Big failure for the sale of the ex-Mario Andretti Lotus Type 79 in Abu Dhabi

She had to be “the” star of thean auction organized by Bonhams on the starting grid of the circuit Yas Marina, this Saturday, November 25. The Lotus Type 79, driven by Mario Andretti and Carlos Reutemann in Grands Prix, was going to be a huge winner, that was a certainty!

The auction house's experts had in fact counted on an estimate generously ranging between 6,5 and 9,5 million dollars (5,9 and 8,7 million euros). She won the Dutch Grand Prix in 1978 with the American star, who would become world champion at the end of that season. In 1979, it was Carlos Reutemann who used this 79/4 chassis alternating with Mario Andretti, with a podium finish for the Argentinian in the streets of Monaco (3rd).

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However, to everyone's amazement, the auctions absolutely did not take off. The starting price, set at $2,5 million, painfully increased until it reached “only” $3,5 million. Such a delta between the seller's expectation and reality is not usual in the rigorous world of auctions and historic cars! The day after the sale, the page dedicated to the Lotus did not indicate "sold", unlike many other vehicles presented that evening.

On YouTube, where the sale was broadcast live, ironic comments were legion. “The economy must be in crisis in Abu Dhabi! », “It’s really a good deal”, “Is there no more money linked to oil there? » “But, the Lotus is worth at least 7 million! »

Bonhams can partly reassure itself with the successful sale of a McLaren MP4/21 ex-Kimi Räikkönen. Driven during the 2006 season, notably at the Australian and Bahrain Grand Prix (podiums), the car chrome plated (a first in the history of F1 then) was sold for 2,76 million euros. A good deal !