François Hollande’s famous scooter sold at auction for 20,500 euros

The scooter with which François Hollande secretly visited actress Julie Gayet was sold at auction on Sunday May 26 at the Château d’Artigny, in Montbazon, in Indre-et-Loire. This 125 cc Piaggio was sold for 20,500 euros. It was priced at 10,000 euros. It was acquired by the Jallais automobile museum, near Cholet, in Maine-et-Loire. “It’s a part of French history”laughed Denis Breheret, the buyer, a car enthusiast, contacted by telephone during the sale.

The gray machine, with 34,000 kilometers on the clock, was presented on the auction website as the “Elysée scooter used by President François Hollande to join incognito, gallantly, the actress Julie Gayet, from the Élysée Palace to rue du Cirque, on New Year’s Day 2014”. The actress was not his official companion then. She has since become his wife.

François Hollande himself authenticated this 125 cc Piaggio scooter, reports France Bleu Touraine. The machine was sold by the Élysée in 2015. The buyer then sold it to the current owner, an individual who used it on his wedding day. This man then met François Hollande during a book signing session. He showed him photos and the papers of the scooter, which the former President of the Republic recognized. “To Patrick and Manola who had the chance to ride my scooter to better share their happiness. Kind regards. This scooter is the right one”even autographed the former president.

A replica of the Bokassa throne measuring 3 meters high by 3.50 meters wide or a bottle of Romanée-Conti from 1924 are also part of the sale. This sale offers 139 objects for auction, mainly paintings or works of art.