[Gallery] Cars in the Grand Palais – Bonhams wow in Paris
As well as astounding the world with the announcement that they will be selling the iconic 2 VEV Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato at the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, Bonhams are also holding their annual sale under the astonishing glass roof of the Paris Grand Palais.
It's hard to pick ut a star of the incredible show, but immediately as you arrive you are struck with a heady mix of Group B Lancia Delta S4, Lamborghini Miura, Mercedes 200 SL Carrera Panamericana and the ex-Senna McLaren which will be sold in May in Monaco.
If you can tear yourself away from that incredible array of automotive machinery you'll find some of the more left-field sides of motoring majesty is also catered for. The left side of the Palais is dominated not by the cars that line it in row upon row of beauty, but by a bright scarlett ex-Ferrari F1 bus. The Iveco coach was made especially for Scuderia Ferrari and used as an operations base in Formula 1 until 2005, and yes, it was graced by Michael Schumacher at his racing height.
At the other end of the haul, past rows of pre-war beauties and a bright purple Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost (yes a purple Silver Ghost) you'll find everything from a tiny Vespa 400 microcar to an amphibious Amphicar and a black and red Metro Turbo.
It truly is a list for everyone, but it's hard to look past the trio of Delta S4 (estimate €580-780,000), Lamborghini 400 GT (€520-580,000) and Lamborghini Miura (€1.2-1.4million) as the stars of this show.
The sale is later today (February 7) so we'll have an update on the real stars soon.
Photography by Tom Shaxson.