v12 – meridianae

ONE OF THE GREAT FERRARI MASTERPIECES LEADS BONHAMS GRAND PALAIS SALE

Bonhams returns to Paris for the annual Grand Palais Sale on 4 February 2016, led by the magnificent 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, estimated at €2,500,000-3,500,000 and offered without reserve.

Developed by marque founder, Enzo Ferrari, the 275 GTB is considered a masterpiece of motor car design. Boasting a V12, 300 bhp engine, it was the successor to the 250 series, spearheaded by the legendary 250 GTO (currently the most valuable motor car sold at auction, following Bonhams $38,115,000 sale of a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO), leading it to be met with great applause when it was introduced at the 1964 Paris Autosalon.

Sleek, muscular, and expertly proportioned, the front-engined, two-door Berlinetta is from the second series of the model’s production, which introduced the longer nosed variant, making it rarer, more aerodynamic, and considerably prettier. Chassis 8973 is one of the ultra desirable ‘torque tube’ models, featuring Pininfarina designed Scaglietti coachwork, complete with matching numbers and continuous history.

Further highlights from the Ferrari stable include a 1990 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta, estimated at €950,000-1,100,000. The F40 was the last model ever approved by founding father, Enzo Ferrari, and when it was launched, it was the most powerful model ever built by the marque – the perfect finale to Enzo Ferrari’s legacy.

Philip Kantor, Bonhams European Head of Motoring, said: “Bonhams Grand Palais Sale returns with more than 150 rare and exciting lots of collectors’ motor cars, motorcycles and automobilia. With several rare and special cars already consigned, we expect another incredible sale at the magnificent Grand Palais.”

Elsewhere, a spectacular 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupé is offered, estimated at €1,800,000-2,000,000. When Mercedes-Benz first unveiled its CLK GTR in 1998, it sold for an astonishing $1.5 million, making it the most expensive production car ever, a figure only recently exceeded by the Ferrari FXX. Supplied new to Switzerland, chassis number ‘23’ has covered a mere 3,285km, making one of the rarest and most desirable Mercedes-Benz models of modern times in effectively ‘as new’ condition.

Further early consignments to the Grand Palais Sale include a Porsche Carrera GT, estimated at €800,000-1,000,000, a highly original 1975 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale, estimated at €350,000-450,000, a 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Speedster with less than 950km from new, estimated at €250,000-350,000, and an ultra rare original left hand drive 1964 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé, estimated at €380,000-540,000.

Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione. Bonhams, Scottsdale January 2015. Save the date…

Bonhams è lieta di annunciare la consegna di una Ferrari davvero speciale per la sua asta di Scottsdale, in Arizona il prossimo gennaio. Si tratta di una Ferrari 275 Berlinetta Gran Turismo Competizione Scaglietti del 1966 vincitrice a Le Mans, Spa-Francorchamps e Imola con la Scuderia Filipinetti. L’undicesima di appena dodici vetture costruite.

Ha partecipato per tre volte alla leggendaria Le Mans, nel 1967, 1968 e nel 1969. Nel 1969, ha corso a Spa-Francorchamps e poi è andata a vincere a Imola. Lanciata nel 1966, questa Ferrari era progettata espressamente per la competizione ed è stata costruita intorno ad un telaio completamente nuovo, specifico per questo modello. Telaio e scocca più leggeri ne hanno fatto un purosangue da gara. Il propulsore, anch’esso ridisegnato, da 3.3 litri, V12 è stato posizionato strategicamente più in basso e più indietro fornendo ancora più performance nel bilanciamento dei pesi. Parlando di estetica, il suo muso lungo e le feritoie laterali da squalo ne hanno sempre esaltato il fascino e l’hanno resa accattivante tanto in pista che su strada.

Ceduta da Filipinetti, è appartenuta a diverse collezioni americane durante gli anni ’70 e ’80. Poi, nel 1985, la carrozzeria è stata danneggiata da un incendio ma il motore, la trasmissione e il telaio non hanno riportato conseguenze. La vettura è stata spedita in Italia, dove la sua carrozzeria è stata meticolosamente restaurata da esperti rispettando le specifiche di fabbrica, dopodiché ha ricevuto la certificazione “Ferrari Classiche”.

Da allora, questa straordinaria auto ha anche vinto diversi riconoscimenti in mostre e ed eventi, tra cui il prestigioso Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Ha partecipato inoltre a Le Mans Classic, Silverstone Classic e Tour Auto, solo per citarne alcuni. Recentemente, è stata una delle sole sessanta Ferrari selezionate in tutto il mondo a celebrare il 60° anniversario della Ferrari a Beverly Hills. Autentico e bellissimo cavallo di razza, questa Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione rappresenta una rara opportunità per collezionisti interessati.

La Bonhams Scottsdale Auction 2015 si svolgerà il 15 gennaio presso il Westin Kierland Resort & Spa di Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Ferrari Classiche red book certified, three times Le Mans entrant, Spa-Francorchamps winner, Imola winner and concours award recipient joins impressive early consignments for January’s sale

Bonhams is delighted to announce the consignment of a very special and historic competition Ferrari to its auction in Scottsdale, Arizona next January.

From the most famous and respected name in sports and racing is the 1966 Ferrari 275 Gran Turismo Berlinetta Competizione Scaglietti – class winner of the 1967 Le Mans 24 Hours, 1969 Spa-Francorchamps 1000 Km and 1969 Imola 500 Km under Scuderia Filipinetti.

From the day it was delivered new to legendary race team owner Georges Filipinetti of Geneva, Switzerland, this automobile – chassis number 09079 – has had an exceptional and well-documented history. The eleventh of just twelve built – and one of the most prominent and successful of those twelve, this rare, matching numbers, Ferrari Classiche-certified car went on to do what its makers intended: race.

Competing three times consecutively in the most prestigious race of them all, Le Mans, in 1967, 1968 and 1969, it won the GT class its first year with Filipinetti team drivers Rico Steinmann and Dieter Spörry. Then in 1969, the first and only time it raced Spa-Francorchamps, it won that GT class with Filipinetti team drivers Jacques Rey and Edgar Berney, and then went on to win its class at Imola. In the right hands, number 09079 was a force to be reckoned with.

Launched in 1966, this new GT-class Ferrari designed expressly for competition was built around a completely new chassis specific to this model. It was lighter and stronger than the chassis of the standard 275, was fitted with reinforced wheel hubs and wider than standard wheels, and given twin saddle-mounted alloy fuel tanks with quick-access exterior fuel and oil filler caps. Additionally, it was wrapped in an ultra-thin alloy body thereby reducing weight even further.

The powerplant was also new, with a Tipo 213 Competition motor developed from the Ferrari factory team racer campaigned the previous year. The new 3.3-litre, V12 engine with fully dry sump benefited from a long list of uprated factory modifications. And the strategic placement of this awesome engine – lower and farther back – provided even more advantage with its nearly perfect weight distribution.

Not only were the physical properties of this car extremely impressive but the aesthetics also wowed the world. Its long, shark-like nose with gill-like side vents and low, wide stance made it appear both rakishly handsome and predatory at once. And its practicality, too, made it enormously attractive as it could be ferociously raced on the track or sportingly driven to the country club.

After its tenure with Filipinetti, car 09079 found a home with several respected American collections during the 1970s and 80s. Then in 1985 its body was damaged in a garage fire but the engine, drive train and chassis were all unharmed. The car was shipped to Italy where its bodywork was meticulously and accurately restored to factory specifications by marque experts Carrozzeria Brandoli, after which it received its red book certification from Ferrari Classiche confirming its matching numbers engine, chassis, suspension and transaxle.

Since then, this stunning champion has also won several honours at contemporary shows and events, including the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and has participated in Le Mans Classic, Silverstone Classic and Tour Auto, to name a few. Recently, it was one of just 60 Ferraris selected worldwide to represent the 60th anniversary of Ferrari in Beverly Hills.

Authentic, pedigreed, historic and gorgeous, the highly useable 09079 is truly a car of international importance and represents a rare opportunity for interested buyers. To see and hear this incredible machine in motion, watch the video online at Bonhams.com/video/17789.

The 2015 Bonhams Scottsdale Auction will take place Thursday, January 15th at the luxurious Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in the heart of Scottsdale.

Market Spots, Dino Ferrari 308 GT4

Parigi, 1973, viene presentata al mondo la nuova creatura della scuderia di Maranello, la Dino 308 GT4. Roma, 2014, meridianae.com presenta un esemplare di questa Dino in condizioni quasi identiche a quelle del 1973.

Difficile davvero incontrare per la propria strada una Dino in questo stato. La storia assomiglia un po’ a quella della GTO 250 aggiudicata da Bohnams in California lo scorso agosto. Questa vettura è rimasta nelle mani della stessa famiglia da quando è stata acquistata nuova nel 1976 fino al 2014 quando è stata ceduta. Fu il regalo di un generoso zio a sua nipote. Quest’ultima per riconoscenza l’ha custodita gelosamente facendola riapparire quasi intatta dopo trentotto anni.

La manutenzione regolare è stata effettuata ma la percorrenza chilometrica annuale è andata via via diminuendo fino al totale fermo degli ultimi cinque anni. Questa Dino ha percorso fino ad oggi solo 24.000 km, ciò unito alle sue condizioni la rende veramente un esemplare raro. Il nuovo proprietario l’ha trovata dopo una segnalazione di un conoscente, dentro un garage ricoperta da un telo ricolmo di polvere. Questo dettaglio, tra gli amanti delle auto d’epoca, non è certo un dispiacere. Sfido chiunque ad ammettere che non sia eccitante l’attimo in cui viene tirato giù il telo e data nuova luce alla cretaura addormentata.

La Dino era coperta da una tale coltre di polvere che non si riconosceva il colore. Alla apertura delle portiere si è avuta la sensazione che l’aria di quegli anni ’70 fosse rimasta imprigionata lì dentro e fuoriuscisse impetuosa a ricongiungersi con l’atmosfera. Ma gli interni erano incredibilmente splendenti, dai colori vivissimi. Le sorprese non erano finite ed immediatamente portata al lavaggio si è rivelata la magnifica verniciatura originale. Un Blu intenso che dona alla macchina un’aria nobile che fa da contraltare alla sua natura super sportiva.

La 308 GT4 fu il primo modello 2+2 a motore centrale e la prima vettura stradale di serie con motore V8. Un signor motore, un motore che nasce dal poderoso 12 cilindri della 365 GTB Dytona. La cilindrata è di 2926cc con una configurazione a V di 90 gradi, con doppi alberi a camme in testa per bancata comandati da una cinghia. L’alimentazione è gestita da una batteria di quattro carburatori doppio corpo Weber 40 DCNF, montata al centro. La potenza erogata è di 255 cavalli in grado di spingere la Dino fino 255 km/h.

Quanto alla linea, il progetto è stato affidato alla matita Marcello Gandini che insiedatosi alla Bertone nel ’65 al posto di Giugiaro, dopo un ventennio sostituisce Pininfarina al tavolo delle Ferrari. Bisogna notare che quando cessò la produzione 206/246, la 308 fu l’unico modello della gamma Dino rimasto a listino e negli USA addirittura l’unica Ferrari esportata. Per questo motivo solo a partire dal 1976 queste Dino portarono sul cofano lo stemma Ferrari. Una 308 GT4 nera del 1975 fu acquistata da Elvis Presley, ed è oggi esposta a Graceland, nella sua villa museo a Memphis negli Stati Uniti. Me per chi è in Italia e vuole maggiori informazioni basta scrivere a info@meridianae.com.

Paris, 1973, it has been presented to the world the new creature from Maranello, the Dino 308 GT4. Rome, 2014, meridianae.com presents a specimen of this Dino in almost identical condition to those of 1973.

It’s really hard to find a Dino like this. The story looks like the one of 250 GTO sold by Bohnams in California last August. This car owned the same family since it was buyed new in 1976 until 2014 when it was sold. It was a gift from a generous uncle to his nephew. She took care of it with passion for thirty-eight years.

Regular maintenance has been carried out but the annual mileage has been gradually decreasing until the total stop in the last five years. This Dino has traveled only for 24,000 km, this combined with his condition makes it truly a rare specimen. The new owner found it after a report of a friend in a garage covered with a tarp full of dust. This detail, among lovers of vintage cars, is certainly not a disappointment. I defy anyone to admit that it is not exciting the moment when the curtain is pulled down and new light make to creature asleep.

The Dino was covered by a blanket of dust that was impossible to see the color. At the opening of the doors the feeling was that the air of those 70’s had remained trapped in there and flowed out into the atmosphere. But the interiors were incredibly bright, with vivid colors. The surprises were not over, and after the washing appear the great original paint. An intense blue that gives the car a noble appearance which is in contrast to its super sporty nature.

It was the first model with the 308 GT4 2 +2 mid-engine and the first standard road car with a V8 engine. And what an engine, an engine created by the powerful 12-cylinder engine of the 365 GTB Dytona. The displacement is 2926cc with a V configuration of 90 degrees, with double overhead camshafts per cylinder bank controlled by a belt. The power supply is managed by a battery of four carburetors double body Weber DCNF 40, mounted in the center. The power output is 255 horses able to push up the Dino to 255 km/h.

The project was entrusted to the pencil of Marcello Gandini at Bertone from ’65, after twenty years of continuously Pininfarina in Ferrari. It should be noted that when it was ended the 206/246 production, the 308 was the only car of the Dino models and that only one able to be exported in United States. For this reason only since 1976 they brought Dino Ferrari emblem on the hood.

A black 308 GT4 of 1975 was purchased by Elvis Presley, and is now at Graceland in the United States. But for those who are in Italy and want more information about this car, just write to info@meridianae.com.