Gstaad, 19th December 2000
Every year a week before Christmas dozens of Ferraris, huge crowds of
Ferrari dealers, collectors, journalists (unconfirmed rumours said Mick
Walsh "Editor in Chief" from Teddington based Classic & Sports Car
Magzine stayed in bed;-)) and Ferrari enthusiasts, gather in Gstaad,
Switzerland for the Brooks single marque Ferrari Auction.
It seems as though Gstaad is the only place in the world a Ferrari-Only-Sale
can be held. Wonderfully situated in the heart of the ”Berner Oberland”, this
little town with its exclusive ski resort, has always been popular with the rich
and famous, which has made it one of the most glamorous winter holiday
locations in Europe.
42 Ferraris were offered for auction this year, including an example of what
for many people is the most covetable model of all: The 250 GTO !
Looking at the rising prices, owner Patrick Ma decided it was time to gauge
the value of his thoroughbred timepiece, with people talking of expectations
that it would make 10 Million Dollars (US) ! His example – s/n 4293 GT - is
one of the most desirable GTOs of all, having finished 1st in class and 2nd
overall at Le Mans in 1963 driven by ”Beurlys” and Gerald Langlois van
Ophem. Never crashed heavily this car was presented in the best possible
condition.
Would it reach 10 Million Dollars and push the whole market up to highs we
last had in the late eighties? That was the question on everybody’s lips!
The answer - No, it couldn’t. Dutch Ferrari collector Jan Bosch bid ”only” 13
Million Sfr for the GTO, and so the car was declared as a no sale. Before
bidding for Lot 143 John Bosch had already acquired two Formula One cars
in the auction, s/n 035, a Ferrari 312 T 3 and s/n 089, a F1/86 driven by
Michele Alboreto. The T3 was driven to victory at the USA GP in 1978 by
Carlos Reutemann, the only victory this chassis can claim. The F1/86 was
even less successful, no example ever winning a race during the 1986
season.
To be honest this Brooks Auction can only be described as partially
successful. In percentage of lots offered that were sold ,yes, but all the big
money lots excluding the California Spider s/n 3007 GT which made 2,0
Million Sfr, failed to sell!
The highest bid for the ultra-rare 857 Sport with chassis number 0584M and
0578M was 1,5 Million Sfr – in my eyes not too little for this tatty looking
early Ferrari sports car. But even the 275 GTB/C s/n 9027 presented in
outstanding condition couldn’t find a new owner, the highest bid hit 1,2
Million Sfr.
But there were some really ”blue chip” cars on offer, like the unrestored, but
in exceptionally good condition, Ferrari 500 Superfast s/n 6043 SF. Painted
in dark green this Superfast only had one owner from new – by the way a
member of the British royal nobility - who drove only 12,288 miles with his
Ferrari mainly around St. Tropez. 400,000 Sfr bought this car, a good value
purchase for the new owner!
Even with a thinner wallet you could get a foothold in the exclusive circle of
Ferrari owners, with an anthracite Mondial 3.2 selling for 24,000 Sfr and a
silver 308 GTB for 28,000 Sfr.
Think in advance, and perhaps next year you will find the right Christmas
gifts at Brooks Gstaad Palace Sale !
Björn Schmidt
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