An endurance Peugeot 908 will be put up for sale by Artcurial on March 18 as part of the Retromobile Show. It is one of the last two cars entered by the French manufacturer for the 2011 season. The prototype is estimated between 1,800,000 and 2,400,000 €.
With around twenty victories between 2007 and 2011, including one in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race (2009), the Peugeot 908 HDi is one of the models that have marked the history of the endurance championship. A copy that ran during the final season in which the manufacturer with the lion was engaged will be auctioned during a sale organized by Artcurial, on March 18 and 19, as part of the Retromobile Show.
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Last of the line
The chassis offered for sale (n° 908-07) is the ultimate evolution of the Peugeot 908 HDi. This terror of the circuits therefore benefits from all possible mechanical and aerodynamic improvements. Of the seven events of the season, six are won by the cars entered by the Sochaux brand. The auction house highlights a rare fact: this copy was victorious in the only race in which it took part. This is the 6 Hours of Zhuhai, in China, with the French driver Sébastien Bourdais and the British Anthony Davidson at the wheel. This is also the last endurance event in which Peugeot took part.
Absent from the endurance world championship since 1994, Peugeot took advantage of the new regulations authorizing diesels to announce its return to endurance in 2005. The initial prototype was equipped with a 5.5 l V12 developing between 700 and 800 hp. From 2011, the 908 adopted a 3.7 l V8 of 550 hp, still fueled by diesel. But, alhen Peugeot is at the top of its game, the manufacturer abruptly ends its endurance program, which was to accommodate the 908 HYbrid4 in 2012. In 2022, the manufacturer will return to the track with the‘Hypercar 9X8.
2 million euros for the prototype?
Artcurial specifies that the current owner of the Peugeot 908 acquired it directly from the manufacturer and that the beauty has not driven for seven years. A proper overhaul is therefore necessary before the car returns to the track. Due to its rarity and the history of its lineage, this Peugeot 908 is estimated at between €1,800,000 and 2,400,000. This is not the first time chassis #908-07 has gone on sale. In 2020, the Ascott Collection house had already offered it, without success. The 908 had been overhauled by Peugeot Sport and was to be delivered with a large batch of parts.
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