The Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 was one of a family of great staight eight engined Alfa Romeo designed by Vittorio Jano. With its twin overhead camshafts this 145 hp engine gave rich customers the chance to experience near racing performance, well over 110 mph in this case, in the luxurious surroundings of a glamorous coachbuilt body. This particular Alfa Romeo was prepared by Mr Figoni in Paris before he joined forces with Mr Falaschi. This car was presented at 2011 Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance.-  Exhibit Lukas Hüni

This Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Berlinetta 1938 with bodywork by Touring was entered by Jon Shirley from the U.S.A. at the 2009 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. The car collected a full Roll of Honour with the Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este for the best show by the Jury,...

...See Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Berlinetta Touring 1938 - Exhibit Fine Automobiles

This is a very early example of the second series Le Mans. - Exhibit Movendi

The coach C7 was nicknamed "la Lumineuse" and was propelled by 1.5 Litre four cylinder engine. Extensive use of aluminium for the body and mechanical components.  Exhibit Motul

2600 cc engine. -exhibit une femme, une collection

W.O. Bentley said about the Bentley 8 Litre that it "is the best car we have ever produced or anybody else". This  four seater car was tailor-made for the British Aviation Pioneer and multimillionaire Captain Vivian Hewitt. Exhibit Axel Schuette

Related article : Bentley 8 Litre Sportsman Coupé 1931 by Gurney-Nutting

Here is the street version of the competition lightweight. the engine is a Chevrolet 5.3 Litre V8.- Exhibit Histoire d'Auto

In 1921, Bugatti entered four 1453 cc Butatti Type 13 at the Voiturette Grand Prix held at Brescia in Italy. The attempt was a real success as the cars finished in the first four place. That is when Bugatti decided to give the car the name Brescia. Friderich who finished first, had run the 300 km at an average speed of 118 kph reaching the world record in the category.

450 Bugatti Veyron has been sold and the Company introduced the Vision Gran Turismo design for Playstation game as a preview for the next Bugatti Chiron. For further illustrations and details see Car Review - Exhibit Bugatti

Introduced in 1958, this two engine and transmission automobile was comercialized at the end of 1960. The 2 CV Sahara can be run either with the front engine and transmission or with both engine-transmission in all wheel drive. It is possible to run with the rear powertrain only in emergency. The 2 CV Sahara was sold at a price (81.500 FFR) nearly double of the conventional 2 Cv AZ (42.000 FFR). Only 694 examples were produced of which 85 were sold to the Spanish army. The vehicle shown is one utilized by ORTF French TV Station. -Exhibit Citroen

This automobile was designed by Philippe Charbonneaux for publicity putpose and was rewarded "Publicité qui roule" (running publicity) concours. Only the bottom part of the car has been changed. The interior was not modified. - Exhibit Philippe Charbonneaux

Produced at 61.280 examples between 1929 and 1932, the Citroen C6 F was propelled by a 2.442 cc six cylinder engine. The claimed top speed was 105 kph.- Exhibit Citroen

- Hector Bossaert was a Citroen Dealer at Méteren (59) in the North of France. He specialized in engine tuning kits and during the 1960s he also decided to prepare a special coupe based on the Citroen DS 19. The project body was designed by Pietro Frua in Italy. The original car was shortened by 47 cm and lowered by 7 cm and took the name of Coupé GT19. 12 examples were produced. Claimed top speed was 172 kph. - Exhibit Citroen

The Citroen SM was introduced in 1970 resulting from the decision to produce a Gtand Touring car based on the DS. Citroen did not have a convenient engine but had purchased Maserati in 1968; it was decided to modify the V8 engine of the Maserati Indy into a V6 prepared specifically for the SM. The Citroen SM with 4893 mm lenght can take four passengers and retain the Citroen hydro-pneumatic suspension. 12.920 examples produced between 1970 and 1975. -  Exhibit Citroen

This Delage D8-120 with 4.744 cc eight cylinder engine was prepared by Vanvooren at Courbevoie for the Shah Aga Khan III in 1938. The engine produces 115 hp at 4.200 rpm and allow a claimed top speed of 160 kph. Exhibit Les amis de Delage

See Delahaye 135M Roadster Figoni & Falaschi 1937 as well as Delahaye 135 MS Teardrop Coupe Figoni & Falaschi 1938 -Exhibit Auto Classique Touraine

See Delahaye 135S Pourtout LM 1938 - Exhibit Delahaye

The Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta is the car Luigi Chinetti  and Lord Selsdom drove to win the 1949 Le Mans 24 Hours. Chinetti drove 22 hours and 48 minutes during these 24 hours since Lord Selsdom was sick.  The car has a 1992 cc 140 hp twin overhead camshaft V12. The top speed was claimed at 201 kph.- Exhibit ACO

This Ferrari 166 Formula Two was driven by Jacky Ickx, Derek Bell and Bambrilla during the 1968 season. It was later adapted for Tasman Formula Libre  with  a 2.4 Litre 300 hp V6 engine. - Exhibit Fiskens

Ferrari 212 Inter series was built between late 1950 and 1953 and bore a wide variety of body styles. These varied significantly, even within the examples produced by a single coachbuilder, notably those from the Vignale design studio. Chassis N° 0161EL was entered for the 1951 Carrera Panamericana and finished in second position behind a sister car. The race was restricted to four-passenger coupes and sedan. -   Exhibit Steve Tillack

- Penned by Carlo Chiti and Vittorio Jano, the Ferrari Tipo 246 was a conventional front-engined design Formula 1 single seater. The tubular steel frame is clothed in an alloy skin. The Dino V6 engine was a 65 degree Double overhead camshaft unit of 2417 cc displacement producing about 270 hp. A total of nine 246 Dino F1 were built from 1958 through 1960, but by the end of the 1960 season Ferrari ordered that the early Dinos be disassembled. British vintage racing car Sir Anthony Bamford purchased chassis 003  for a restoration and vintage racing. Exhibit Steve Tillack

. See Ferrari 250 GT Competizione Tour de France 1956 --Exhibit J.D. Classics

This Ferrari 250 Sport Berlinetta Chassis N°0156ET gained fame as the outright winner of the 1952 Mille Miglia. This 250 Sport Berlinetta, based on a modified modified Type 212 Export chassis and is very similar in appearance to other Ferrari 225S Berlinettas. Under the bonnet lay the prototype of a new single overhead camshaft V12 of 3 Litre capacity giving 250 cc per cylinder. The designation 250 comes from the single cylinder capacity. See Ferrari 225S Berlinetta Vignale 1952 -  Exhibit Steve Tillack

With the new rules in place, Enzo Ferrari knew that it would be impossible for a ‘Sports Prototype’ of only three litres to compete against a five litre ‘Sports Car.’ In 1969, with the C.S.I.’s Group 6 rule change, a reduction from a minimum of 50 to 25 production units, and a major infusion of cash from Fiat, Ferrari quickly set about creating the 25 vehicles necessary to meet the Group 6 criteria. The 512 S was first introduced to the public at a press conference in November 1969. The chassis was similar to the one used on the P4 — a semi-monocoque design. The engine was a direct development of the 612 Can Am series unit, now fitted with twin overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and Lucas fuel injection. Initially it could produce 550bhp at 8,500rpm.  -Exhibit Tradex srl.

- After Le Mans 1970 event where a Porsche 917 won, the Mauro Forghieri-led development team started to work on a slimmed down and more powerful version of the Ferrari 512S. Called the 512M (for modificato), the revised car produced 620bhp at 9,000rpm and weighed 815kg compared to the 512S spyder’s 856kg. Bodywork revisions included a more aerodynamic nose, and a large airbox was mounted on top of the engine to force air into the intake trumpets. Further modifications included new rear bodywork and no spyder version was made available. 15 of the 25 512Ss produced were converted to M-specifications.-See Ferrari 512 S/M 1002 Montjuich 1970 - Exhibit Fiskens

The Ferrari F40 LM is one of nineteen factory-modified for competition by Michelotto, fitted with an up-rated gearbox, brakes and an engine producing between 850 and 900 hp. - Exhibit J.D. Classics

Nine Fraze Nash Le Mans fixed-head coupes were built between 1953 and 1956.  The engine is a 1.971 cc six cylinders Bristol mounted in a parallel-tube chassis frame. This particular Frazer Nash Le Mans Coupe was entered at the 1959 edition of the French endurance race; after three hours racing the car finished in a sandbank.- Exhibit une femme une collection

The Honda NSX was presented at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show and was built in a purpose-made factory in Japan, for sale from 1990. The Honda NSX bcame the world's first mass-produced car to feature an all-aluminium body. It was powered by an all-aluminium 3.0 L eV6 engine, which featured Honda's VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system developed in the 1980s, a 5-speed manual or 4-speed Sports Shift automatic transmissions. -exhibit Honda ( text source : wikipedia )

Only 17 ISO Grifo 7 Litre with removable sunroof were produced between 1966 and 1970. This version of the ISO Grifo is equipped with a 390 hp Chevrolet 427 V8 and five speed ZF gearbox. - Exhibit Thiesen

This Jaguar is considered to be the most original lowest mileage D Type in existence today .Lukas Huni

See Jaguar E Type Hard Top Lightweight '86 PJ' 1963 as well as Jaguar Lightweight E Type Reconstruction 2014. - Exhibit Fiskens

The Jaguar XKSS is a road version of the very successful Jaguar D Type. This make it a 170 mph D Type race car for use on the road. Keeping the unique monocoque design of the D Type, it got a full width windscreen, light bumpers, a more luxurious interior and a luggage rack. Only 16 XKSS were produced. See Jaguar XKSS 1957 - Exhibit Lukas Hüni

See Lancia Lambda 1922 1931.- Exhibit Cristoph Grohe

The Lola T70 was built for sports car racing, popular in the mid to late 1960s. Developed by Lola Cars in 1965 in Great Britain. The Lola T70's big endurance win came in the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona where they finished first and second. The winning car was the Sunoco Lola T70-Chevrolet driven by Mark Donohue and Chuck Parsons. - Exhibit Histoire d'Auto ( text source : wikipedia ) - related article : Lola Aston Martin T70 1967

The Lotus Mark VIII had a low, wide, all-enveloping body on a complex space frame. Maintenance had to be carried out through small gaps in the frame. Engines were either 1.497 cc M.G. or 1.098 cc Coventry Climax. Only nine examples were built and six remaining.- Exhibit Movendi

The Maserati 6 CM was presented to the public at the 1936 Milano Motor Show and in the same year at the race in Monte Carlo. It is a single seat racing car with alloy body and supercharged 1493 cc six cylinder engine producing 155 hp. Exhibit Thiesen

See Maserati 300S Shortnose - 1955 1957 including chassis 3058 from Parravano. - Exhibit Maserati France

Exhibit Tradex srl.

Restauration by Touring Superleggera in Milan, Italy. This car was first shown at the 1952 Turin Motor Show. - Exhinit Touring

See Maserati A6GCM Formula racing car 1951. -Exhibit une femme une collection

See Mercedes 300 SL  Gullwing Coupe 1955. - Exhibit by J.D. Classics

The Panhard Levassor 20 CV Sport was a premium automobile at the time comparable with a Bugatti Type 46 or an Hispano Suiza H6B. The engine was a 5.350 cc four cylinders without valves. The weight is 2150 kg. The claimed top speed is 150 kph. -Exhibit Christoph Grohe

- Most Pegaso Z102 received a body by Touring Superleggera but a few, like this example, were finished entirely by Enasa in Spain. See Pegaso Z102B Touring Berlinetta and Spyder 1951 1956. - Exhibit by pueche

The Peugeot 301C was launched in 1932 using several mechanical elements of the Peugeot 201 like the independant front suspension. The chassis utilizes the new 'Bloctube' technique for more rigidity. The 1.465 cc side valves four cylinder engine produces 34 hp and allow a claimed top speed of 90 kph with a three speed gearbox. 20.729 Peugeot 301C were produced between 1932 and 1933 including all body styles. - exhibit by Peugeot

Peugeot 402 Roadster Darl'Mat 1938

Emile Darl'mat prepared a sport car that could go racing using the chassis of the Peugeot 302 equiped with mechanical elements of the Peugeot 402. The engine was upgraded from 55 hp to 70 hp. The car was prepared by Marcel Pourtout under the design of George Paulin. 104 examples were produced between 1937 and 1939. Three roadsters were entered at 1937 Le Mans 24 Hours and finished in 7th, 8th and 10th positions. - Exhibit Peugeot - Related article : Peugeot 402 Darl’Mat Roadster 1940

Glöckner Porsche 1954

This car was specially developed for the 1954 Mille Miglia. - Exhibit Movendi

The Porsche 356B was the third generation of the famous 356 and  was produced between 1960 and 1963. The Super 90 with twin grilles on the engine was one of the most powerful road version of the 1600 flat four engine. - Exhibit Porsche

Porsche 356B 1600GS Carrera Abarth GTL 1960

When Porsche considered that the 356 Carrera 1600 GS had reached its limits, they commissioned Carlo Abarth to prepare twenty improved cars using the same mechanic. The first specimen of this particularly streamlined and lightweight 356 won its category in the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans. - Exhibit Fiskens

Porsche 718W-RS Spyder 1961  Chassis Number 718 047

This car built in 1961 started its racing career with the famous four cylinder engine before adopting a flat eight in 1962. The 240 hp flat eight engine is derived from the Formula One engine. This car was entered in a wide variety of races in Europe and the USA and allowed Edgar Barth the win the 1964 European Hillclimb Championship. The weight is only 684 kg. The claimed top speed is 260 kph. -  Exhibit Porsche

The Porsche 907 was a sportscar racing prototype built in 1967 and 1968. It was introduced at 1967 Le Mans 24 Hours with longtail body. The best Porsche 907 finished in 5th position. The 1968 Daytona 24 Hours saw a 1-2-3 finish in longtail versions while the 1968 Sebring 12 Hours had a 1-2 finish for the Porsche 907 this time in short tail version.- Exhibit Tradex srl.

Porsche 911 GT1 Le Mans 1998 winner

in the mid-1990s, GT cars began to play an increasing important role in the motor racing sport. Porsche responded by applying an advanced, hi-tech racing concept to the design of the 911 GT1, which made its racing debut at the 64th Grand Prix of Endurance in Le Mans in 1996. The new dimension in sports car construction consisted in the first 'Eleven' being fitted with a mid-engine, for the six cylinder power unit was, for the very first time, moved to the middle, which provided balanced axle load distribution and also offered aerodynamic advantages. Another innovation was the switch from an air to a water cooling system, which reduced both thermal load and fuel consumption. two overhead camshafts per cylinder bank and four valves per cylinder were a standard feature of this high performance engine....

... See Porsche GT1 Racing Coupe 1996-1998  - Exhibit Porsche

The Porsche 911 RSR has been back at 1993 Le Mans 24 Hours when GTs were again authorized. Designed in 2001, the IMSA Performance Matmut team has become a reference of international GTs. In 14 years the team based in Rouen, France, has got a record of achievements with several category wins at Le Mans 24 Hours, at Petit Le Mans in Atlanta, USA. The victorious car of the LM GTE Am category at the 2013 Le Mans event was offered to the ACO by its partner Matmut in 2015. The engine is a 470 hp six cylinder.  Exhibit ACO

Porsche introduced the 934 RSR Turbo in 1976 for competition in the Group 4 GT class. Only 31 examples were built.- Exhibit Fiskens

Renault 4 CV 1063 Le Mans 1951

The Renault 4 CV was introduced in 1946 with 30 hp 750 cc engine. The car was soon entered in competition with some success due to agility and reliability. The Type 1063 was developed for competition with 43 hp 748 cc four cylinder engine. The 1063 was entered in several races like Mont Ventoux, Monte Carlo, Liege-Rome-Liege, Tour de France or Mille Miglia. In 1951 it was entered at the Le Mans 24 Hours and won the 750 cc class. - Exhibit Renault

Renault launched the 40 CV NM in 1919 as the top end of its product line. The Renault 40 CV NM is a luxury car with 6 cylinder in line engine 9.121 cc, producing 130 hp at 1800 rpm. The fully equipped chassis weight 1750 kg. A typical customer will purchase a fully equipped chassis and contract a coachbuilder to prepare the body according to his/her wishes.

see Renault 40 CV NM Record 1926. - Exhibit Renault

The 46th Le Mans 24 Hours saw the black and yellow team to victory, when the Alpine Renault-Elf #2 won one of the world's most prestigious events. Driven by Jean-Pierre Jaussaud - Didier Pironi, the car clocked up more than 5,000 km at over 210 km/h on average...

... see Renault Alpine A442 V6 Gordini Victory in Le Mans 24 Hours 1978. - Exhibit Renault

After World War 2, as the aeronautical industry boomed, it was only natural to attempt to carry aviation technology over to the automobile, a trend epitomized by the Renault Etoile Filante.

After 1945, turbine specialist Turbomeca sought to draw public attention to the use of gas turbines. Won over by the idea, Renault accordingly launched the development of an experimental car powered by a 270 hp powerplant - the tubular-framed, stratified polyester bodied Etoile Filante...

... see Renault Etoile Filante 1956 - Exhibit Renault

The Renault R26 was entered in the 2006 Formula One season with Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichela at the wheel. Alonso obtained six victories and three second position while Fisichela obtained one victory and one third position. The engine is a 2400 cc V8 producing 800 hp. The weight is 610 kg. - Exhibit Renault

The Renault Formula One engine with turbocharger was first introduced in 1977. The Renault RE40 appeared in 1983 with a composite structure. Alain Prost gained four victories and three podiums with this car.and nearly won the Championship. The engine is turbocharged 1.492 cc V6 producing 750 hp. Overal weight is 595 kg. - Exhibit Renault

The Simca 9 Coupé de Ville was designed by Jean Daninos and was produced by Facel Metallon Coachbuilder. It receives the mechanical components of the Simca 9 Aronde sedan. The 1.221 cc overhead valves four cylinders produces 51 hp and allow a claimed top speed of 131 kph with a four speed gearbox. The coupe is equiped with unibody structure the front part of which is made of aluminium while the other elements are made of steel. 2.263 examples were built between 1955 and 1956. - Exhibit Peugeot PSA

Wolseley is one of the oldest English motor-car manufacturers. During the first World War, Wolseley produced Hispano Suiza aero engines under license. This allowed post-war production of overhead camshaft for the four cylinder engines 10 hp and 15 hp added to the range in 1920. This 10 hp Wolseley is a de luxe version Coupe and was sold at a 2012 Bonhams auction sale for £ 7,820 (9,908 Euros) .- Exhibit une femme une collection.

Paris – Over two days, Friday 5 and Saturday 6 February 2016, visitors to the Retromobile Salon experienced the full excitement of Artcurial Motorcars Retromobile 2016 sale. The auction, presented with brio by Hervé Poulain, Matthieu Lamoure and Pierre Novikoff, realised 56 137 898 € / 43 192 611 £ / 62 646 564 $, with 80 % of lots sold. This is an increase of 21% on last year’s record sale that starred the memorable Baillon Collection, and thus Artcurial is once again responsible for the largest ever sale of collectors’ cars in continental Europe.

With 17 nationalities represented, close to 375 people registered to bid in the room, with another 150 telephone bidders, and the sale was watched by more than 12 000 on the internet. Over 3 000 people packed into the saleroom on the first day to watch the spectacular show orchestrated by Artcurial Motorcars.

International collectors were responsible for over 78 % of the sale total. Indeed it was an international collector who, just after 18h50, following a tense bidding battle lasting eleven minutes, succeeded in winning the unique 1957 Ferrari 335 S Scaglietti, from the Pierre Bardinon Collection, for 32 075 200 € / 24 693 782 £ / 35 711 359$, including premium. This exceptional motor car became the most expensive car ever to sell at auction (in euros and sterling).

We illustrate here the best selling Ferrari as well as a few other classic automobiles some of which are quite exotic

1957 Ferrari 335S Sport Scaglietti  - 32 075 200 Euros

1999 Bugatti EB112 Berline - 2 216 800 Euros

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona - 953 600 Euros

1995 Bugatti EB 110 SS Le Mans - 941 700 Euros

1931/2012 Bucciali - Cord Type L29 Modified -
596 000 Euros

1958 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Pinin Farina -
524 480 Euros

1956 Talbot Lago Sport 2500 - 381 440 Euros

1920 Bugatti Type 13 - 357 600 Euros

1971 De Tomaso Mangusta - 327 800 Euros

1952 Delahaye 235 Coupé Chapron - 298 000 Euros

1957 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III Coupé - 274 160 Euros

1961 Citroen 2 CV Sahara - 172 800 Euros

1949  Delahaye 135 MS Coupé Ghia Turin - 160 920 Euros

1953 Renault Fregate Online Cabriolet Ghia - 77 480 Euros

1926 Citroen 5 HP C3 Torpedo Trefle - 17 880 Euros