With a superbly presented catalogue, a location to die for, a handy tie-in with Ferrari’s 60th Anniversary and the company’s usual exemplary organisation, RM are hoping for great things with this year’s all-Ferrari sale.
All cars have been subjected to Ferrari’s Classiche accreditation process (carried out ‘down the road’ from Fiorano, at the main factory where the company’s extensive Classiche workshops are housed) and great care has gone into selecting the entries to ensure a broad spread of cars ranging from the first motor car lot, a 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS Offered Without Reserve at EUR 40,000 - EUR 60,000, to one of the Sale’s highlights, the 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM Testa Rossa Spyder at EUR 6,000,000 - EUR 7,500,000, the car that Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien drove to victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1962.
 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM Testa Rossa - EUR 6,000,000 - EUR 7,500,000 |
 1981 Ferrari 512 BBI Offered Without Reserve - EUR 70,000 – EUR 90.000 |
 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE - EUR 80,000 - EUR 95,000 |
 2006 Ferrari 248 Formula 1 Grand Prix Car - AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST |
Looking at the road cars first, the majority are from that 20-year golden period of the mid-sixties to the mid-eighties that saw the transition from front- to mid-engined designs. For example, there are two 275GTBs and a 275 GTS. The 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB is a short-nose car and estimated at EUR 450,000 - EUR 550,000, while the silver 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4’s higher price of EUR 500,000 - EUR 600,000 reflects this version’s rarity and ultimate desirability. The latter car is catalogued as having a thirty years' old repaint so that a pernickety buyer may wish to lavish some attention on his new purchase.
In addition to the nice ‘No Reserve’ 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS (EUR 240,000 - EUR 280,000) there are several other V12s that include a 1968 Ferrari 330 GTC (No Reserve) at EUR 130,000 - EUR 160,000, a 1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 for EUR 70,000 - EUR 90,000, and a 1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 (No Reserve) for EUR 70,000 - EUR 80,000. All of these catalogue well and are in attractive colours combinations.
Two examples of ‘street’ Dinos are in the sale, a red 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GT (No Reserve) at EUR 90,000 - EUR 110,000 that has the distinction of being delivered when new to Heinz Lauda of Austria, the uncle of the 1974 Ferrari 312-mounted World Champion. The yellow car is a 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS (No Reserve) for EUR 125,000 - EUR 160,000. In addition to these road cars there’s also a gorgeous ex-SEFAC and NART 1966 Ferrari Dino 206 SP for EUR 1,650,000 - EUR 1,950,000, a car that’s seen extensive racing in-period at Le Mans, Monza and the ‘Ring, driven by stars such as Pedro Rodriguez and Richie Ginther.
 1968 Ferrari 365 GTC - EUR 150,000 - EUR 190,000 |
 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB - EUR 450,000 - EUR 550,000 |
Built just a few years later, the 1970 Ferrari 512 S is another ex-NART machine and one that’s also ‘trod the boards’ of international racing in 1970 - 71. It’s estimated at EUR 2,000,000 - EUR 2,400,000, and is – by all accounts – of a type that’s immensely satisfying to drive in events ranging from the Le Mans Classic and the Tour Auto to the Monterey Classics. Truly one of the greats.
Going back to road cars for a second (but of course racing is never far away at Maranello) there are there are two 288 GTOs, one of which we recently looked closer at on Classic Driver, a regular red 1985 car for EUR 325,000 - EUR 375,000, and the only Giallo Fly car built, the only surviving factory prototype 288 GTO estimated at EUR 400,000 - EUR 450,000.
And if you miss that lot, the very next is a 1987 Ferrari F40 Prototipo, one of the eight known prototypes and a car featuring many F40 LM components for EUR 500,000 - EUR 600,000. And if you miss that car... the following entry is a 2001 Ferrari 550 Sperimentale (No Reserve) at EUR 220,000 - EUR 280,000. Phew.
 2001 Ferrari 550 Sperimentale Offered Without Reserve - EUR 220,000 - EUR 280,000 |
 1967 Ferrari 365 California - EUR 700,000 - EUR 850,000 |
Headline billing will inevitably go to the really big-ticket cars, entries such as the 1962 Le Mans winner, the 1953 Ferrari 340 MM Competition Spyder, EUR 1,900,000 - EUR 2,400,000, the colourful 1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta Competizione EUR 2,800,000 - EUR 3,200,000, several ex-Scuderia modern F1 cars (like the ex-Massa, Turkish GP winning 2006 Ferrari 248, price ‘Available Upon Request’) and either of the two Ferrari 250 GT SWBs.
Wondering when we’d get round to the Short Wheelbases? Perhaps leaving ‘the best till last’ is too personal for a subjective preview, however your author’s opinion on this subject is well known: it’s the ultimate. RM have two SWBs listed, an immaculate ‘Street’ steel red with tan interior 1962 car at EUR 1,700,000 - EUR 2,000,000, and a 1960 full-blown alloy ‘Competizione’ (with 1960 racing history at the hands of grand prix driver Jo Schlesser) for EUR 1,900,000 - EUR 2,200,000. A lot of money in anybody’s book, the latter is estimated attractively compared to other alloy cars on the market due to its replacement engine block (by Ferrari Classiche) and body, although as with all the other cars in the sale, it carries the Ferrari Classiche Certificate of Authenticity.
 Model Helmet 1:2 Scale, 2001 - 2002 - EUR 1,500 - 2,000 |
 Michele Conti - The 1958 Ferrari 250 TR, 1985 - EUR 15,000 - 18,000 |
Prior to the motor cars there will be over 170 items of Ferrari Memorabilia and Parts for sale, many of them totally unique pieces sold direct from the race team like the 1:2 Wind Tunnel Model of the Ferrari F2004 (EUR 30,000 – 40,000), or the 2006 Felipe Massa Racing Suit (EUR 4,000 – 5,000).
Much of the automobilia relates to Michael Schumacher, such as one of the great German’s 1996 race helmets, with autograph for EUR 15,000 – 20,000 - a piece that comes ‘fully branded…with the correct extended chin piece’.
You can’t get more authentic than that.
To see a full lotlisting of entries to the May 20th ‘Leggenda e Passione’ auction please CLICK HERE.
To see all the entries to the May 20th ‘Leggenda e Passione’ auction in the Classic Driver car database please CLICK HERE.
Auction Schedule
SALE
May 20, 2007 - 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
1:00 pm Memorabilia
3:00 pm Automobiles
PREVIEW
May 18, 2007 - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
May 19, 2007 - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
May 20, 2007 - 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Admission to this event requires the purchase of an official auction catalogue available for EUR 65 (plus S&H). The catalogue admits two and must be presented at the entrance to the sale to be granted entry.
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RM Auctions in association with Sotheby's
34-35 New Bond Street London W1A 2AA UK Telephone during Sale: +39 0536 193 5019 UK Telephone: +44 (0)207 293 6336 Fax: +44 (0)207 293 6337 North America Telephone: +1 519 352 45 75 Website: www.rmauctions.com Email: [email protected]. |
Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: RM Auctions/James Mann - Strictly Copyright
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