GRR

9 Ferraris up for sale at the Bonhams|Cars Grand Palais Auction

04th February 2025
Adam Wilkins

Those who have a £5million budget for their next Ferrari find themselves in the unusual position of having two to choose from at this week’s Grand Palais auction by Bonhams|Cars. Tifosi with a more modest budget needn’t feel left out, though, with a 400i representing the entry level for the marque. And there’s even one lot adorned with the Prancing Horse with an estimate of £2,900. There is a catch, of course...

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1954-55 Ferrari Tipo 555 ‘Super Squalo’

Estimate: £3.3million to £5million

This mid-1950s Ferrari Tipo 555 is one of the few surviving front-engined Grand Prix cars to have been driven by a Formula 1 World Champion. What’s more, it has been driven by two! Dr Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina, the very first F1 World Champion, got behind the wheel, as did Britain’s Mike Hawthorn.

It was driven in four World Championship-qualifying Grands Prix in 1955, that season having been cut short by the tragic events that took place at Le Mans that year. It scored points at Spa-Francorchamps, and has race-winning form in its later life as a Formula Libre car. Only two 555 ‘Super Squalo’ models survive, making this a historically significant opportunity.

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1950 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta

Estimate: £3.3million to £5million

Ferrari claimed victory in eight out of 11 post-war runnings of the Mille Miglia. Maranello’s domination of the event began in 1948, when Clemente Biondetti and Giuseppe Navone claimed victory in the 166S Berlinetta Allemano. In September that same year, Ferrari revealed the 166MM at the Turin Motor Show, its name celebrating the win.

It ushered in the ‘barchetta’ body style which clothed a 2.0-litre V12 engine. It was success story from the off, taking a win at both the Mille Miglia and the Le Mans 24-Hours. This example comes with a history report written by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini and is being sold with no reserve.

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1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2

Estimate: £180,000 to £220,000

The first owner of this second series 330 GT bought car from the Milan Ferrari dealer, Crepaldi Automobili. It lived in its native Italy for the duration of the first two services before being exported to its second owner in New York, its history report logs a series of owners in the United States up to 2013.

Al Pezella of New Jersey took ownership in 2009 and commissioned an extensive two-year restoration, and when he parted with the car in 2013 it came to the UK for a short spell before returning to continental Europe in around 2017. It’s finished in the same Argento paint with Nero Franzi leather that it had when it was new.

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1970 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2

Estimate: £120,000 to £170,000

Here’s a homecoming of sorts. The Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 was launched at the Paris Motor Show at the Grand Palais in 1967. It was the most luxurious car in Ferrari’s range in a decade when four-seaters accounted for half of the company’s sales. Car magazine described it in period as “The most civilised Ferrari yet.” This car just tips into the following decade having been assembled in January 1970. Finished in distinctive Marrone Colorado paint with beige Connolly leather, it was supplied new by Ferrari’s dealership in Rome. Just one year later, it was returned to Maranello for the engine to be restored. It is still in its original colours with a patinated leather interior and comes with documents from its life in Italy, Spain and France.

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2001 Ferrari 456M GT

Estimate: £75,000 to £110,000

Bringing us into the modern era, and indeed the current millennium, is this Ferrari 456M GT. When it made its debut in 1992, it broke a three-year gap in Ferrari 2+2 production and was welcomed for its front-mounted V12 and rear-wheel-drive layout. At the time, it was the most powerful Ferrari built this side of an F40, all wrapped up in a timeless Pininfarina body.

This one has spent two full decades of its life with one owner and has clocked up very few miles – the odometer currently showing just 6990km. It is being sold with no reserve, so someone will become its new owner this week.

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1981 Ferrari 400i

Estimate: £67,000 to £100,000

Launched in 1976, the Ferrari 400GT, later the 400i, remained in production for 17 years. Being a Europe-only model, though, production numbers were always limited. It was rare for more than 200 to be built in any given year. The three-box style attracted buyers who might otherwise have spent their money with Bentley or Mercedes-Benz.

The sharp Pininfarina lines are unlike any other Ferrari model before or since. This example dates from 1981 and, remarkably, has had only two owners. The first owner opted for manual transmission, making it desirable four decades on. The most recent custodian has kept the car since 1989, meaning this model has clear and simple provenance and it is being sold with no reserve.

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1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 Series 1

Estimate: £50,000 to £67,000

The 308 GT4 of 1974 was the start of Ferrari’s line of V8 grand tourers. It was sold initially as a Dino and succeeded the Dino 246, its sharp Bertone styling being a departure from the soft Pininfarina curves that went before. From 1977, the 308 received Ferrari branding to become the marque’s first mid-engined 2+2.

In addition to its 2+2 seating and surprisingly large boot – all cunningly fitted within the svelte silhouette – the 308 was praised for its performance, the 7.0-second 0-60mph time being respectable for the time. Supplied new in 1975 to a company, it moved to private ownership two years later. The manager of the aforementioned company bought it in 1990 and has kept it ever since.

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1981 Ferrari 400i

Estimate: £25,000 to £33,000

The most affordable ‘proper’ Ferrari in the Grand Palais sale is our second 400i. Part of the reason its estimate isn’t as lofty as the earlier 400i in the same sale is because of its automatic gearbox, which is less sought after by those buying the 400i as a classic, even though it was popular when it was a new car.

Indeed, it was vital to pull buyers away from makers more traditionally associated with luxury four-seaters. This example was built in 1980 and supplied new to Germany and is finished in a striking shade of green.

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Ferrari F1-2000 model

Estimate: £1,700 to £2,900

And finally, the most affordable ‘Ferrari’ in the sale – a 1:5 scale model of the Ferrari F1-2000 as driven by Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. It is built by S.P.O.R.T.S. and is number 44 of 200 built.

OK, you may not be able jump in and drive it, but it’s the most affordable way onto the Ferrari ladder at the Grand Palais sale.

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