RM Sotheby's achieves €81 million in Paris
The sale was led by a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider which brought €14,067,500, while a trio of Ferrari supercars achieved remarkable results, including 2004 Ferrari Enzo (€8,105,000), 1997 Ferrari F50 (€7,598,750), and 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO (€5,855,000)
PARIS.—
RM Sotheby’s has continued its incredible start to the year by achieving an €81-million sale in Paris, making it the highest grossing European collector car auction in the company’s history. The annual sale takes place in the surroundings of the Louvre Palace’s spectacular Salles du Carrousel and forms a central component of Retromobile Week.
“Our Paris sale is always a phenomenal success, but this year we have broken all records,” said Augustin Sabatié-Garat, Director of Sales, EMEA. “We brought an incredible selection of cars to Paris, spanning all eras, and to see such demand across the entire offering is a very encouraging start to 2026. Numerous European auction records were broken, and it is the prices achieved for the modern era Ferrari supercars which are most striking, continuing the results we achieved for similar models in Arizona. The sale also demonstrated that the classics of the golden era, such as the 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, are as much in demand as ever.”
Highlights
1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider sold for €14,067,500: Chassis #915GT is the third of 56 short-wheelbase examples built, and one of only 39 cars originally configured with covered headlamps. This fine example of what is surely the most coveted of all open Ferraris was delivered new to Paris, France and was offered from 30 years of fastidious single-owner care having only had five documented keepers from new.
2004 Ferrari Enzo sold for €8,105,000: One of 498 examples built and benefitting from fastidious care by a single owner through its lifetime, the car sold is a true “Unicorn” example offered in incredible time-capsule condition, including extremely low delivery mileage of just 286 kilometres.
1997 Ferrari F50 sold for €7,598,750: The 223rd of 349 numbered examples built, this single-owner example displayed a mere 1,680 kilometres and was desirably accompanied by rare accessories including a hardtop with accompanying flight case, roll hoops, toolkit, luggage set, and incredibly rare Tod’s Ferrari F50 driving shoes.
1985 Ferrari 288 GTO sold for €5,855,000: Approximately the 18th of 272 production examples built, this remarkable 288 GTO was offered from single dedicated ownership throughout its lifetime, and with just 24,244 recorded kilometres on the clock. The Ferrari 288 GTO was long considered the finest sports racer Maranello ever produced and boasts a race-bred, twin-turbocharged 2.8-litre V-8 engine developing 400 horsepower.
2024 Bugatti Bolide sold for €3,998,750: The first time a Bolide has been offered at auction, the example sold was in “as-new” condition. Bugatti’s track-only Bolide hypercar is one of only 40 constructed and features the most powerful iteration of Molsheim’s revered W-16 engine, a quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre powerplant rated at 1,600 horsepower. This single-owner car displayed a mere 112 kilometres.
1971 Lamborghini Miura SV sold for €3,717,500: Presented in stunning condition, this Rosso Corsa example is one of 150 Miuras built to SV specification. Supplied to Italian agent Righetti and sold new to Germany in May 1972, it has known ownership throughout its life and was certified by Lamborghini Polo Storico following a restoration by Carrosserie Battaglia-Bolognesi and Top Motors in 2016.
Top 10 lots sold
• 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider - €14,067,500
• 2004 Ferrari Enzo - €8,105,000
• 1997 Ferrari F50 - €7,598,750
• 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO - €5,855,000
• 2024 Bugatti Bolide - €3,998,750
• 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV - €3,717,500
• 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss - €3,070,625
• 2017 Ferrari 488 GTE - €2,873,750
• 2003 Ferrari 550 GTC - €1,973,750
• 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster - €1,355,000
Significant After-Sale
The historically significant 1956 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta 'Tour de France' sold for €12,000,000 immediately after the sale concluded. The car offered is 'THE' 250 TdF, and without question among the most legendary and historically significant of all Ferrari competition cars. The car offered won the 1956 Tour de France Auto, establishing the namesake for the model. This exact chassis is the only known car to single-handedly change the name of its own model range following its monumental victory in the period’s most challenging race and is the only known Ferrari to take victory in every race it entered in period. Further, this car was raced and owned in period by the legendary Marquis Alfonso de Portago, one of the all-time great icons of the era.
*Please note: that the gross sale total quoted in this release includes the Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta 'Tour de France' sale price
