Bonhams The Paris Sale
France • 30th Jan 2026
Auction Results & Market Analysis
Image Source: Bonhams
£7,432,517
TOTAL SALE VALUE
66
TOTAL LOTS
HIGHEST SALE
£1,133,164
SELL THROUGH %
77%
AVG SOLD PRICE
£112,614
How did the auction perform?
Bonhams delivered £7,432,517 in sales (inc. fees).
Of the 66 motor cars offered, the sell-through rate was 77%.
Average price of cars sold was £112,614.
How did sold prices compare to estimates?
Of the 61 listings with lot estimates show that 16% exceeded expectations by selling above the high estimate.
12 (20%) of cars sold within their estimate range.
On the other hand, 39% of lots sold below the low estimate.
This suggests that Bonhams's valuations were aggressive (leading to more below-estimate sales) relative to current bidder appetite.
What was the most expensive car sold?
"1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Gullwing' Coupé", which crossed the block (inc. fees) for £1,133,164.
Estimated at £1,052,400 - £1,315,500, it sold 14% below its high estimate. This sale alone represented 15% of the auction's total turnover.
Well sold? Lots that exceeded their estimates by the largest percentage
While the headlines often focus on the top-tier sales, the Bonhams The Paris Sale also featured several entry-level opportunities.
The lot sold for the lowest hammer price was the "The Pierre Strinati Collection 1952 Willys 4x4 Station Wagon", which changed hands for just £8,524. For enthusiasts looking to enter the market, these lower-value lots often represent the most accessible way to start a collection.
Well bought? Lots that sold under their estimates by the largest percentage
Not every lot found a new home at the Bonhams The Paris Sale. A notable example was the 1981 BMW M1, which failed to meet reserve despite carrying an estimate of £394,650.
When high-profile lots like this don't hammer sold, it often indicates a temporary gap between seller expectations and current bidder appetite. These unsold listings now represent prime opportunities for post-auction "Off-Market" deals, where savvy buyers can often negotiate directly with the consignor.
Price vs Estimates
See how final prices compared to auction estimates.
The Top 10
See the top 10 most expensive cars to sell in the auction
Why this article was created
At The Classic Valuer, we maintain one of the world’s largest independent databases of collector car transactions, tracking over $20bn in sales across 40+ global houses.
This summary provides an immediate analysis of 66 listings, comparing auction estimates against our own independent valuation models.
Looking for deeper model-specific insights? If you are researching a specific car from this event, such as a Mercedes-Benz, click below to access our full Model Price Guides. There, you can analyse decade-long price trends, see every historical sale, and use our valuation tools to calculate the true market value of your next acquisition.
How this article was created
This article was created by looking back analysing the catalogue of the Bonhams The Paris Sale against our historical database dating back to 1985. We've scanned over 40 auction houses and results from over £20 billion of sold cars around the world to provide context for this The Paris Sale preview.
The Classic Valuer uses proprietary data and analytics to generate these insights at scale. For further information regarding specific lots like the "1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Gullwing' Coupé", please visit the price guides linked below.
About The Author
Giles Gunning
Giles is CEO of The Classic Valuer - one of the world's largest databases of sold collector cars in the world going back over 30 years covering over 13,000 models. Giles and The Classic Valuer are regularly referenced in key motor publications including Classic & Sports Car.
Giles grew up around the iconic historic motorsport venue at Goodwood and enjoys his 1972 Alfa Romeo 1600 GT Junior or 1960 MG A Roadster around the Sussex roads. His primary car goal is to purchase back a selection of his grandfather's car's including his 1931 Riley Brooklands.