Record broken at Paris auction

A 1926 Bentley 3-Litre set a new world record in Paris this weekend. The Red Label Speed Model Tourer sold for €701,500 (£620,931) – the highest ever price paid for one at auction.

The lot was part of Bonhams sale on 8 February at Le Grand Palais in Paris. Lasting more than seven hours, the sale saw 77% of lots sold and achieved a total of €14,930,317 (£13,215,544).

Vintage and veteran cars were the top performers throughout the sale, with both the ex-Earl Howe, Pierre Levegh 1935 Bugatti 57T and the 1904 Fiat Type 24/32 rear-entrance tonneau achieving €713,000 (£630,755).

Sale highlight was the 19-lot collection of the late Jacques Vander Stappen. Top lot was the 1907 Minerva Type K 40HP Limousine/torpedo convertible, which achieved €603,750 (£534,783). It was closely followed by a second example from the Belgian marque, a 1934 Minerva Type AL 40 CV coupé sport which sold for €391,000 (£346,309). 

Other strong performers included a 1974 Lamborghini Countach LP400 ‘Periscopo’ achieving €638,250 (£565,298) and the 1958 Jaguar XK 150 S 3.4-Litre Roadster which realised €219,050 (£193,936).

A 1954 Aston Martin DB 2/4 3.0-litre cabriolet sold for €391,000 (£346,151). And on of our favourites, the 1936 Alta 2-Litre Sports sold for €345,550 (£305,325).