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 !
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