Historics’ forthcoming
sale at Brooklands promises a feast for fans of the
Ferrari marque, with no less than 10 cars spanning 35
years, and a combined value of over £750,000, up for
auction on Wednesday.
Top of the Ferrari
line-up is one of 158 rare right-hand-drive 365GTB/4
‘Daytona’s’, that was once loaned by Maranello
Concessonaires Ltd to HRH The Prince of Wales, and later
starred in the BBC TV show ‘Top Gear’, in a race from
Portofino to St Tropez. Along with a second Daytona, a
1970 ‘Plexiglass’ that was number 181 off the production
line, both of the Pininfarina designed GT’s are expected
to fetch offers in the region of £180,000 - £210,000.
Equally evocative was
the Dino - named after Enzo Ferrari’s son - and the
first mid-engine production Ferrari remains one of the
best handling and most gratifying sports cars of its
era. The 1971 246GT Dino offered by Historics is
presented in the classic Rosso Corsa with Crema leather
colour combination, and having covered just 63,000 miles
since new, is anticipated to generate bids between
£80,000 - £100,000.
Borrowing traits from
both the Daytona and the Dino, Ferrari’s first Boxer,
the 365 GT4 BB – with the flat-12 engine mounted
longitudinally rather than transversely – was replaced
in 1976 by the 512BB which sported a larger 4942cc
engine, dual plate clutch and dry sump lubrication that
highlighted its impressive performance.
The Bosch K-Jetronic
CIS fuel injected engine was introduced in 1981 to the
last of the 512 series, and as such the 512BBi has
become highly collectable. With chassis 46753 for sale
at Historics auction next week being one of just 42 UK
right-hand-drive cars produced, and widely considered as
one of the lowest mileage cars of its kind available
today – covering just 13,000 miles since new – the 1983
512BBi is likely to entice bids in excess of £85,000.
Proving that they
could also make ‘family’ cars, Ferrari introduced the
250GTE, their first standard production 2+2, which was
designed to compete with the Aston Martin DB4 and
Maserati. Production ceased in 1963, and despite being
used latterly to re-create the iconic 250GTO, the 250GTE
is a stunning car in its own right. Historics example
is one of 955 manufactured, with the 1961 car in Blue
Sera coachwork likely to attract interest around the
£90,000 - £100,000 mark.
The 250’s successor
was the Ferrari 330, and although the first 330 America
model was effectively a 250GT/E with a larger engine,
the 330 GT 2+2 was a unique car in its own right. With a
sharper looking nose and tail, quad headlights and a
wider grille, the extra 50mm in the wheelbase over the
250 model was accommodated through uprated handling.
Prior to the introduction of the Series II 330GT, a
number of ‘interim’ cars were built, which retained the
looks of the Series I but mated the mighty 4.0L engine
to an all-new five-speed gearbox, and it is one of these
125 examples which Historics have consigned to their
Spring sale. Having been housed for many years in a
Portuguese museum, the car is in excellent condition and
is hoped to attract offers in the region of £70,000 to
£80,000.
Along with both
365GTB/4, Historics Spring sale will also present a pair
of 456, the first front-engined Ferrari for 20 years,
and a design that paid homage to the aforementioned
Daytona through the long bonnet, retractable headlights
and configuration of the cabin envelope and tail. Both
cars have an estimated value of between £20,000 -
£28,000 with the 1995 Verde Inglese (British Racing
Green) model previously owned by actor, comedian and
acclaimed classic car aficionado and historic racer,
Rowan Atkinson.
Completing Historics
varied and highly desirable line-up of cars from the
foremost Italian manufacturer, are a 1997 Ferrari 355GTS
and a 1984 Mondial Quattrovalvole, both offered in the
most desirable paint and trim combinations, and
anticipated to fetch offers in the region of £25,000 -
£32,000 and £13,000 - £16,000 respectively.