The opportunity to get out on a bright and pleasantly warm summer’s day was not lost on the attendees,
with a massive turnout of around 750 Ferraris descending on the venue during the course of the day. As
might be expected, the majority were modern variants, but then that is an age related thing as to what one
classifies as modern! Put another way there were not a great deal of pre-nineties variants in attendance, but
there were a few classics like a pair of 275 GTS models, a 275 GTB made a brief appearance, a couple of
examples of the Dino 246 GTS and a 365 GTC once owned by guitar legend Eric Clapton. There was also
what appeared to be a faithful replica of a 330 LM Berlinetta, built on a 330 GT 2+2 chassis, a project
initiated by a late client of Terry Hoyle and subsequently completed by Bell Classics. Modern supercars
were represented by a F40, a pair each of F50s and Enzos, together with a Monza SP2, whilst there
was a wide selection of the current range spread around in a variety of hues and liveries.
Apart from the wide spectrum of Ferrari models spread over the herbage, there was plenty of other
attractions to keep one occupied should one tire of “kicking tyres”. Silverstone Auctions held a specific
Ferrari related auction in a hangar adjacent to the main part of the show field, featuring a further broad
selection of Ferrari models on offer, including some with previous celebrity ownership. These included an
ex-Sir Elton John 365 GTB4 “Daytona”, chassis #15977, and a 458 Italia in an unusual Rosso
Vinaccio, chassis #174340, once owned by radio and TV presenter Chris Evans and subsequently by
Sir Chris Hoy MBE, Britain’s most successful Olympic athlete. The former failed to reach its reserve, whilst
the latter went to a new home for £120,375 + buyer’s premium. There was also a 599 GTB Fiorano, chassis
#158209, owned new by Eric Clapton, which achieved £107,500 plus buyer’s premium. Of the 25 cars
offered 14 found new homes, whilst the wide variety of Ferrari related memorabilia produced some good
sales results.
For those who wanted to exercise their “Prancing Horses” there was the opportunity to participate in the
“Runway Speed Experience”, essentially to see how fast you/your car could go before you ran out of tarmac
and ended up in the next county! There was also a Meguiar’s Pride of Ownership display, a variety of
vendors, live music from a three piece band “Where’s Frank”. Very aptly during their lunchtime interlude, the
stage was given over to an interview with another Frank, he being Frank Stephenson, who was the first
Director of Ferrari-Maserati Concept Design and Development when the post was created in 2002, and
whose designs included the Ferrari F430 and FXX, together with the Maserati GranSport and MC12. Also
loosely in the “Frank” theme was the presence of Francesco Balli, the General Manager of Ferrari North
Europe. If one was still in need of further entertainment, then there was a WWII aircraft display in the
afternoon, featuring a Spitfire, Mustang, Lightning and Messerschmitt, a nice finale to the day for those who
left early to try and beat the exodus.
Keith Bluemel
06/2021
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