“Les Grandes Marques à Monaco,” aka Bonhams’ The Monaco Sale, turned out less grand than might have been anticipated, with only 32 lots in the catalog and with the top-selling vehicle, the 1936 Delahaye 135 S Competition Court selling not on the block but “immediately after the sale,” the auction company reported.
Oh, and that post-block transaction was completed “for an undisclosed amount,” Bonhams said, adding, however, that the price paid was within the pre-auction estimate, which would seem to indicate that it was somewhere between $950,000 and $1.3 million.
Bonhams didn’t include an auction sales total in its news release, nor a sell-through rate. However, based on the sales figures reported on its website, that sell-through rate was 65 percent, although six of the 21 lots reported to be sold were small Honda monkey bikes which brought between $4,162 and $12,488 each on the block at Bonhams first “live” sale of the year.
The auction was held at the Monte Carlo Fairmont Hotel in conjunction with the Monaco Historic Grand Prix racing weekend.
Top-10 sales, Bonhams Monaco 2021
- 1991 Isdera Imperator coupe, $832,553
- 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS, $652,167
- 1968 Aston Martin DB6 Volante convertible, $555,036
- 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux coupe, $464,842
- 1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III, $444,028
- 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE convertible, $374,649
- 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA Competition, $312,207
- 1967 Citroen DS21 Decapotable, $235,890
- 1947 Cisitalia D46 Monoposto, $190,793
- 1952 Jaguar XK120 roadster, $92,968
(Prices include buyer’s fee.)
Another sale of note was the unique 1949 Georges Irat Sports 2-seat prototype, which brought $86,030.
Next up for Bonhams motoring division is The Bond Street Sale, scheduled for May 19 at Bonhams headquarters in London, followed on May 20 by the company’s annual collector car auction on Amelia Island, Florida.
