One sale, ten Ferraris, decades of history - and the epitome of Italian style. Bonhams is delighted to announce the ten most desirable Maranello Rosso Collection Ferraris, due to make their auction debut on 15th August at Quail Lodge, California.
Robert Brooks, Bonhams Co-Chairman, said: "At Bonhams, we've had the privilege to present our clients with some very special motor cars and collections, but this is without doubt our most astounding collection, for sale at Quail Lodge this August.
"Fresh from the halls of the Maranello Rosso Museum we offer our select cross-section of ten cars from this renowned, long-established family of Ferrari's finest, spanning the marque's entire great classic period from the early 1950s to the early 1980s. The selection can be appreciated across the broad spectrum of Ferrari fans, and we're delighted to have the opportunity to offer them - It's set to be a very exciting sale for Bonhams – and for the entire Collector Car market."
The ten entries from the Maranello Rosso Collection are:
- 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Berlinetta
- 1969 Ferrari Dino 206 GT Coupe
- 1968 Ferrari 365 GTC Coupe
- 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta
- 1978 Ferrari 312 T3 Formula 1 Grand Prix single-seater
- 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Pininfarina Cabriolet
- 1968 Ferrari Dino 166/246T Formula 2/Tasman single-seater
- 1981 Ferrari 512 BB/LM Endurance Racing Coupe
- 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona uprated to Competition Specification
- 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Speciale Aerodinamica
The 1953 Ferrari 250 Mille Miglia Berlinetta is a particular sale highlight. Tailor-made to compete in frontline long-distance races, in May 1954, Road & Track magazine tested future World Champion Phil Hill's own sister Ferrari 250MM and recorded 0-60 mph acceleration in just 5.1 seconds, 0-100mph in 13.7. "Never before have I accelerated so rapidly, traveled so fast, or decelerated so suddenly," wrote the magazine's editor.
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| 1953 Mille Miglia |
An outstanding example of Ferrari's first 3-litre V12-engine Gran Turismo, it launched the line that later extended over the 1950s, giving us the 250 Tour de France, the 250 GT Short-Wheelbase, and 250 GTO models.
The cars' racing history began appropriately in California in 1953, with American enthusiast and racer, Bill Devin.
He made his public debut in the new Ferrari at the Sports Car Club of America San Francisco Region's 3rd Annual Members' Madera race meeting in September that year. He promptly finished third in the novice event before handing the car over to fast-rising Santa Monica star driver Phil Hill, who won the main event there that day.
Bill Devin subsequently appeared with this Ferrari 250MM – finished in the American white-and-blue racing livery it wears today – at Stead Air Force Base in October, 1953, while his brother Gene Devin drove it at March AFB that November. In June 1954 the car was sold to Ken Heavlin, who ran a luxury car garage at Grosse Point, Michigan.
After Devin's ownership, the car changed hands several times, eventually in 1986 returning to its native Italy, joining the collection of Count Vittorio Zanon di Valgiurata.
He co-drove the car in that year's Mille Miglia Storica event and in 1987 it again attacked the daunting thousand-mile course from Brescia to Pescara, across to Rome, and then back to Brescia via Florence and Bologna.
Count Zanon sold it then to Rudi Pas/Classic Car Associates in Holland, who found a Japanese buyer in a Mr. Shimada. However, the car was quickly returned to Pas and it was in the winter of 1987-88 that this Ferrari – with its early-career Phil Hill Californian history – was acquired for the Maranello Rosso Collection.
Each of the Ferraris offered in Bonhams Quail Lodge sale has a rich and varied history, offering an intriguing showcase of the evolution of the marque from the 1950s to 1980s.
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