London/Paris – Rupert Banner, Head of Christie’s International Motor Car Department today announced the opening of a new office in Paris devoted entirely to motor car consignments. Christie’s winter UK auctions will now be consolidated around the annual February Retromobile auction in Paris, and specialist Jack Patrick, currently based in London, is relocating to Christie’s Paris Office in Avenue Matignon.

This new European team of specialists will be headed by Christie’s Director Philip Kantor, based in Brussels, while Jack Patrick will provide business-getting support based in Paris. Rupert Banner will remain based in London at Christie’s South Kensington, giving clients an additional central London office in an area long associated with the sale of historic automobiles. These strategic changes will provide Christie’s car clients with three points of contact throughout Europe, in Paris, Brussels and London.

‘Christie’s sales of motor cars in France have been incredibly successful. We have sold more than €32 million of classic cars since their inception in 2002, and we have decided to enhance the service we offer our global clients by providing an additional local point of contact for Europe. With this move we anticipate a broader audience will benefit from the unique nature of our international motor car auctions.” said Rupert Banner.

The internationally acclaimed February Retromobile Show in Paris has been a key event in the motoring calendar for more than 30 years and provides the perfect atmosphere for Christie’s to hold its keynote European auction. Now in its 6th year, Christie’s Retromobile sale looks set to eclipse all previous years, with a major consignment of cars from an important private collection. These include:

· The ex-Dick Seaman 1927 Delage 8 Cylinder 1,500cc Supercharged Grand Prix Car (estimate: €2,000,000-3,000,000)

· The ex-Maurice Mestivier 1927 Amilcar MCO 6 Cylinder 1,100cc Supercharged Grand Prix Single Seater (estimate: €300,000-400,000)

· The ex-Lucien Vincent/Lino Fayen 1950 Talbot-Lago T26 GS Berlinette (estimate: €150,000-250,000).

Consignments will be accepted until November 15 2006.

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