What if I told you that one of the most important Ferraris ever made is going to be offered ever at auction. You could theoretically have it for € 100’000*. But it worth as much as €7 million. What if I furthermore told you that technically you cannot drive this car (it has no gearbox) and the engine has no internals and is not mechanically operational at the moment.

It is a bizarre scenario – and you would think I am making this up. I am not. This is exactly what is happening.

This coming Friday February 10th, Artcurial is going to offer one of the coolest designs and prototypes in automobile history. The 206 Dino prototype. What makes this car particularly interesting is not only the design, which in my view is groundbreaking but also the chasis. This car carries a competition chassis Nr 0840. Like all competition Ferrari’s the drivers seat is on the right hand side (much like the 250LM for example). However the car has no gearbox and is thus not operational at the moment. So even if the owner wanted to drive it right now – he could not.

(Credit: Collectorscarworld.com)

Although I find the car exceptionally beautiful – I find the story behind it even more fascinating and interesting. So I wanted to get some experts to help me speculate what might happen this Friday. Is this car to be viewed as Art? Or is it to be viewed as a car?

I asked four men who are experts and leading in their field. Marcel Massini – the worlds best Ferrari historian. Simon Kidston – the world renowned dealer who just recently sold a 250 GTO privately. Mr James Cottingham – who leads one of the most well known vintage Ferrari garages in Europe (DK Engineering) and lastly an expert on the Dino, Mr Matthias Bartz who wrote the world famous Dino book ‘The Dino Compendium’. Here is what they had to say:

*(This is assuming that €100’000 is the opening and your bid and no other bidders emerge as the car is offered at no reserve).

Marcel Massini: Not a must have, but if you are into a rolling sculpture and modern art then this is the thing to put on the pedestal in your living room. A work of art for sure. Very influential design for generations of cars, not just Ferraris. A milestone. It is impossible to value properly, as it is the first time ever on the market. Some say it’s just a Dino, not a real Ferrari. But I think it should be worth 7 Million Euros, but that’s just me.

Simon Kidston: More must see than must have. It is a famous and influential styling exercise but collectors prefer cars that they can enjoy. There’s only so long you can sit on a camp stool next to your talking about it at a concours. My money’s on it heading across the Atlantic.

James Cottingham: It is art that will be someone’s car. Whoever buys it will restore it to a condition that means it will be ready to show and will be happy knowing that they will be the first person to drive it, the first private owner and the first private person to show something that is truly unique, deeply historic and of course is gorgeous!

Matthias Bartz: It is a unique study in design. A show car and a one off piece. In my view purely a collectors car. I think it is worth about €3-5m.

If the experts are any guide, it seems that this car is mostly likely to be viewed as Art rather than as a car. I tend to share their opinion. It is so beautiful. On on the other it must be tempting for a future owner to have Ferrari classiche put a period correct gearbox inside and get the car running again. 

Even if we all cannot agree on what to do with this car – one thing we all probably agree on. Pininfarina was the ‘king’ of design. He demonstrated it once again with this very car.

(Picture credit: ARTCURIAL MOTORCARS -Retromobile Feb 2017). Alexis Bocquet Artcurial Estimate is €4-8m.

For the full listing and information on this car please see link here at Artcurial.

by Edmond Saran