Exquisite pre-war coachbuilding goes under the hammer with RM Sotheby's

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As we know, Salon Rétromobile presents visitors with a chance to buy some really spectacular pre-war cars, but there's a lot of legwork involved in walking among all the stands at Rétromobile to see and inspect all that's on offer. That's not the only way of going car-shopping, though. With the RM Sotheby's auction being held on Wednesday, January 31st, the opening day of the show, you could buy yourself a pre-war car or 10 from the comfort of the saleroom, then spend the rest of the week strolling around Rétromobile at your leisure.

It goes without saying that RM Sotheby's contains some superb cars, representing some of the most elegant examples of pre-war coachbuilding, which ought to tempt anyone who's in the market for one. The catalogue notably includes the private collection of a late enthusiast with a particular penchant for high-end coachwork. These are among the highlights:

1919 Hispano-Suiza H6 torpédo by Duvivier (€400,000-500,000 / £345,000-430,000)

Many readers will be aware that King Alfonso XIII of Spain was a great patron of the Hispano-Suiza marque, and many will have dreamt of owning the Hispano-Suiza Alfonso sports model which was named in his honour. For anyone who has had such thoughts, there can surely be nothing better than finding a Hispano-Suiza which was owned by the king himself. Seize, then, the opportunity, to become the owner of this splendid H6, for it was built specially for the Spanish monarch and enjoyed by him until 1931. Its history file contains photographic evidence of his ownership, including a Hispano-Suiza advertisement from 1921 in which King Alfonso appeared with his car. Bodied in an elegant style by one of the less well-known French carrossiers, since the 1990s it has been benefitted from a high-quality restoration resulting in award wins at Pebble Beach and Villa d'Este.

1920 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost tourer by Rothschild (€350,000-450,000 / £300,000-385,000)

Chassis 69CW is a rather sporty-looking Silver Ghost which was originally despatched to France to be bodied as a cabriolet by Rheims & Auscher for Miguel de Riglos, its Argentinian buyer. Records indicate that it was rebodied twice prior to 1930, acquiring on the second occasion its present handsome body by Rothschild. It was still in Argentina in the 1960s, when it was sold by politician Nazar Ancharena to Californian enthusiast James McCloud, who restored it and cared for it until 1996, when it entered the present collection. Notably driven in the 2013 Alpine Centenary Trial, it looks to be a very versatile Silver Ghost ideal for concours and all sorts of vintage rallies.

1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A transformable cabriolet by Castagna (€300,000-400,000 / £260,000-345,000)

One of the most glamorous lots in the sale is this imposing Isotta, which was originally shipped to Isotta Motors in New York City and reputedly sold to the son of a distinguished newspaperman. Paul Cofrancesco of Connecticut was one of the first people to appreciate the value of preserving fine automobiles, for he acquired the Castagna cabriolet before it was 10 years old and cherished it for several decades, along with other Isotta Fraschinis which he collected over the years. In 1973, the collection was sold into the joint ownership of opera singer Sergio Franchi and enthusiast Anthony Pascucci. Since then, it has had just three owners and been shown at Villa d'Este. Wearing an older restoration, it is full of exquisite details, not least of which are the lights on the dash which convey messages from the passengers to the chauffeur.

1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental berline by Fernandez et Darrin (€80,000-120,000 / £70,000-105,000)

A really graceful example of 1930s coachbuilding with a hint of streamlining about it, chassis 106PY is also notable as the only Continental to have been bodied by Fernandez et Darrin. It was built for Lt. Marshall Owen Roberts, the son of a New York businessman who moved to England and there followed a distinguished military career. Being stationed in 1933 at the Tower of London, that is the address which appears on the Phantom's delivery documents. By 1962, the car had moved to America and later resided in Australia. It now presents most attractively, wearing an older restoration with light patina.

1934 Packard 12 two/four-seat coupé (€200,000-250,000 / £170,000-215,000)

Understood to be one of just 10 surviving examples of this body style on the 1934 Model 1107 V12 chassis, this example was originally sold in Los Angeles through the longstanding Packard agency of Earle C. Anthony. An interesting quirk of its specification were the twin spare wheels and the fact that the wheels were of wooden artillery construction, an outdated feature but one which suits the car surprisingly well. In recent years, it has benefitted from some light renovation and looks superb with its elegantly understated body set off by some subtle coach lines.

1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III saloon by Barker (€150,000-200,000 / £130,000-170,000)

Another of our favourites is this remarkably un-English-looking Phantom, which looks like the result of Barker having taken a Continental holiday. The low windscreen and almost razor-edged lines seem to be cocking a snook at the conservatism of English coachwork tastes, and the result is something like a cross between a Voisin and the 'Yo-Yo' Delages by Letourneur et Marchand. It was built, notably, for the American Commodore Louis D. Beaumont who, besides being a department store magnate and keen yachtsman was also a great Francophile, so that explains much, and it went to live at Eilenroc, his villa at the Cap d'Antibes. It was reputedly a present for his second wife Hélène, a former opera singer, socialite and jewellery collector who was famed for her Gatsby-esque parties. It travelled with the Beaumonts back to America in 1939 and remained there until it joined the present collection in 1995. The outstanding coachwork is set off by a highly decorative interior with painted cabinets and Art Nouveau flourishes. Truly, this car has the makings of a show-stopper wherever it goes.

As if that wasn't enough, other pre-war lots include a 1926 Bugatti Type 40 roadster (€200,000-250,000 / £170,000-215,000), 1929 Packard Deluxe Eight sedan (€40,000-60,000 / £35,000-50,000) and 1935 Voisin C25 Clairière (€600,000-800,000 / £515,000-690,000), an exceptional car which was new to Boulogne shipping firm Hanse-Lozinguez and has remained in France its whole life. Recently restored, it won its class at the 2019 Chantilly Arts & Elegance.

See the whole catalogue here.
 

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