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Ferrari F40 shatters estimate at auction

Last week we posted two articles about some really interesting classic supercars that would pass the auction block over the weekend … well, the results are in, and they are surprising, to say the least, the highlight of the day went for halfway between the low and high estimate, but one car really took things to the next level by going for way more than her high estimate.

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

The Bonhams The Zoute Sale in Knokke-Heist in Belgium managed to sell over €26,000,000 (US$ 30,000,000) in just one day, and almost 10% of that number was thanks to one car in particular, the 1994 Bugatti EB110 SS finished in Grigio Chiaro metallizzato (or Light Grey metallic) over a dark blue interior, initially estimated between €2,000,000 and €2,500,000 (US$ 2,300,000 and $2,900,000), this one of 30 Super Sport sold for €2,242,500 or US$ 2,600,000, she didn’t reach her high estimate, but she was the most expensive car changing hands that day.

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

But the second most expensive car to go to a new owner was the very low mileage 1989 Ferrari F40, the estimate on that specific car was set at €1,000,000 to €1,500,000 (US$ 1,155,000 to $1,734,000), but when the hammer finally came down the bidding reached €1,840,000 or US$2,131,000 including fees, well above the estimate and a very high price for an F40, it is clear someone was really interested in adding this specific unit to his, or her collection.

The third car in the top three of highest estimated sales was a very intriguing 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster, a Storck Vintage Edition that came with an estimate between €850,000 and €1,250,000, but that car didn’t sell on October 10, 2021, so the third most expensive car to actually sell during The Zoute Sale was a stunning dark blue 1968 Ferrari 365 GTC with coachwork by Pininfarina, this car was chassis no. 12209 with a matching engine no. 12209, changing hands for €655,500, only a third of the Ferrari F40 above.

One of 30 Bugatti EB110 SS

We’ve mentioned The Zoute Sale by Bonhams in Knokke-Heist, Belgium, Europe a few days ago when we talked about an amazing opportunity to buy a rare Ferrari F40 with only just over 1,000 miles on the counter, but that’s not even the highlight of the upcoming auction, with an estimate between US$ 1,155,000 and $1,734,000, this Ferrari surpassed with ease by this 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport Coupé, estimated to reach an auction price between US$ 2,300,000 and $2,900,000 … almost double the value of the Ferrari F40, so why is that you might ask.

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

It because of rarity, provenance, and the current market climate for high-value super and hypercars, there are countless millionaires and billionaires out there that are willing to spend a lot of money to buy an older, classic supercar to complete their collection, most of these will probably never leave their airconditioned, heated, moisture regulated garage, but that’s the current market, prices on cars have skyrocketed over the last year or so, and it all comes down to supply and demand, and with nearly 1,400 units of the Ferrari F40 in this case, there were only 30 Bugatti EB110 SS built, so it’s a lot rarer in the automotive world.

The Bugatti EB110 was the brainchild of the Italian entrepreneur Romano Artioli, who resurrected the Bugatti name in the car world when he built a state-of-the-art factory in Modena, near Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini, for the production of the EB110, as an homage to Ettore Bugatti’s birthday exactly 110 years earlier, with a design by Marcello Gandini, yes, the very same Bertone designer that gave us the Miura and the Countach from Lamborghini. While engineering behind the Bugatti EB110 GT was thanks to Paolo Stanzani, also related to Lamborghini, and while the upward-opening doors on the EB110 were a clear hint of Lamborghini influence, the engine was something totally different, still a V12, but with no less than four turbochargers, the Bugatti EB110 could reach 340 km/h with her 561 bhp power output.

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

But that was just the ‘base model’ from Bugatti, only six months after the official unveiling of the EB110 GT, Bugatti amazed the world at the 1992 Geneva Motor Show with the EB110 SS, or Super Sport, the lightweight version of the GT model, Bugatti managed to remove a lot of weight from the original GT by using carbon-kevlar parts instead of aluminum ones and by fitting BBS wheels. Changing the ECU, installing larger fuel injectors, and fitting a different exhaust system caused power output to rise beyond the 600 bhp mark … top speed of the Bugatti EB110 SS: 355 km/h (or 220 mph), in 1992!

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

But all that power and exclusivity came at a price, $380,000 back in 1992, unfortunately, the early Nineties saw a devastating economic recession which meant the company would go into receivership in 1994, only two years later, after 125 units left the factory gates to customers around the world (Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher and HRH the Sultan of Brunei both owned EB110 SS cars), among those 95 were the more luxurious EB110 GT version, while just 30 of the EB110 Super Sport lightweight were built, and the car presented here is among the last ever to be built at Modena.

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

Just as it happens to be today, ordering a supercar puts you in for a long wait, almost a year went on between ordering this car in June 1993 and taking delivery in April 1994, keeping in mind Bugatti Automobili SpA ceased operations in September 1995, the car was delivered to a Bavarian Dr by Auto König in Germany, but this specific EB110 SS came with some additional options: blue anodized aluminum control pedals, gear shift knob, and window switches that matched the dark blue leather interior, the customer had an additional request: upgrade the power even further, making this Bugatti number ‘B110.01 085’ one of the most powerful in the world.

The car would change hands a few times over the years after Dr Bernd Pöhlmann sold her in 1997 to Mr Jürgen Jaudszims, who subsequently sold her again in 2003 to Jan Van Stuivenberg in the Netherlands. The latter would keep this special Bugatti EB110 SS for a period of ten years before he decided to part with her in 2013, when this Italian lady returned to Germany, to Munich more precisely where she would stay until being put up for auction today by Bonhams at The Zoute Sale in Belgium … note the car is still registered in Germany today as the last owner regularly drove her and she was maintained perfectly over the years.

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

While this metallic grey lady is now 27 years old, she showed no signs of any accidents during a complete inspection by B.Engineering in Campogalliano, they also performed a full service just prior to the auction and even certified this rare Bugatti EB110 SS, finished in Grigio Chiaro metallizzato (or Light Grey metallic), she comes with paperwork that shows the car was serviced at the Bugatti Customers Service Department just three times, in November 2005, in February 2014, and finally, just recently in July 2021, this EB110 SS now shows 29,995 kilometers on the clock.

This really is a masterpiece from the Nineties, and being so rare, a Bugatti EB110 SS really is in a world of her own, which reflects in the auction estimate naturally, which could be a lot higher when the hammer comes down if the right person is bidding on this amazing piece of automotive history, she comes complete with a huge file of service and maintenance invoices, and the all-important Certificato di Autenticità supplied by Bugatti, just in case you are wondering, there is even a sports exhaust included, and if you are a larger person, this car comes with a special seat to accommodate you, how cool is that?

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

Interested in this car? From an enthusiast point of view, or perhaps as a buyer … just head over the official Bonhams page and register now.

Rare Ferrari F40 up for auction

Imagine you are a wealthy individual back in the late Eighties, you’ve got some money to spend on cars, and you already have a nice collection of Prancing Horses in your garage you’ve all bought brand new since the Seventies when Ferrari unveils their F40 in 1988, the top of the line V8, a stripped-down, street-legal race car almost. So you think about it for a while, not too long, and you head over to your local Ferrari dealership to put your name on an order sheet … which is exactly what happened in Belgium back in June 1989, at the famous Garage Francorchamps, where this specific F40 got ordered, albeit with some creature comforts, the client requested the optional airconditioning and regular, wind-down side windows for practicality.

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

To make it even more interesting, business-wise, the car was put into a lease agreement for the owner’s company in mid-December 1989, making this a very late 89 model, but the story gets a lot more interesting when the lease is canceled in 1992 and the car is stored in a heated facility, never to be registered nor driven for the next 29 years, with just 1,790 km on the odometer, barely broken-in I guess.

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

Now we are talking about a ‘non-cat, non-adjust’ model of the rare Ferrari F40, one the most sought-after, pure versions of this legendary supercar from the Eighties, this was the car that came with a top speed in excess of 320 km/h, in 1988! Powered by a 3-Liter V8 four-valve per cylinder engine with dual IHI turbochargers, the F40 delivered 478 bhp in standard trim, while another 200 bhp could be added with a factory tune.

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

The Ferrari F40 took Formula One experience onto the road by using composite technology, the body was a single-piece molding that would be bonded onto a tubular steel chassis while the doors, front hood, engine cover, and various add-on panels were made from lightweight carbon fiber styled by the legendary Pininfarina with the entire front section tilting upward (much like the current Lamborghini Huracan STO) while most part of the rear section, including that massive, integrated rear wing, is also hinged at the back of the roof, and you didn’t even have to open the engine cover to admire that impressive V8 because the F40 came with a transparent cover so you could admire the engine ‘as-is’.

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

The Ferrari F40 was built up to 1992 as production reached 1,315 units, and apart from some special order models, all of them were left-hand drive and came in red, just like chassis ZFFGJ34B000083620 we now see listed for auction by Bonhams during their The Zoute Sale in Knokke-Heist, Belgium, where this very special Ferrari F40 has been hiding for so long, because this is such an important, early production car, the estimate on this specific car is set at €1,000,000 to €1,500,000 (US$ 1,155,000 to $1,734,000).

What makes these early Ferrari F40 even more interesting compared to the later production versions is the fact these are still the pure performance models Ferrari intended the F40 to be, uncompromising with a focus on speed and performance, without too much comfort and without electronics to watch your back when your experience can’t keep up with the car, these F40 were rather unforgiving. Later during production, the F40 got a little more refined, Ferrari added ABS, catalytic converters, and adjustable suspension.

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

Keep in mind this Ferrari F40 has been sitting in a garage for almost 30 years, the maintenance records even show the car was expected for her second visit in the Garage Francorchamps workshop when she reached 6,000 km, which they estimated would be 1993 … that didn’t happen as the car was unregistered since 1992, this probably means this is not a driver at this point in time. A major overhaul will be required, including some new tires for this beauty, but in return, you will be able to obtain a car so close to new the red seats show virtually no wear at all, neither does the entire interior, as matter of fact the entire car, both inside and outside, looks like she was just delivered a few weeks ago, this is a time-capsule Ferrari F40 and I’m sure the next owner will enjoy adding this beauty to the collection.

Veneno Roadster, One:1, One-77, LaFerrari, P1, Veyron headline 25-car Bonham’s auction

Bonhams is holding a no-reserve auction in fall 2019 that includes some of the most valuable and sought-after supercars of the past decade. The lot of 25 beautiful collector items includes a Lamborghini Veneno Roadster, a Koenigsegg One:1, an Aston Martin One-77, a Ferrari LaFerrari, a McLaren P1, and a Bugatti Veyron. The collection, which was seized from a corrupt politician from Equatorial Guinea, is valued at roughly $13 million.

If selling off future classics that are still in their infancy as collector items seems strange, it’s because this is not a straightforward situation. These cars will be sold off by the State of Geneva, not a person. The collection was previously owned by the vice president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang, but the cars were seized when he was placed under investigation for money laundering and unfair management of public interests.

These 25 cars, which were located in Geneva, were first sequestered in fall 2016. A trial court ordered them sold off, and the money earned from the sales would be invested in social programs that benefit Equatorial Guinea. And so, Equatorial Guinea is about to see an influx of cash, as every vehicle is valued in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars.

Supercar Collection Auction

The rarest might be the Koenigsegg One:1. One of only six remaining, it has 371 miles on the dial, and is valued at roughly $1.8 million. The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster, one of nine in the world, is a close second. It has 202 miles logged, and is valued at about $5.1 million.

The Aston Martin One-77 is another rare bird. It is example No. 35 of 77, holds a 7.3-liter V12 engine, and is valued at about $1.4 million. A McLaren P1, Ferrari LaFerrari, and Bugatti Veyron 16.4 round out the top of the list. The remaining cars are not fully detailed, but they include examples from Mercedes-Maybach, Bentley, Maserati and Porsche.

The auction will take place on Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Bonmont Golf & Country Club near Lake Geneva. For more photos and information, visit Bonhams.

Seized Hypercars of Teodorin Obiang to be Auctioned in Geneva

Bonhams has reportedly announced a new auction, to take place at the Bonmont Golf & Country Club in Switzerland, which will facilitate the sale of a staggering collection of hypercars amassed by Teodorin Obiang. The cars were seized by Swiss authorities in 2016 as part of an investigation into the embezzlement of Equatorial Guinea’s state funds.

The collection includes a white Lamborghini Veneno Roadster, a Koenigsegg One:1, a McLaren P1 and a Bugatti Veyron. A collection of 25 cars will apparently hit the auction block with news sources suggesting that these will include models from “Bentley, Maserati, Mercedes-Maybach and Porsche”.

The news has been widely reported and ties up with earlier articles which confirmed that the cars would be sold. Nonetheless, Bonhams website is silent about the proposed auction (at time of writing). So there is no confirmation that it is definitely taking place.

Obiang’s car collection was seized in two tranches. The first cars were seized by French authorities in 2012 with the second set following in 2016. It is widely believed that the cars include a Ferrari Enzo, LaFerrari, Aston Martin One77 and Ferrari F12 tdf.

Teodorin Obiang’s collection is expected to $13 million. The proceeds are to be given to a social programme in Obiang’s home country.

McLaren F1 sells for $15.62 million at Bonhams auction

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, Calif. – The first McLaren F1 imported to the United States sold for an eye-popping $15.62 million Friday at the Bonhams auction here. Offered by its original owner, the legendary supercar is in impeccable condition and has all of its service records, including one from just last month.

The F1 gaveled for $14.2 million and the price included a 10-percent buyer’s fee. The sale was held at the Quail Lodge as part of vintage car week in the run-up to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

The car, designated a 1995 model, has a 627-bhp DOHC V12 teamed with a six-speed manual transmission, four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel drilled and vented disc brakes, according to the Bonhams listing.

This car is the 37th F1 produced and still wears its original silver exterior and black/grey leather interior. The unnamed owner bought it new from the factory in Woking, England, in 1996. This F1 has 9,600 miles on its odometer – half of them from a European roadtrip its owner took after buying the car.

This F1 was converted to be road legal in the US shortly after purchase, but has been returned to its original form for the auction. All of the conversion pieces, however, were saved. Only seven of the 64 F1s produced were federalized for US roads.

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First US-spec McLaren F1 will be auctioned in August

To own any McLaren F1 would be a special experience. It was the fastest car in the world for many years with a top speed of over 230 mph, courtesy of a glorious 627-horsepower V12 from BMW M. But as special as each individual F1 is, there are some few with that extra something, and among them is this 1995 F1 that will be offered by Bonhams at its Quail Lodge auction in August. This particular 1995 F1’s extra something is the fact that it was the very first to be imported to the US and made fully street-legal. Not only that, but it’s only had one owner from the day it was purchased.

According to Bonhams, the owner of this car, number 44 of 64, bought it in 1996. He took delivery of it at McLaren’s factory in Woking, Great Britain, and he immediately took it on a grand road trip across Europe. Following the trip, he had it shipped back to America for a company called Ameritech to go about updating the car to meet US safety and emissions regulations. In the 22 years that the original owner had it, he put 9,600 miles on the odometer.

The lucky buyer of this McLaren will get a thoroughly clean and complete car. The interior and engine bay are immaculate. Even the fusebox and other tertiary parts are in excellent shape. The original tool roll and luggage are included, as well as the complete toolbox for maintaining the car. Also, the original owner returned the car to European specifications after importing it, but he retained all of the parts necessary to make the car US-legal. All of those parts are included with the car in case the new owner wanted, or needed, to reinstall them. All things considered, this McLaren will likely run a very high price, but it could very well be worth it for whomever brings it home.

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