Historica Selecta Honors Artcurial Motorcars with the First-ever Top Sale Classic Car Auction Yearbook Award for the 2014-2015 Season
4 November 2015MODENA, Italy (4 November 2015) – Historica Selecta, specialists in the international collector car market and authors of the Classic Car Auction Yearbook sponsored by Credit Suisse, has created a new award for the industry to honor the auction house with the top-selling lot of the season (1st of September – 31st of August). On Thursday, the 22nd of October, at the official presentation of the new Yearbook in Padua, Italy, Co-authors Adolfo Orsi and Raffaele Gazzi presented the 2014-2015 Top Sale Classic Car Auction Yearbook Award to Artcurial Motorcars for the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California SWB they sold on the 6th of February as part of the Roger and Jacques Baillon Collection, for $18,644,874 USD.
Artcurial Motorcars Specialists Matthieu Lamoure and Pierre Novikoff were present in Padua to accept the award in front of a full room of industry colleagues, auction house representatives, collectors and media. The Baillon Collection was regarded by many as an extraordinary event and market phenomenon due to the surprise and excitement surrounding the treasured ‘barnfind’ collection, and the top-selling 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California SWB further emphasized this historic milestone as an unrestored collector car reaching such heights.
“As a strong supporter for the historical preservation of classic cars, I am extremely happy to see that a ‘barn-find’ achieved the top price of the auction season for the first time ever,” says Adolfo Orsi, historian, specialist, co-author and president of Historica Selecta. “To further emphasize the patina of the California, we selected a chrome background for the cover.”
“My team and I are honored to receive this award which both reflects the collectors’ indisputable passion for cars in original condition and also rewards the committed work of an inspired and inspiring team,” says Matthieu Lamoure, Managing Director of Artcurial Motorcars. “The work of our friends Adolfo Orsi and Raffaele Gazzi is outstanding and the book a valuable tool for car collectors.”
The new annual Top Sale Classic Car Auction Yearbook Award presented by Historica Selecta commemorates the automotive auction house that achieves this top honor every year for its contribution through work and care in successfully selling the top lot above all other auction sales in the industry, marking an important and historic milestone for the international collector car market as a whole.
In the same tradition that the authors started 22 years ago with the first edition, the Classic Car Auction Yearbook continues to also honor the top-selling car of the season by incorporating its image into the cover art for the hardback collectible. This year’s 22nd edition is unique with the first-ever metallic cover, brilliantly presented in silver to offset the patina of the Baillon Ferrari gracing its cover.
About the Classic Car Auction Yearbook
Launched in 1993, Historica Selecta’s Classic Car Auction Yearbook, sponsored by Credit Suisse since 2009, is authored and edited by company founders and historians Adolfo Orsi and Raffaele Gazzi. The new 2014-2015 Classic Car Auction Yearbook is available for €70 through an international network of specialty, automotive bookstores as well as internet-based retailers. For more information and to review the publisher’s directory on where to purchase the Yearbooks, please visit Classiccarauctionyearbook.com.
About the Credit Suisse Classic Car Program
Introduced in 2004, the Credit Suisse Classic Car Program has become immensely popular. Over the past decade, Credit Suisse has built a network of friends and enthusiasts who share a passion for classic cars. Its partnership of outstanding classic events, including its own rallies and its collection of historic vehicles, underline Credit Suisse’s commitment to the classic car scene. Friends of the program include Derek Bell MBE, Jochen Mass and Alain de Cadenet. Credit Suisse also continues to support and celebrate some of the leading historic motoring events, including: Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Goodwood Revival. Please visit credit-suisse.com/classiccars.
About Historica Selecta
Historica Selecta was founded in Modena, Italy in 1990 by Adolfo Orsi and was soon joined by partner Raffaele Gazzi in 1991. As leading specialists in the international collector car market and champions for historical preservation, Historica Selecta often advises many of the world’s most prestigious manufacturers, museums, private events and collectors. Please visit: classiccarauctionyearbook.com/en/historica-selecta/.