooklands Double-Twelve in May, 1951, being driven by Brian Lewis and Johnny Hindmarsh, and finished second overall and in class. Sadly, after running close to the front of the pack at Le Mans, 51 retired with a cracked chassis, leaving GO 53 to finish third overall. It was then rebuilt with a replacement chassis and a new engine, AV21, which remains in place. It went to finish fouth overall and first in class in the R.A.C. Tourist Trophy and second overall and first in class at the Brooklands 500 Miles. The other team cars received new chassis for 1932, leaving GO 51 as the only survivor with a 1931-style chassis. Fox & Nicholl's Arthur Fox had been so impressed with the car's performance that he bought it for his own use, fitting a close-coupled saloon body, at which time it was renumbered 31080 and reregistered APF 999. The Talbot was owned in the 1950s by former Brooklands racer Charles Mortimer, who sold it to noted marque historian Anthony Blight. Blight undertook to fit a replica Le Mans body and restore the 31051 identity, and the car would remain in the care of his family for half a century. In recent years, it has been a familiar sight on the Mille Miglia and the Le Mans Classic.

More Bugattis, a Bentley and a Bol d'Or winner

The post-vintage delights continue with a 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio (480,000-600,000 euros), a 1937 Simca-Gordini 8 (400,000-600,000 euros), a 1933 Bugatti Type 49 drophead coupé by Van Rijswijk (400,000-550,000 euros) and a 1939 Bentley 4¼ Litre convertible by Vanvooren (400,000-550,000 euros). The Stelvio's rich provenance begins with its first owner, believed to be the lawyer and motoring and flying enthusiast Étienne Muracciole, who served as president of the Automobile Club of Constantine in 1928 and then of the Automobile Club of Algeria in 1934. Émile Knecht, the Algerian import of Terrot motorcycles, then enjoyed it, before it was bought by a stock car racer of Algiers named Pasha. The prominent American Bugatti collector David Mize went to view the car among Pasha's collection of Delahayes and Delages in 1962, and after he purchased it, it began a life of careful preservation on the Continent.

The Simca is another very historic racer. It débuted at the 1938 Bol d'Or at Montlhéry, driven by Amédée Gordini himself, and won, before entrusted to the other members of Écurie Gordini, which campaigned it widely into the summer of 1939. Notable appearances included the 1938 Le Mans, 12 Hours of Spa and 12 Hours of Paris. Returning to Le Mans in 1939, it came second in the 1,100 c.c. class, and was privately campaigned in 1946 by Albert Alin and then from 1950 to 1953 by Jacques Lapaillerie, who converted it to right-hand drive in 1947.

The Bugatti Type 49 stands out for its curvaceous bodywork by an unexpected coachbuilder, Van Rijswijk of the Hague, and it was notably used on Van Rijswijk's stand at the 1934 Amsterdam Motor Show. The Bentley, meanwhile, was cherished by the Gendebien family of Belgium until 1998, the much-loved transport of racing driver Olivier. We presented the full story of the car in December.

There are some options for tighter budgets, too. A lovely 1928 Lancia Lambda Lungo (70,000-100,000 euros) is accompanied by a 1934 Citroën 7B cabriolet (80,000-120,000 euros) and a 1937 Frazer Nash-BMW 329 cabriolet (50,000-70,000 euros).

It's a tantalising selection and well worth a look. The auction takes place on February 4-5th at Les Salles du Carrousel, 99, Rue de Rivoli, Paris. Click here to see the full catalogue.

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