LONDON.- RM Sotheby’s, the world’s largest auction house for investment-quality vehicles, is delighted to announce two incredible final entries for its forthcoming London sale, 7 September at Battersea Evolution: a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione ‘Tour de France’ and a 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider. The pair of Ferraris represents two of the most desirable examples of the Maranello marque to come to market in recent times, each offering exemplary provenance, rarity and condition.
Fresh on the heels of the company’s record-setting sale for a Ferrari 250 GT ‘Tour de France’ in Monterey last week, the team is proud to announce another superlative example of the model for its upcoming London event. The 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione ‘Tour de France’ on offer, chassis 0897 GT, is one of the first of just 36 250 GT LWB TdFs built with the single louver body style and covered headlamps, and boasts a wonderful period racing history. Commonly regarded as the ultimate dual-purpose competition Ferrari, it combines style – beautiful Pininfarina designed aluminium coachwork – with exceptional performance delivered by its 3.0-litre Colombo V-12 engine.
0897 GT was completed in March 1958 and sold new to F.A.S.T. SpA, of Milan, Italy. Piloted by Carlo Leto di Priolo, it raced in the Gran Premio della Lotteria di Monza on 28 June 1959, under the banner of Scuderia Ambrosiana. That September, the car was purchased by dedicated Ferrari enthusiast and customer, Prince Nicholas Zourab Tchkotoua, who piloted it to a second in class finish at the 1959 Cotê de la Faucile before selling it to a US-based collector. It later passed on to Steven J. Earle, of Santa Barbara, California, the founder of the Monterey Historic Races, and then into the hands of well-known enthusiast Don Orosco, of Carmel, California. 0897 GT returned to Europe in 1995 and with its German owner enjoyed 17 years of regular use on rallies and historic racing events, including five Mille Miglias, the Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge, and the Le Mans Classic in both 2010 and 2012.
The engine has recently been rebuilt by the world-renowned Ferrari specialists at GTO Engineering, and with only test mileage recorded since, it is reported to be in excellent driving condition and it would make a wonderful candidate for further historic racing events and vintage rallies. It is accompanied by full FIA HTP papers and A/3 Class FIVA Passport (Estimate: £4,500,000 – £5,500,000).
“The TdF is certainly one of the most successful and iconic dual-purpose Berlinettas ever to wear the Prancing Horse,” says Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s – Europe. “I have been privileged to race a TdF at the Goodwood Revival and I can confirm that it fully deserves its place in history as one of the greatest of all the classic Ferraris. We’ve witnessed some strong and appreciating values for the model, illustrated by a record price paid for another example in Monterey last week. The TdF on offer at our London auction presents a wonderful opportunity to purchase a fresh to the market example that exhibits both great beauty and a fantastic race pedigree.”
Few Ferraris of the 1970s are more iconic than the 365 GTB/4 Daytona, and fewer are rarer than the highly-prized factory Spider derivatives. Only 121 Spider examples were made, making it the ultimate ‘wind in the hair’ Ferrari and the last to be powered by the final iteration of classic high-revving, high performance V-12 engine mounted up front.
The example on offer, chassis no. 17013, is a spectacular car. A true “time-warp” Daytona Spider, it is perhaps the most original in existence, showing only 3,805 miles from new. Additionally, it is the only Spider originally finished in the stunning colour combination of Marrone Colorado paintwork with a beige Scuro interior, and remarkably, most of the paintwork, as well as the interior, is certified as being totally original by the world-renowned Junior Conway of House of Colours.
This car was the 105th of the 121 examples produced, sporting both air-conditioning and a radio, which were both very desirable features, and it was delivered new through Chinetti-Garthwaite in Paoli, Pennsylvania, to Bake Motor Company in Atlanta, Georgia. With a perfectly documented history from new, the car was Classiche Certified in 2009 and is offered with a complete set of manuals, including its pre-delivery service form, a copy of its window sticker, odometer verification statements, and an extensive history binder. A truly unrepeatable opportunity in every respect, it is a car that will be the prized centrepiece of any collection (Estimate: £2,000,000 – £2,400,000).
“Breathtaking is the best word to describe this example, not only for its wonderful presentation but also for its unrepeatable rarity, having survived through to today in such extraordinary and original condition,” adds Girardo. “It certainly meets all the key criteria you look for when purchasing a car – not only is it a desirable model, but it is a quality example finished in unique colors, shows incredibly originality and is well-documented.”
The two Ferraris round out a diverse roster of 75 automobiles for this year’s London sale. The official auction of the UK’s prestigious Concours of Elegance, the exclusive evening auction will be held at Battersea Evolution, central London on 7 September, with a preview of auction vehicles scheduled for 6 September.
