Neither the ex-UK Facel 11 nor the ex-Ava Gardner Excellence reached their reserves at Bonhams auction at Retromobile on Thursday afternoon. Both were left hand drive.

The 1962 Facel 11, which had been imported into the UK in left hand drive form from the USA over 10 years ago, was estimated at €275-375,000 which was a pretty wide range.

It started at €130k and went to €230,000/approx £176,000 but that wasn’t enough. For reference, a similar Facel 11 sold in Scottsdale, Arizona, in January for approximately £165,000 and this was a well known car, in the same family for 30 years.

The Excellence, which was restored 10/15 years ago, came from Holland and was one of the three owned by Ava Gardner. It even came with an invitation to the Concours at Chantilly later this year. It was the last of the ten EX-chassis numbered cars, the 1ere series and the first of three Excellences to be auctioned this week at Retromobile after a long absence from auctions; the other two come up tomorrow at Artcurial.

It had a reserve of €230,000-€340,00  – again, quite a wide range – and started at €100,000, rising rapidly to €155,000 but there it stuck and didn’t sell.