Maserati Boomerang concept car sells for £2.4m

A one-of-a-kind 1970s Maserati concept car has sold for £2.4m at auction. The Boomerang was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and went under the hammer at Bonhams Chantilly sale on 5 September.

Giugiaro used geometric shapes and ruler straight lines to create its angular appeal, which made the unusual Boomerang one of the great style influences of the motoring industry.

Another Maserati - a 1968 Maserati Mexico 4.7-Litre Coupe – also did well, selling for £474,156. Named in honour of Cooper-Maserati's victory in the 1966 Mexican Grand Prix, the Maserati Mexico was unveiled at the 1966 Turin motor show. 

This Mexico is a bespoke Frua creation, one of three one-offs produced in the longstanding relationship between Maserati and car designer Pietro Frua.

1968 Maserati Mexico 4.7-Litre Coupe sold for for £474,156.

Retaining the general Mexico lines, but more sharply defined, the Frua Mexico recalls the Quattroporte. Restored to its initial light green paintwork, with original Bordeaux leather, the Mexico won the Best of Show award at the Maserati 100th Anniversary celebrations, and is the quintessential example of a Maserati grand tourer.

Other sale highlights included eight motor cars from the personal collection of French businessman Alain Dominique Perrin. Most notable of the collection was a car steeped in French pop music history – the 1977 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 originally owned by famous French singer and composer, Claude François.

Claude famously wrote and composed the original version of My Way, a song made famous by Frank Sinatra. After intense bidding in the room, the 1977 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 sold for close to £73,000 to a private European buyer.

1977 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 sold for nearly £77k.

Philip Kantor, Bonhams european head of motor cars, said, ‘For a sale just in its first year, the Bonhams Chantilly Sale has achieved an excellent result, with a total £5.5 million achieved for the exclusive collection of just 28 cars.

‘Our first black-tie evening sale, the event was an elegant celebration of beautiful and rare motor cars, one that we hope to continue for years to come.’