Provenance. In the classic car world- this can make all the difference.
Allow me to explain what I mean.
Bonhams just sold a Mercedes racing car for a record $29m, which is now the most expensive car ever to sell at auction (see here). Why was it so expensive?
Because it was raced by Juan Manuel Fangio- arguably the best racing driver of all time. We have found a car that will sell next month at auction that has perhaps the best provenance a Ferrari collector could hope for. For our friends who like vintage watches, it is similar to a Rolex Daytona from the 1970s being owned by Paul Newman coming up for sale.
The car for sale is Chassis 0415 GT is a Ferrari 250 Berlinetta Competizione Pininfarina 1955. The car was ordered by non other than the legendary race driver and playboy Alfonso De Portago, a Spanish noblemen who came from one of Europe’s most noble and wealthiest families.
De Portago is a legendary name in the classic car world.
The young Spaniard was an avid Sportsman who raced horses, flew planes, won a bronze Medal in Bobsleigh in the World Championship. He also drove for Ferrari in Formula 1 and started racing in 1953. De Portago was tragically killed in the 1957 Mille Miglia when his tire blew killing his co-driver Ed Nelson and 9 others. This accident is the reason why the Mille Miglia was stopped in 1957 and now carries on as the legendary drivers rally but is no longer a proper race.
Having De Portago as the first owner gives this Ferrari 250 competizione exceptional provenance. He raced the car in the 1955 Nassau Annual Speed week, so the car has racing history as well. Not much is known about the specifics of the car yet, except it is an alloy body made specifically for De Portago (note it is not a 250 TDF).
The car is matching numbers (meaning the original engine or correct type is in the car) and carries the sought after ‘Classiche Certification’. The car is being sold by Gooding & Co in Monterey this coming August. The estimate on the car according to Gooding is $6.5-7.5m. For more information on Gooding please click here.
So while there will be more expensive cars making the headlines next month at Monterey (for example a 275 GTB NART Spyder), this 250 Ferrari will be unbeatable in terms of provenance. It ticks all the boxes a classic car collector could want: 1) Exceptional ownership 2) Racing pedigree 3) Rare Alloy version 4) 12 cylinder front engine.
Marcel Massini, the foremost expert of vintage Ferrari in the world, put it best: This is a super good looking bullet proof classic Ferrari- a true piece of history.
