Les Belles Endormies by Bonhams|Cars at the Polo de Paris

A 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K Coupé with coachwork by Vanvooren (estimate: €1,500,000-2,500,000)

Catalogue

PARIS, FRANCE – January 20, 2026 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – On 30 January 2026, Bonhams|Cars will present “Les Belles Endormies” – a Collection of 11 collector cars, all offered without reserve, at its Polo de Paris Sale. The cars were discovered lying dormant and gathering dust in a garage in Switzerland, all impeccably stored on axle stands waiting to be brought back to life.

The Collection was assembled by Pierre Strinati, a pioneer car enthusiast who started buying cars in the 1950s. In less than a decade, Mr Strinati assembled a collection like few had done before him. It included some of the most important motorcars of the 1930s and 1950s such as a Talbot Lago T150C Goutte d’Eau, an Alfa Romeo 8C 2900, a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing or a BMW 507 (the last two bought new).  He sold most of his cars in the 1980s when traffic got too dense and speed limits were introduced!

He kept the cars he loved the most, many of which are now offered in the Bonhams|Cars sale, including a 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K Coupé with coachwork by Vanvooren (estimate: €1,500,000-2,500,000), a 1938 Delage D8-120 Cabriolet with coachwork by Henri Chapron (estimate: €250,000-350,000) and a unique 1939 Voisin C30 “Aérodyne“, which is estimated at €225,000–275,000.

A 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K Coupé is a remarkable one-off, matching-numbers example and among just 18 W29 coupés ever built. Even rarer, this example features a fixed-head coupé body by Vanvooren, one of the most renowned and successful French luxury-car coachbuilders of the 1930s and was delivered new to Paris, underscoring its continental provenance. In continuous ownership since 1959 and formerly displayed at the Musée de l’Automobile Jean Tua in Geneva, this outstandingly original automobile presents as an exceptional survivor from the golden era of pre-war Mercedes-Benz craftsmanship (estimate: €1,500,000-2,500,000).

Maximilien Gagnebin, Senior Specialist at Bonhams|Cars, commented: “This garage-find collection is maybe one of the last of its kind with examples showcasing the heyday of car manufacturing. These Sleeping Beauties have never been offered publicly before, most of them having been purchased by Mr Strinati in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Their condition is a testament to their long-term owner. They should be preserved through careful restoration to maintain their originality but, most importantly, they deserve to be driven as intended and shown to the public!”

1938 Delage D8-120 Cabriolet with coachwork by Henri Chapron (estimate: €250,000-350,000)

Representing the ultimate expression of the eight-cylinder Delage, this supremely elegant D8-120 Cabriolet (estimate: €250,000-350,000) was ordered in December 1938 by the Swiss Delage and Delahaye representative, Albert Goy of Garage du Kursaal in Geneva for their customer, Mr Gossweiler of Bern. Delahaye commissioned the cabriolet body from the celebrated Parisian coachbuilder Henri Chapron, who completed the work the following summer.

Pierre Strinati bought the Delage in the early 1960s from Carrosserie Graber, who repainted the car dark grey over black from its original full black, and retrimmed the hood in April 1961. This colour combination suits the D8-120 Cabriolet very well. The leather interior remains original, as does the rest of the car (estimate: €250,000-350,000).

A unique 1939 Voisin C30 “Aérodyne” (estimate: €225,000–275,000)

A fantastic insight into futuristic design of the late 1930s, this unique 1939 Voisin C30 is one of only five known survivors of some 20 examples built. To this day, the creator of its bodywork remains a mystery. The car was first registered in the French Alpes-Maritimes before returning to Paris. Mr Strinati acquired it in 1963 and imported it into Switzerland. He treated the car to some light restorative work in the 1980s painting it in BMW’s Savanna Beige from, what we believe, its original colour of green. The interior remains largely original and very bright with its clear plexiglass apertures in the roof. (estimate: €225,000-275,000)

Other highlights of the Collection include (All Offered Without Reserve): 

• 1941 BMW 335 Cabriolet, coachwork by Autenrieth (estimate: €25,000-45,000)
• 1956 Jaguar XK140 Coupé (estimate: €25,000-45,000)
• 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL (estimate: €60,000-90,000)
• 1952 Jowett Jupiter (estimate: €10,000-15,000)
• 1966 Land Rover Series IIA (estimate: €15,000-20,000)
• 1952 Willys Overland (estimate: €10,000-15,000)
• 1934 Citroën C4 Autochenille (estimate: €20,000-40,000)
• 1951 Citroën 11BL Traction Avant (estimate: €5,000-10,000)

Sale: The Paris Sale | 30 January 2026 | Polo de Paris
Location: Polo de Paris, Route des Moulins – Bois de Boulogne. 75016 Paris
Exhibition date: 27-30 January 2026
Date: 30 January 2026 at 11am (Automobilia) and 12pm (Collector Cars)

About The Bonhams Network

Bonhams is a global network of auction houses, with the largest number of international salerooms, offering the widest range of collecting categories and selling at all price points. Bonhams is recognised for its bespoke service, and a dedication to local market relationships, enhanced by a global platform. With 14 salerooms, Bonhams presents over 1,000 sales annually, across more than 60 specialist categories, including fine art, collectables, luxury, wine & spirits, and collector cars.

Founded in 1793, Bonhams has representatives in more than 30 countries and operates flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. In 2022, Bonhams added four international auction houses to its network: Bukowskis, Stockholm; Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen; Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris and Brussels; and Skinner, Massachusetts. The success of Bonhams’ global strategy is a result of recognising the shift in growing intercontinental buying and increased digital engagement.

More information and highlights can be found HERE

Source: Bonhams|Cars

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