Hello. You know, there's something rather fascinating about car auctions. They're a bit like those nature documentaries where peacocks display their feathers, except here the feathers are made of carbon fiber and precious metal, and the mating ritual involves raising small numbered paddles in the air. I've just returned from Paris, where RM Sotheby's has wrapped up what can only be described as a rather spectacular auction. The numbers being thrown around were, quite frankly, enough to make your average bank manager need a lie-down. But what's most interesting isn't just the astronomical sums - it's the stories behind these mechanical masterpieces. Let me walk you through the ten most expensive lots, starting from the bottom... 11. 2022 Ford GT Carbon Series Year: 2022Auction Price: €646,250 Now, this is a properly clever thing. It's part of Ford's Carbon Series, which means it's 18 kilograms lighter than the standard GT - they even removed the cup holder, which seems a bit extreme, but I suppose if you're spending this much on a car, you can probably afford someone to hold your drink for you. What makes this particular example special is its pristine condition - just 262 kilometers on the clock, which means it's barely finished its running-in period. The 660-horsepower twin-turbocharged V6 can propel it to 100 km/h in three seconds, though the previous owner clearly didn't test this claim very often. It's one of only 50 Carbon Series cars ever made, finished in Liquid Grey with bare carbon fiber stripes and those rather fetching red accents. 10. 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Year: 1964Auction Price: €736,250 Oh, now this is properly special. This particular DB5 was originally delivered to Paris through Garage Mirabeau, and it's spent most of its life in France, which seems rather fitting. It's finished in Aegean Blue over black leather - the same combination it left the factory with, which is always nice to see. The fascinating bit is that it's one of the rare left-hand drive examples, and it's been thoroughly gone through by Clark & Carter Restorations recently. They've completely restored the drivetrain and retrimmed the interior, which means the next owner can simply get in and drive rather than spending the next few years sending strongly worded letters to various restoration specialists. The matching-numbers 4.0-liter straight-six engine is still present, and the whole thing is just... pauses thoughtfully... rather magnificent, really. 9. 2010 Ferrari 599 GTO Year: 2010Auction Price: €815,000 When Ferrari puts the letters 'GTO' on something, you really ought to pay attention. It's only happened three times in their entire history, and this 599 GTO was the third car to receive this hallowed badge. And unlike most modern special editions that are essentially just a bodykit and some racing stripes, this one actually earned its name. The fascinating bit is that this particular example, finished in Grigio Medio with a rather dramatic Nero racing stripe, is actually faster around Ferrari's Fiorano test track than the legendary Enzo. It manages this thanks to an Enzo-derived 6.0-liter V12 producing 670 horsepower, which is a bit like putting a Saturn V rocket engine in a grey suit. It's covered just 20,790 kilometers from new, and comes with all the proper paperwork, including the coveted Ferrari Classiche 'Red Book' - which is a bit like having a birth certificate signed by Enzo Ferrari himself. 8. 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 'Periscopio' Year: 1975Auction Price: €820,625 Now this... this is properly special. It's one of the very first Countach models - the 'Periscopio' version, so called because it has a rather clever little periscope-style rear-view mirror system built into the roof. Only 157 of these were ever made, which makes it about as rare as finding a politician who actually keeps their promises. What's particularly interesting about this example is its journey through life. Originally delivered in Rosso (that's red to you and me) over black interior, it's lived in Germany, taken a holiday in Florida where it got a yellow interior (as one does), before settling in Sweden where it was given its current silver over tobacco leather color scheme. It's the purest form of Marcello Gandini's original design, before all the wings and strakes and extra bits were added to later models. In fact, it recently finished second in its class at the FIVA Concours d'Elegance in Essen, which is rather impressive for a car that's been changed more times than I change my socks. 7. 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Year: 1954Auction Price: €1,265,000 This is one of those cars that makes you wonder if beauty really is subjective after all. The R-Type Continental is widely considered one of the most beautiful cars ever made, and this particular example might just be the finest of them all. It's a bit like finding out your vintage wine isn't just any old bottle, but actually the one they used to launch the ship. What makes this one special is its absolutely perfect specification - left-hand drive, manual central gearshift, lightweight seats, and even the original fitted luggage. Only 13 were ever made to this specification, and this one was actually displayed at the 1954 Brussels Motor Show. It's been restored by Clark & Carter to such a high standard that it won second place at Pebble Beach, which is a bit like coming second in the Olympics, only with more champagne and fewer tracksuits. 6. 1974 Mercedes-Benz 600 'Six-Door' Pullman Landaulet Year: 1974Auction Price: €1,355,000 Now this is what happens when Mercedes-Benz decides to build the most luxurious car possible and then keeps going. It's one of only 26 six-door Landaulets ever built, and even more remarkably, it's a 'short-roof' version with exterior handles on all six doors - a bit like having gold-plated handles on your gold-plated handles. The fascinating bit is its history - it was delivered new to Portuguese Guinea as a state limousine, then somehow made its way to California before ending up in Germany. The current owner spent over €280,000 having it restored by Kienle Automobiltechnik, which is the automotive equivalent of having your house renovated by Michelangelo. The 6.3-liter V8 engine, the notoriously complex hydraulic system, even the air conditioning - everything has been rebuilt to perfection. It's now finished in white over red leather with a black folding top, looking exactly as imposing as a car of this stature should. 5. 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider by Zagato Year: 1931Auction Price: €1,833,125 Now this is a proper motorcar with a properly fascinating history. It's one of just 106 6C 1750 Gran Sports ever built, and this particular example has a story that reads like a spy novel. During World War II, its Swiss owner was so worried about invasion that they literally bricked it up behind a wall - which is probably the most Swiss thing I've ever heard of anyone doing with a car. But the really interesting bit is that this car was owned by Phil Hill for 30 years - yes, that Phil Hill, the first American Formula 1 World Champion. Before that, it belonged to Allan Dulles, who worked for what would become the CIA. It's had a wonderfully sympathetic restoration that preserved its original Zagato coachwork. and matching-numbers engine. The fact that it still exists at all, let alone in this condition, is rather remarkable. 4. 2011 Koenigsegg Agera Year: 2011Auction Price: €1,917,500 This is what happens when a Swedish gentleman named Christian von Koenigsegg decides to build the most extreme car possible, and then somehow makes it even more extreme. It's one of just seven original Ageras ever made - not the later versions like the R or RS, but the pure, original recipe. The name means both "ageless" in ancient Greek and "to take action" in Swedish, which is rather clever, really. What makes this one particularly special is that it's the first Koenigsegg ever finished in matt exposed carbon fiber - previous cars had always been given a glossy lacquer. The twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 produces about 950 horsepower, which is sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It's covered 20,367 kilometers, which shows someone's actually been using it properly rather than keeping it in a hermetically sealed bubble. And it's just had a €16,000 service, which is probably about what it costs to change the oil in one of these things. 3. 2022 Pagani Huayra R Year: 2022Auction Price: €3,042,500 This is what happens when a man named Horacio Pagani decides to build a track car without having to worry about silly things like road regulations or noise limits. It's number 5 of just 30 examples ever made, and it's the first Huayra R ever offered at public auction - which is a bit like finding a unicorn that's also wearing a diamond-encrusted saddle. The fascinating bit is its engine. Instead of using the usual Mercedes-AMG twin-turbo V12, Pagani got race team HWA AG to build them a naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 that revs to 9,000 rpm and sounds like a 1980s Formula 1 car. It produces 850 horsepower in a car that weighs just 1,050 kilograms dry - which is like putting a Saturn V rocket engine in a shopping trolley. This particular example has only covered 196 kilometers, and the original owner spent an extra €313,650 just on the specification. That's more than most people's houses. 2. 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari Year: 2015Auction Price: €3,548,750 Ferrari's first hybrid hypercar, and yes, they really did just call it "The Ferrari." It's one of just 499 coupes ever built, and this particular example is rather special. It's finished in a bespoke shade of Giallo yellow as a tribute to Ferrari's famous shield logo and their home city of Modena - they even inscribed the city's motto "Avia pervia" on the steering wheel, which is a lovely touch. The numbers are, quite frankly, ridiculous. The 6.3-liter V12 and electric motor combination produces 963 horsepower, which will get you from 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and on to "more than" 350 km/h. But the really clever bit is that it can lap Ferrari's Fiorano test track five seconds faster than the Enzo it replaced. This one's only covered 3,459 kilometers and comes with the original wheels plus a set of center-lock forged wheels from the track-only FXX-K version. Oh, and it's got an extended warranty until 2026, which is probably quite handy when you've got nearly 1,000 horsepower to maintain. And now, the absolute winner of the Paris auction, by quite some margin: 1. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti Year: 1964Auction Price: €34,880,000 Now this... this is something rather special indeed. This isn't just any Ferrari 250 LM - it's THE Ferrari 250 LM that won Le Mans in 1965 with Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt at the wheel. More importantly, it's the only privateer Ferrari to ever win Le Mans outright, doing so for Luigi Chinetti's North American Racing Team (NART). What makes this car truly extraordinary is its racing history. During the Enzo Ferrari era, this is the only Ferrari to compete in six 24-hour races - three at Le Mans and three at Daytona. That's 144 hours of flat-out racing, which is rather like running six marathons while being set on fire. Even more remarkably, it still has its original engine and gearbox - the very same ones that powered it to victory at Le Mans. You can even see the scrutineering stamps on the engine from multiple Le Mans appearances, which is a bit like finding Napoleon's actual signature on a battle plan. You know, looking at these cars, it's rather fascinating how they represent different eras of automotive excellence. From the raw, mechanical brilliance of that Le Mans-winning 250 LM to the hybrid wizardry of the LaFerrari, each one tells a unique story about its time. But what's really interesting isn't just the eye-watering prices - though €34.8 million for the 250 LM would certainly make your average bank manager need a lie down. It's that these cars represent something more than just metal and rubber and expensive paint jobs. They're pieces of history, engineering milestones, and in some cases, like our Le Mans winner, they're the automotive equivalent of lightning in a bottle - something that can never be replicated. And on that bombshell... I think I need a cup of tea.
