A set of 13 hard-to-find Porsches will go under the hammer at a no-reserve auction in Paris on Wednesday February 8. The cars are part of a larger single-owner Porsche collection, with these and the remaining 30 all to be sold through specialist classic-car auctioneer RM Sotheby’s.
Collectable Porsche values have risen by an average of 364 per cent since 2008, with 9.3 per cent growth last year despite a general softening of the classic market, according to Historic Automobile Group International (HAGI). Models from the 1990s have shown particularly impressive gains, with RM Sotheby’s selling a 1995 911 GT2 at its London sale last September for an unprecedented £1.8m.
The first 13 models to go to auction from the Swiss-owned collection have a combined pre-sale estimate of more than €4m, and one of the highlights is a 1988 959 Sport model. Offered in its original white livery and with its factory-fitted lightweight seats, racing harnesses and roll cage still present, the 200mph, track-ready, road-legal 911 variant is one of just 29 built, has covered fewer than 11,300 miles from new and is tipped to realise up to €2m.
Also significant is a 1994 911 Turbo S with fewer than 23,000 miles on the clock. One of only 17 964-generation cars in Turbo S guise to have standard front ends – as opposed to the 76 Flachbau (flat nose) versions – it has an estimate of €650,000-€750,000.
Other lots include a 1981 924 Carrera GT (one of just 406 built) at €70,000-€90,000, an autobahn-storming 928 GTS from 1993 (€50,000-€70,000) and a 1976 912 E – the four-cylinder version of the 911 – which is very conservatively estimated at €20,000-€30,000, despite the model’s rising popularity.
Also up for grabs are a 911 GT2 Clubsport and 911 GT3 RS from 2004 (€175,000-€225,000 and €200,000-€250,000 respectively), a 2000 GT3 Clubsport (€100,00-€130,000) and the most modern car in the sale, a 2014 911 Carrera S, one of just 40 finished in Martini racing colours. It is described as being in “showroom” condition, having done less than 150km, and is tipped to realise up to €180,000.
The auction takes place during this month’s giant Rétromobile show in Paris, which will see a 433-lot Bonhams sale of cars, motorcycle and automobilia at the Grand Palais on Thursday February 9 and the official Artcurial auction on Friday February 10.
