To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Paris event, 6 February
2019.
Estimate:
�120.000 - �200.000
- One of only 76 examples converted for racing use
- Paintwork and design by artist Jean-Yves Lacroix
- Eligible for the Masters Endurance Legends series
Looking to compete with the sports car establishment, Venturi was
founded by Claude Poiraud and G�rard Godfroy in the 1980s and their
first car took to the streets in 1986. Venturi's most exciting car,
the 400 GT, was introduced in 1992. With performance to match its
looks, the 400 GT was not only the most powerful car ever built in
France at the time of its introduction, but the first production
car with carbon ceramic brakes as standard. Boasting a V-6 engine
developed jointly by Peugeot, Renault and Volvo producing 400 bhp,
performance was astounding, especially when considering it weighed
under 1,200 kg, some 225 kg less than a Ferrari F355.
Ordered new by Herv� Poulain, Honorary Chairman of the auction
house Artcurial and the man behind BMW's art cars, Poulain
purchased this car, the 25th Venturi built, in 1992. The following
year, it received fascinating new paintwork by Jean-Yves Lacroix,
which was inspired by the perfume �Pasha de Cartier' and in this
livery saw frequent use throughout the 1993-1995 seasons where it
was driven by both Poulain and former Formula One driver Oliver
Grouillard. During this time, the car was also featured in the
Venturi brochure to promote the 400 GT. The car is also featured in
Poulain's book about his racing cars, Mes Pop Cars.
Following the end of the Venturi's racing career, the car was
converted to road-going specifications and sold to a Mr Strub in
Strasbourg and was subsequently purchased by the third and current
owner in 2008 and imported to Germany. Since then, the car has been
well preserved in the consignor's collection. A service in October
of 2018 included a replacement of the clutch release bearing, as
well as new brake linings and a new starter. It is accompanied
today by an extensive history file, which includes the original
Certificat d'Immatriculation from Herv� Poulain's ownership.
Without a doubt one of France's most exciting cars of the 1990s,
this is a Venturi with uniquely French history that would make a
wonderful entry into the new Masters Endurance Legends series.
Please note that this car is registered as model year 1994. To view
this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please
visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/pa19.
