|
Ferrari
aficionados from around the world are set to descend on
Maranello, Italy this month for the third annual
Ferrari Leggenda e Passione event, presented by RM
Auctions, in association with Sotheby’s. With an average
estimate equalling €1 million, this year’s offering of
34 historic Ferraris (all certified by Ferrari
Classiche) and three magnificent Maseratis is poised to
achieve the highest average sale price for a single-day
classic motor car auction.
The Ferrari
Leggenda e Passione event is recognised globally as the
premier venue for collectors to acquire the world’s finest
historic Ferraris. Last year’s headline-grabbing event
entered the history books when a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT
California Spider, formerly owned by actor James Coburn,
sold for €7,040,000, setting a new world record for the
highest price ever paid for a classic motor car at auction.
Despite the
current economic climate, Max Girardo, Managing Director of
RM Europe indicates the collector car market remains stable
for extraordinary and rare examples, with recent RM sales
achieving solid results and attracting record attendance
levels as discerning collectors continue to seek out
‘alternative’ investments.
“Anticipation is
certainly mounting for our Maranello auction and we have
received tremendous early interest with advance bidder
registrations received from all over the world, including
across Europe, the UK, North America and even as far afield
as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Japan ,” says Girardo. “Great
Ferraris are continuing to achieve great prices at auction,”
he adds. “Owning a significant Ferrari is much like owning
an important piece of art – with the added enjoyment of
being able to drive it."
Particularly
notable consignments include: the legendary 1957 Ferrari 250
Testa Rossa chassis no. 0714/TR, one of the most
historically significant and valuable Ferrari racing cars
ever offered at auction and expected to set a new auction
world record; the ultra-rare, race-winning 1967 Ferrari 330
P4 chassis no. 0858**, one of only three P4s ever made; a
highly desirable 1962 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider (SWB)
(estimate €4,300,000 – €5,500,000); and a stunning 1959
Ferrari 250 GT (SWB) Berlinetta Speciale Bertone (estimate
€2,200,000 – €2,900,000), the first of just two
short-wheelbase 250 GTs with unique Bertone coachwork.
Additionally, an impressive series of eight coachbuilt
Ferraris from the esteemed private collection of Dutch
collector, Mr. Edgar Schermerhorn represent a combined
estimate exceeding €2.5 million.
In total, this
event’s valuable lineup of extraordinary road and race cars
spans numerous decades of production - the oldest car on
offer, in fact, is a 1949 Ferrari 166 Inter Coupé (estimate
€350,000 – €425,000), whilst the newest is a 2008 Maserati
MC 12 Corsa (estimate €775,000 - €950,000) with factory
mileage only. As evidence that they represent some of the
best examples available to the international market,
consignments have been sourced from all corners of the globe
– 10 countries in total – ranging from Italy, USA, UK,
Switzerland, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Australia and
France to Thailand. Ferrari Leggenda e Passione will
be held Sunday, May 17 at Ferrari S.p.A., Pista di Fiorano
in Maranello, Italy.
|
