Market Intelligence
Artcurial Auction at Flins: Welcome to Renault’s Black Friday
Renault’s museum auction at Flins stunned collectors as every lot sold, doubling estimates and revealing decades of racing, prototypes and icons.
The hidden vaults of automaker museums are often treasure troves of unseen history – cars that have never been displayed, or perhaps never even meant to be seen. That is why moments when a manufacturer decides to streamline its collection and release pieces at auction are so compelling. Artcurial’s sale at Flins on December 7 was a textbook example. As Renault embarked on a renovation of its museum and a reorganization of its collection, it chose to let go of a remarkable selection of vehicles and memorabilia.
The usual line between cars and automobilia was more blurred than ever, but one rule applied across the board: everything was offered without reserve. As a result, all 89 cars found new owners. Estimates were deliberately competitive, and the outcome spoke for itself—the total presale estimate of €4,985,200 was more than doubled, with the auction reaching an impressive €10,472,245.
