Rétromobile 2024: an even more special edition!

Rétromobile 2024 (held from January 31 to February 4) shattered its previous attendance record, attracting over 130,000 visitors and solidified its status as a premier exhibition for vintage automobiles. This year's edition exceeded visitors' expectations, beginning with the presence of as many as two immaculate Ferrari 250 GTOs. Girardo & Co. showcased a breathtaking 1963 example with a rich history in the Targa Florio, while Simon Kidston featured a 1962 GTO as the focal point of their space. The exhibition was a treasure trove of automotive marvels. The Richard Mille booth featured last year's Le Mans-winning Ferrari 499P. Gregor Fisken showcased David Piper's Lola T70, immortalized in the filming of the "Le Mans" movie. Joe Macari presented the original road-legal Porsche 917, registered in Texas for Count Rossi of the Martini company. A captivating Ford GT40 was displayed at Lukas Hüni's stand, having participated in the Spa 1000 Km and Le Mans. Also present are two cars included among the "Automotive Masterpieces": the 1947 Fiat Stanguellini 1100 Berlinetta Special (Bertone), chassis no. 290996, which ran the 1951 Coppa Intereuropa and the 1952 Ferrari 225 S, chassis no. 0198ET, that had an intense racing life in the years 1952 - 1953 in Portugal. According to Max Girardo, Rétromobile has evolved into a showcase with meticulous curation of automobiles that goes beyond the urgency of direct sales. This elevates Rétromobile to a status where participation becomes imperative for serious players in the classic car arena. The event witnessed appearances from motorsport stars such as Jacky Ickx, Charles Leclerc, Sébastien Loeb, Stéphane Peterhansel, and Romain Dumas. An increased emphasis on supercars attracted a fresh cohort of young enthusiasts. The robust displays by major manufacturers added to the allure, with MG contributing to the 100-year MG expo.
The auctions held during Rétromobile reflect the health of the collector car market. From the analysis of the results of the three auctions (RM Sotheby's; Bonhams; Artcurial), the sales percentage improved, but the number of cars offered reduced, and interest in youngtimers continues to grow.
RM Sotheby's, in an auction of "only" 72 cars, sold 60 of them, with a top lot reaching the stratospheric figure of €10,158,125: a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Giallo Fly. It is worth noting that the same car remained unsold in 2015 when the owner refused 11.5 million.
Bonhams' auction was well-received by the public. Of the 97 lots for sale, only 13 cars were not sold. The highest figure was achieved for an exceptional youngtimer, a Ferrari Enzo, which sold for €3,910,000.
Artcurial proposed a wonderful Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder as the top bid, which, however, did not reach the approximately €10 million requested. Overall, it was a successful auction in numbers; of the 131 car lots, 97 cars were sold. The highest price was achieved by a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, reaching €1,427,440.