This is one of the prototypes of the F40: an intermediate version between a street F40 and a racing F40LM with only 800 Kilometers. This car was the only one not to be sold in the auction, because it did not reach the reserve price.
|
As reported last week in VeloceToday, RM’s “Leggenda e Passione” Ferrari cars and memorabilia auction in Fiorano on Sunday May 20th, was a big success. Seventy out of seventy two memorabilia for sale were sold and thirty two of the thirty three Ferraris consigned to the auction sold, for a total amount of roughly $40 million (excluding commissions and taxes).
All the cars and many of the memorabilia and parts were certified by Ferrari, therefore their authenticity was guaranteed. For the cars, authenticity was granted by “Ferrari Storiche”, who in many cases were also in charge of the restoration of the cars before the sale.
Please note that the official currency of the auction has been the euro: the amounts mentioned have been converted to US dollars with some rounding.
These five cars sold for a total of about $19.5 million.
|
On Saturday everything was available for viewing and testing by potential buyers and curious visitors. The most fascinating cars also took some laps of the Fiorano track.
Luca Badoer, Ferrari’s F1 test driver, drove the 330TRI and a 288GTO, reporting his enthusiastic impressions about the handling of the TR, a car that he drove for the first time.
On Sunday, the buyers and curious crowd were surprised to meet Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the president of Ferrari and Fiat, who pleased everybody by being available for photos and autographs. Also present for the auction was Jean Todt.
The auction has started with the Ferrari memorabilia and parts: documents, cups, racing suits, car parts, and sculptures. Only two lots were not sold because they did not reach the reserve price. Note that all prices mentioned herein do not include commissions.
Highlights included $52,000 USD for a Ferrari F1 engine of 2004 and the $72,000 USD for a 2005 F1 steering wheel. Michael Schumacher racing suites have always been an attraction for collectors: a 2005 racing suit has reached $23,500 USD and his helmet about $25,000 USD.
Old sold well; a poster of the 1958 Grand Prix of Cuba, signed by Juan Manuel Fangio, was contended by two bidders up to $18,000 despite a catalogue evaluation of only $1300 USD.
Last week we told you about the highest quotations of the most fascinating jewels. A few others--
A 250 GT SWB sold for $2,470,000 USD: it was presented completely disassembled. This was due to a delay in the restoration work at Ferrari Classiche: the price includes all the remaining works to complete the car. Other cars for sale included an inexpensive 328GTS, a few 330 GT 2+2s, a GTC, and many others including a very recent 599 Fiorano that was driven last year in the Transamerica Tour.
A few Formula One cars were available and immediately bought by well-to-do customers ready to use them in the Ferrari program Formula One Clienti, that in the same day was racing on the Monza circuit. The top price for the Formula cars was for a 2006 car, reaching about $2 million, while a 2003 Formula One sold for $1.8 million.
I must say that the RM organization was perfect and the show went on despite the amazing arrival in Fiorano of a lap of the Giro d' Italia, the Italian
equivalent of the Tour de France, a race for professionals that is utmost
important to the cycling world. But inside the auction house, people paid no attention as they concentrated on the bidding, and were not even aware of the bike event outside!
Luca Badoer said that the handling of the 330 TRI was
surprisingly good and I assure you that its noise was pure music.
|
All the cars were perfectly working and certified by
Ferrari Classiche: this 288GTO, here driven by the Ferrari Formula One test
driver Luca Badoer, sold for $520000 USD. The car
has been driven for only 1231 kilometers during its 22 years.
|
Badoer settles into the cockpit of the 330TRI.
|
The building where Enzo Ferrari used to stay during the
tests on the Fiorano track: in front of it, the 340/375 MM berlinetta
competizione with a Pininfarina body that sold for $5 Million USD.
|
The Ferrari test track in Fiorano features this magnificent monument: a
F1 car and the fantastic F104, in a lovely Ferrari red.
|
Luca Cordero di Monzemolo visited Fiorano to the delight of the crowds and press.
|
A Ferrari prototype of the 288GTO, the
only remaining of four pre-production cars, sold for $600,000 USD.
|
This Daytona is the 26th of 121 built and sold for $1.235 Millon USD.
|
A 365 California is the seventh of 14 built and reached a price of $850,000 USD.
|
Massa won the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix with this 248F1. It quickly sold for $2 Million USD.
|
2005 F1 steering wheel sold for $71,500 USD.
|
Fantastic Michele Conti model of the Testarossa did not make its reserve.
|
The signatures of Montezemolo and Todt on the auction poster.
|
