Under clear Riviera skies and with the Monaco Grand Prix just weeks away, activity in the principality has already shifted into high gear. Bonhams opened its annual Monaco sale at the Fairmont Monte Carlo, presenting 73 curated lots spanning 43 collector cars, and automobilia, each reflecting a different chapter of motorsport history, and timed to coincide with the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, which overlooks the Loews Hairpin.
The docket leaned heavily into competition pedigree. Vintage Formula 1 machines shared space with Group B rally icons and DTM-era touring cars from the 1980s and 1990s, including the 1958 Lotus 16, the first single-seater raced by Graham Hill, and ex-works rally machinery like the 1983 Audi Quattro A2 Group B driven by Hannu Mikkola. Touring car highlights included the 1995 Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II, and 1992 BMW M3 E30. Eleven cars crossed the block without reserve, adding urgency inside the room and across phone and online bidding channels.
"1990s cars are no longer just nostalgia; they’re the trend of the moment, rapidly becoming some of the most sought-after cars in the collector world. What was once ordinary is now iconic, and demand has never been higher. We are proud to have sold several truly historic machines, which is clear proof that collectors value rarity and exclusivity in the vehicles that Bonhams|Cars sells." - Loic Maschi, Head of the Bonhams|Cars Monaco sale.
The top result confirmed a broader shift seen through early 2026. A modern hybrid flagship, the 2021 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37, led the sale at €2,012,500, which is ~$2,358,523, which is in line with its duPont REGISTRY Index (dRi) Value. The result stood apart from the analog-focused lots surrounding it, reinforcing continued appetite for limited-production electrified exotics at the top end of the market, alongside allocation-only models like the 2024 Ferrari 812 Competizione Aperta and blue-chip classics such as the 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster. Bidding remained competitive throughout, with participation split across in-room, telephone, and online.
Overall, the sale achieved an 83% sell through rate and total sales adding up to €10,385,907 ($12,178,596). With that, it's off to Florida next, where Bonhams Cars will offer 31 stunning and highly exclusive automobiles ranging from hypercars to classics and more, ahead of the annual Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix. Watch this space.
10. 2018 Porsche 911 Type 991 GT2 RS Weissach
€388,125 ($454,826)

9. 1990 AMG-Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II DTM Competition Saloon
€391,000 ($458,218)

8. 1989 Lamborghini LM002
€448,500 ($525,589)

7. 1992 BMW M3 (E30) DTM Compeititon Saloon
€483,000 ($565,983)

6. 1958 Lotus-Climax Type 16 Formula 1
€483,000 ($565,983)

5. 1995 Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti DTM Competition Saloon
€552,000 ($646,908)

4. 2019 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ LP 770-4
€563,500 ($660,385)

3. 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 S Roadster
€724,500 ($849,066)

2. 1983 Audi Quattro A2 Group B Works '#R38'
€862,500 ($1,010,795)

1. 2021 Lamborghini Sián
€2,012,500 ($2,358,523)

Images: Bonhams Cars