More than 100 vehicles are set to cross the block at Bonhams 2024 Paris auction on Thursday, February 1. There appears to be a bit of everything for everyone at the 2024 Paris Auction including a selection of microcars and an assortment of motorcycles, but the biggest lots jumping out at us are the Lamborghinis, followed by a choice selection of European sports cars.
Bonhams Paris Auction 2024 - Lamborghini Lovers Unite
Although known for their always-impressive supercars, Lamborghini briefly went back to their tractor-building roots with the LM002. It was the culmination of development that dates back to 1977 when Lamborghini built the Cheetah, powered by a Chrysler V8 that failed to live up to the expectations of the US Army when it was demonstrated in the hopes of delivering a vehicle that met the specifications in the Mobility Technology International contract with the US Army. The Cheetah was never produced beyond a single prototype, but the LM002 proved to be Lamborghini’s – and indeed, the world’s – first Super SUV.
Only 328 examples of the LM002 were built and all of them are now highly collectible vehicles, seeming to only increase in value with each passing year. Although the one that will be offered by Bonahms|Cars was produced in 1990, it wasn’t registered until 1994. It spent much of its life in Paris until it was purchased by its current owner in 2015. Showing about 11,000 km since new, documented to be accurate mileage, it’s no surprise to see an estimate of €350,000 – €500,000.
The Jalpa was based on the Silhouette, a previous V8 model that had a targa-style roof and only made examples of the Silhouette were built. The name Jalpa came from a breed of fighting bulls, following Lamborghini’s tradition. The Jalpa was first shown at the 1981 Geneva Motor Show, alongside the LM001 concept off-road vehicle. The prototype had a light brown metallic bodywork with a brown leather interior, color-coded bumpers, and a rear spoiler. However, these features were changed for the production version, which had black bumpers, air intakes, and engine cover, and no spoiler. The production version also had new 16-inch wheels and circular taillights.
The Jalpa was powered by a 3.5L double overhead camshaft V8 engine that produced 255 horsepower in European specification and 250 horsepower in US specification. The engine was mated to a five-speed manual transmission and was equipped with four Weber carburetors. The Jalpa could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6 seconds and reach a top speed of 249 km/h. It weighed 1,510 kg and had a wheelbase of 2,451 mm. The Jalpa was a capable car, but it faced stiff competition from other sports cars of the time, such as the Ferrari 328 and the Porsche 911.
The Jalpa underwent some revisions in 1984, when the black plastic parts were painted to match the body color and the dashboard was redesigned. It was discontinued in 1988, after 410 units were made. It was the last Lamborghini to use a V8 engine until the Urus SUV in 2018. It was also the last Lamborghini to be developed before Chrysler bought the company in 1987. As more enthusiasts take note of the Jalpa and its place in Lamborghini history prices continue to increase and the example to be offered by Bonhams|Cars in Paris has an estimate of €80,000 – €100,000.
The Lamborghini Miura P400 S was introduced at the Turin Motor Show in November 1968, three years after the debut of the original Miura P400, the supercar that changed everything in the automotive world. The P400 S featured some improvements over its predecessor, such as power windows, a locking glove box, optional air conditioning, and a redesigned interior with more comfortable seats and better visibility.
Its most important upgrade was under the hood. The 3.9-liter V12 engine received new combustion chambers, higher-lift cams, and larger carburetors that increased its power output from 350 to 370 horsepower and its torque from 262 to 287 pound-feet. The Miura P400 S could reach a top speed of 177 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars of its time.
The Miura P400 S also benefited from a stronger chassis made of heavier-gauge steel and new Pirelli Cinturato radial tires that improved its handling and stability at high speeds. The car also had ventilated disc brakes for better stopping power. Just 338 examples of the Miura P400 S were built until its successor, the Miura P400 SV was unveiled. The example offered by Bonhams|Cars at their 2024 Paris auction has a fairly well-documented history, but it has been in storage since 2008 and will require work to get it roadworthy again. The pre-auction estimate on this car is €800,000 – €1,200,000 and it will sell as it’s being offered with no reserve.
The Lamborghini Countach LP400S Series II was the second evolution of the legendary and iconic Italian supercar. It was introduced in 1978, following the success of the original LP400 model. The LP400S featured more aggressive and angular bodywork, with wider wheel arches, a deeper front spoiler, and a rear wing as an option. It was also equipped with wider Pirelli P7 tires mounted on new five-hole telephone-dial rims, which required a complete redesign of the suspension geometry by Dallara. The engine remained the same 4.0-liter V12 as the LP400, but felt slightly down on power due to the increased weight and drag.
The car to be offered by Bonhams|Cars at their Paris 2024 auction made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 1981. It was originally produced as a Series I in 1979, but did not leave the factory due to Lamborghini’s financial troubles. It was eventually upgraded to a Series II specification and painted in a stunning Blu Notte Metallizato color, with gold wheels and pin striping before leaving the factory. Bonhams|Cars estimates this will sell for €580,000 – €700,000.
Other European Sports Cars at Bonhams 2024 Paris Auction:
Born out of Porsche’s desire to compete in the FIA Group 4 racing category, which required a minimum of 500 road-going units to be produced, the 1973 Porsche Carrera 2.7 RS was based on the 911S 2.4, the fastest standard 911 at the time. The Carrera RS 2.7 featured a larger and more powerful engine, a distinctive ducktail spoiler, flared wheel arches, and a stripped-down interior to reduce weight.
The engine was a 2.7-liter air-cooled flat-six with Bosch mechanical fuel injection, producing 210 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. It was derived from the legendary 917 racing engine and gave the RS 2.7 a top speed of 150 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds.
The ducktail spoiler was designed by aerodynamicist Hermann Burst, who had worked on the 917 as well. It improved the rear-end downforce, reduced drag, and enhanced cooling for the engine. The front air dam also helped to balance the aerodynamics and reduce lift.
The flared wheel arches allowed for wider tires and improved grip and handling. The interior was stripped of unnecessary items such as carpets, sound insulation, rear seats, and even door handles. The result was a car that weighed as little as 975 kg (2,149 lbs), making it agile and responsive.
Porsche offered two versions of the Carrera RS: Touring and Sport. The Touring version had some comfort features such as power windows, radio, and clock, while the Sport version was even more spartan and had thinner glass, fiberglass bumpers, and magnesium wheels. Bonhams|Cars will offer one of the first 500 examples produced at their Paris 2024 auction with a pre-auction estimate of €400,000 – €500,000.
The Ghibli 4.9-Litre SS Coupé was the ultimate evolution of the original Ghibli, which debuted in 1966 as a two-door, 2+2 V8-engined fastback designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Ghia. The name Ghibli comes from the Libyan Arabic word for a hot wind blowing across the Sahara Desert, reflecting the car’s speed and elegance.
The Ghibli SS was introduced in 1969 with a larger and more powerful engine than its predecessor. The V8 was stroked up by 4 mm to displace 4,930 cc and was rated at 335 PS (246 kW; 330 hp) at 5,500 rpm and 481 N⋅m (355 lbf⋅ft) of torque at 4,000 rpm. This made the Ghibli SS the fastest Maserati road car ever produced at the time, with a top speed of 280 km/h (174 mph).
The Ghibli SS also featured some cosmetic changes, such as a black grille with vertical bars, wider Campagnolo alloy wheels, and an SS badge on the boot lid. The interior was luxurious and comfortable, with leather seats, electric windows, air conditioning, and a radio as standard equipment. A Spyder version with a folding soft top was also available, but only in limited numbers.
The Ghibli SS was a rare and exclusive car, with only 425 coupés and 45 Spyders produced until 1973, when it was replaced by the Khamsin. One of those coupés will be offered for sale by Bonhams|Cars in Paris with a pre-auction estimate of €150,000 – €250,000.
The 2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta was a limited edition roadster built to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the legendary marque. The 550 Barchetta was based on the 550 Maranello, a front-engine V12 grand tourer that marked Ferrari’s return to this classic layout after 23 years of mid-engine models. The Barchetta, which means “little boat” in Italian, was a tribute to the open-top racing cars of the past, such as the 166 MM, the 250 GT California Spyder, and the 365 GTS4 Daytona. Only 448 units were produced worldwide, making it a rare and desirable collector car.
The Ferrari 550 Barchetta was designed by Pininfarina, with a low and sleek profile, a long hood, and a short rear deck. The car had no real convertible top, only a temporary soft top that could be used up to 70 mph. The interior was luxurious and sporty as expected from Ferrari, with leather seats, carbon fiber trim, and a six-speed manual transmission. It was powered by a 5.5-liter V12 engine that produced 485 horsepower and could reach a top speed of 186 mph. Stopping power was provided by Brembo brakes and the car also featured a self-adjusting suspension, and a Tubi exhaust system.
The Barchetta was the last of Ferrari’s 12-cylinder open-top models marking a significant change for the Prancing Horse. Bonhams|Cars will offer the 233rd 550 Barchetta built at their 2024 Paris auction and assigned it a pre-auction estimate of €350,000 – €450,000.