The Artcurial auction at Retromobile 2020 in Paris on February 7 will feature eight Citroëns and if pricing estimates are any indication of how their sales will play out, they may go for below what we have seen Citroëns command in the past.
Lot 27
1963 DS19 Cabriolet Usine par Henri Chapron
Chassis n°4251058
Chapron production n° 8544
Engine n°213006945
Est: 165,000 – 195,000 €
Update – Feb. 11, 2020: Sold for 185,952 €
This example comes with its certificate from ‘Henri Chapron Carrossier’, indicating that the chassis was delivered Chapron on April 29, 1963, and finished and delivered on June 20, 1963 to Citroën, to go on sale in its dealer network. It was acquired by its first owner in Paris and kept it until 1981, then sold to a Mr. Claude B. in unusually original condition and with very low mileage of just 54,000 km. He looked after the car with great care, having it serviced at a Citroën garage near Bordeaux (all the bills from 1981 – 2019 are on file). It has now covered 114,000 km from new and has been wonderfully maintained. It is presented today in truly exceptional original condition with just the front seats having the leather re-trimmed. It has just undergone a full service by Citroën in Amsterdam at a cost of €3300.
Lot 33
1931 C4 G coach
Chassis n° 105315
No reserve – Est: 20,000 – 30,000 €
Update – Feb. 11, 2020: Not sold
This C4 features a coach body style, which was actually called a “faux cabriolet 4-seater” as opposed to “faux cabriolet two-seater” which had no quarter windows. It has been fully restored and remains in very good condition. The interior has been redone in grey cloth and the dashboard features a series of instruments on a black sheet fixed behind the red bodywork metal sheet. Part of the Citroën collection of André Trigano, it was sold during Retromobile 2016 for €27,417.
Lot 54
1977 2CV4
Chassis n° 08KB6495
Engine n°50937
No reserve – Est: 15,000 – 25,000 €
Update – Feb. 11, 2020: Sold for 29,800 €
An exceptionally low mileage 2CV having only covered 6,949km in Monaco since new. One reason for the price to be potentially lower is that it is a 2CV4 model, hence a 435 cc engine as opposed to the 602 cc larger engine found in a 2CV6.
Lot 55
1963 Ami 6 Berline
Châssis n° 154871
No reserve – Est: 10,000 – 15,000 €
Update – Feb. 11, 2020: Sold for 7,152 €
Appearing to be a well-preserved example, though the interior in red fabric shows signs of wear and will have to be redone, it comes with the original 1963 purchase invoice with the warranty card as well as a copy of the first French title from January 1963 and numerous maintenance invoices. Its first owner kept his car until 2007! It has its original Carrara white colour.
Lot 56
1970 ID20 Break
Chassis n° 3992536
No reserve – Est: 25,000 – 35,000 €
Update – Feb. 11, 2020: Sold for 23,840 €
First registered on 18 March 18, 1970, this ID 20 was restored between 2010 and 2012, and today is painted Bleu Camargue (light blue), conforming to the manufacturer’s colour chart, with a white roof. The original upholstery has been preserved.
Lot 57
1965 DS19 Cabriolet Usine
Chassis n° 4294071
No reserve – Est: 70,000 – 100,000 €
Update – Feb. 11, 2020: Not sold
The most interesting one to watch will be this DS19 Cabrio – exactly as it was when it was bought at the Artcurial Rétromobile auction in 2017. At the time it sold for $106,990 USD to a Swiss Citroën collector excited by its original condition. Having probably spent the past three years investigating the cost of doing a full restoration, the owner is no longer that enthused and is now trying to recover some portion of his original cost. The question is; What will that be?
First registered on April 30, 1965, it was owned from 1968 by a plumber from Normandy who following a rear impact in the 1970s, stored the car in a barn with plans to restore it. The project was never carried out and after languishing and degrading over time, came out of oblivion in 2016. It had only three owners to the 2017 auction date. Its odometer displays 78,487 km, which would very likely correspond to its original mileage. The auction listing states that the car needs a complete restoration which will allow it to regain its elegant dark grey livery with red leather interior. Its upholstery remained in a beautifully patinated condition and it can be perfectly retained after a thorough cleansing. We’re not sure if that means of the leather or purchaser’s bank account.
On top of the selling price, because the car is coming from Switzerland, an additional import VAT of 5.5% will be charged to any foreign buyer.
Lot 58
1968 DS21 Cabriolet Chapron
Chassis n° 4600077
Est: 120,000 – 160,000 €
Update – Feb. 11, 2020: Sold for 119,796 €
First registered on August 2, 1968, this car was sold new to a motorist in Milan, Italy. It was originally Forest Green and sold its 2nd and current owner in 2012! The odometer shows 83,163 km, probably its original mileage. It has been repainted in a pearly grey and the dark brown leather upholstery remains original and in good condition.
Lot 60
1975 DS23ie Pallas Berline
Chassis n°02FG6451
No Reserve – Est: 30,000 – 40,000 €
Update – Feb. 11, 2020: Sold for 41,720 €
First sold new to a notary in Colle-sur-Loup, near Nice, who registered it with the number 1000 SP 06 on May 22, 1975, he kept it until 2012. 37 years in the same ownership! The car still retains its original first registration document from 1975. Its exterior has older black paint and inside the tobacco-coloured leather upholstery has been redone. Additionally, it is equipped with an optional, original air-conditioning system, and is equipped with optional driving lights under the front bumpers.