1994 Venturi 400 GT Trophy Coupe

Now up for auction is this sleek 400 GT Trophy Coupe from 1994, made by French supercar legend Venturi.

The sportscar brand flourished for 16 years before being acquired and reinvented as an electric car company. While now a Formula E team, its legacy is never forgotten amongst the automobile crowd.

Most notably, it was only one of the few companies that were able to create a true rival to Porsche Ferrari in the ‘90s. That includes the 400 GT you see above, with its twin-turbo V6 engine made by Renault, Peugeot, and Volvo. It tops up to a horsepower of 402 and reaches zero to 60 in under 5 seconds. It’s also got a top speed of 181 mph. Such numbers put it on par with Ferrari cars back in its heydays, although it remains impressive today.

More specifically, this Venturi 400 GT is the 25th Venturi ever built and is 1 of 76 race-converted models. It received a fresh coat of paint in 1995 by renowned artist Jean-Yves Lacroix. Beyond the looks, though, it’s got a stupendous racing career. Later in its life, the car was adjusted for road-legal specifications and has been well preserved and serviced since.

RM Sotheby’s will auction off the car this February 6. The estimated price is between $137,000 to $228,000. That’s quite a wide window, most certainly, but just par for the course since the Venturi 400 GT isn’t just a car. It’s also a testament to a thrilling period in the French automotive history.

Photos courtesy of RM Sotheby’s