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Le Mans racers to star in RM Sotheby’s Paris auction

RM Sotheby’s has announced an extraordinary lineup for its Paris auction, set to take place on 4-5 February 2025 at Les Salles du Carrousel in the Louvre Palace during the Retromobile week. Headlining the auction is the fantastic Ferrari 250LM from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, but several other highlights have been announced.

The standout highlight is the glorious 1970 Ferrari 512 M, Ferrari’s answer to the Porsche 917 and an important piece of Ferrari competition history. Supplied new to Ecurie Francorchamps, this was the last sports prototype raced by the renowned Belgian team. The car’s racing career includes a fifth-place overall finish at the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans and several other decent finishes throughout 1970 and 1971. Unique for being the only 512 delivered in Ferrari’s iconic Giallo Fly yellow, and thought to be one of the most original remaining due to never suffereing any major accident damage, It’s estimated at €9,000,000-€12,000,000.

Fast forward to the 1980s, the 1981 Ferrari 512 BB/LM also boasts Le Mans pedigree, having competed in both the 1981 and 1984 editions of the endurance race. With additional victories at the Monza 1000km and 6 Hours of Pergusa in 1981, this Ferrari is offered with Classiche certification, and is of course eligible for prestigious historic racing events such as Le Mans Classic. It carries an estimate of €2,000,000-€2,500,000.

From the early days of Ferrari’s road cars comes the 1951 Ferrari 212/225 Export by Vignale, one of just 27 212 Export models built. This example features a rich racing history, including appearances at the 12 Hours of Reims and the Liège-Rome-Liège Rally. Following a concours-level restoration completed in 2024 and certified by Ferrari Classiche, this elegant machine is expected to sell for €2,500,000-€3,500,000.

Modern hypercar enthusiasts will be drawn to the 2011 Koenigsegg Agera. One of only seven ‘basic’ Agera models built before the S, R, and RS, it boasts a striking exposed matte carbon fibre body. Recently serviced, it is estimated to fetch €1,800,000-€2,300,000.

Another rarity is the 1974 Mercedes-Benz 600 ‘Six-Door’ Pullman Landaulet, a model synonymous with heads of state and royalty. Originally delivered to Portuguese Guinea, this example underwent a comprehensive restoration by Kienle Automobiltechnik in 2019 and is expected to achieve €1,300,000-€1,600,000.

For pre-war enthusiasts, the 1931 Talbot AV105 Works ‘GO51’ is a significant entry. The first of four renowned Talbot ‘GO’ cars, it competed at the 1931 24 Hours of Le Mans and remains one of the most successful British sports racing cars of its era. With known history and long-term ownership, it is estimated at €950,000-€1,250,000. Similarly, the 1929 Bugatti Type 37 stands out with its matching-numbers engine and well-documented history, estimated at €980,000-€1,300,000.

Group C racing fans will be drawn to the 1989 Jaguar XJR-10, built by Tom Walkinshaw Racing. With wins at the 1990 Portland 300km and 1991 2 Hours of West Palm Beach, this car is ready for historic endurance racing, carrying an estimate of €800,000–€1,200,000.

For further details and the full list of consignments, visit rmsothebys.com.