A very special auction. When Peugeot, Citroën and Panhard weren’t Stellantis
25 October 2023 3 min read 9 images
Photo credit: Aguttes
Cliff Goodall’s view
Buying a car at an auction in the same factory where it was produced is a unique thrill, especially after having toured the brand's museum and discovered its history. Rather than just leaving with a souvenir from the gift shop, you go home with an actual car. In Maranello, Ferrari has held several successful auctions. Similarly, in France, Aguttes has been organizing sales in Sochaux, the spiritual headquarters of all the Peugeot and Citroën cars on our roads, for years now.
This year's auction took place on 15th October and was quite rewarding. Even though 44 out of the 71 lots offered were sold – a seemingly modest figure – it still represents a 61.97% success rate. Total revenue was impressive too, coming in at €1,261,280 out of an estimated €1,591,000, which was very close to 80%. This indicates that the cars sold did exceptionally well.
Aguttes L’Aventure Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Sochaux 15th October 2023
As always, let’s start with the most expensive one. In this case, it was a 1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, one of the very first produced (the twelfth out of 200). Initially set up for racing, it participated in the 1984 Rallye du Maquis and the Tour de Corse the following year. Although it was unlucky in the races, it was restored to road configuration and in 2021, it underwent a further €19,000 refurbishment at the Peugeot atelier to bring it back to perfection. With an estimated value between €270,000 and €320,000, it was sold for €288,240, making it a sound investment.
But another 205 stole the show. In 1980, at the famous tennis tournament named after the aviator Roland Garros, Peugeot launched the 205 Cabriolet Roland Garros, a limited-edition model in metallic green with white interior. It was an instant hit. The model offered at the auction was likely the best available on the market, with just one previous owner and just 3,050 km from new. It's no surprise that its estimated value of €30,000 to €40,000 was well justified, but in the room the collectors did not spare themselves: sold for €39,840.
In truth, the sun was probably shining in Sochaux that day, as besides the Roland Garros, two other Peugeot Cabriolets set their respective records.
The first was a 504 Cabriolet 2.0 designed by Pininfarina with special details. Initially intended for limited production, the exorbitant costs led to the project being scrapped after just three models. The one at Aguttes had only 17,000 km on the clock. A regular 504 2.0 Cabriolet goes for around €20,000, but this rarity was estimated between €40,000 and €60,000. It closed at €59,640, setting a new clear record.
Additionally, another record was set by a Peugeot 306 Cabriolet 2.0. It sold for €20,640, which is double its estimated value of €10,000 to €15,000. For the record, it was yellow with black leather interior.
On the other side of the former PSA group, now Stellantis, Citroën was also well represented and there were some real bargains to be had.
For instance, a Citroën GS that once belonged to Yvonne de Gaulle, the wife of the famous Prime Minister Charles de Gaulle. After her husband's passing, the first lady chose a low profile and swapped her iconic DS models for this more contemporary and easier-to-use car, which she kept until her death in 1979. This 1974 black model needed a complete restoration, the corrosion was extensive in several areas, the interior needed redoing, and the engine would also require a thorough check. However, what was being purchased was a piece of French history. The estimated value of €15,000 to €25,000 was more than justified given the car's significance, and the final price of €16,440 was extremely reasonable. But without its historical context, it would have gone unsold!
Even more surprising was the sale of another car from the de Gaulle household, a 1965 Citroën DS21. Unlike the GS, this car was directly ordered by General de Gaulle himself, according to his specific requirements, and was undoubtedly used by the former head of state. Although it wasn't the famous car involved in the 1962 assassination attempt, a Citroën DS owned by Charles de Gaulle is certainly a gem for any French collector. Here too, the car was in need of a complete restoration, with extensive rust, an engine in need of an overhaul, and so on. Nevertheless, it sold above its maximum estimate for €59,040. After restoration, it will become a very expensive heirloom.
Another excellent result was achieved for the 1932 Panhard X66 Coupé Chauffeur. It's rare for a pre-war luxury sedan, complete with a partition between the driver and the passenger, to make a splash at an auction. However, this particular Panhard X66 was complete with all its details, even the rarest ones, and had a very low estimated value of €1,000 to €3,000. After a series of bids, it sold for €6,840, a sum that is merely the first instalment of its restoration cost.
The car I would have taken home? I would have wanted the 1978 Peugeot 104ZS, a sort of precursor to the 205 GTI. But then I saw the Citroën Visa 1000 Pistes Evolution. Not the best known of the Group B rally cars, but it has its own history. With just 145 bhp, it couldn't compete with the 400 bhp monsters, but it had an ace up its sleeve: it was Jean Claude Andruet's backup car in the 1985 season. If you can't afford a 205 Turbo 16, this is the one for you. It changed hands for just €44,640, well within its estimated range of €40,000 to €60,000
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