Well, what’s going to happen this year? In 2007 there was the 6.9m-euro Le Mans winner and in 2008 the ex-Coburn black SWB ‘Cal Spyder’ for 7m euros. For 2009, RM has a catalogue packed with variation and quality of the highest order, including several competition cars that could well break world records.

The surprise entry in RM’s customary well-presented 270-page catalogue is the 1967 Ferrari 330 P4, an ‘Estimate on Request’ car. Currently wearing its later, in-period Can-Am open bodywork, in 1967 chassis # 0858 was third overall at Le Mans and won the 1000km of Monza. With spider bodywork – but still a long-distance P4 – it clinched the 1967 Manufacturers’ Championship with second place at the BOAC International 500 at Brands Hatch later that year.

Jackie Stewart and Chris Amon were the drivers on that day. Not a bad pairing. Championship won, 0858 and sister car 0860 were converted by Ferrari for North American unlimited sports car racing, removing the long-distance equipment and enlarging the engine for maximum speed over a short, Can-Am ‘sprint’.

This is the bodywork you see here.

Make no mistake, a Ferrari P4 is up there in the stratosphere with a 250 GTO, pre-War ‘Silver Arrow’, Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic or Alfa Romeo Tipo B. It’s not really road-usable, but is breathtakingly beautiful – and very rare. If this car sells, it will sell big.

The smart money is on it then being re-bodied back to its early-1967, long-distance specification.

1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder - 4,300,000 - 5,500,000 euros	1966 Ferrari 275 GTB 6C - 480,000 - 580,000 euros
2008 Maserati MC12 Corsa 775,000 - 950,000 euros	1961 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 - 75,000 - 125,000 euros

With all the excitement of the 330 P4, it’s easy to overlook other cars that would highlight any Monterey-week auction. The gorgeous ‘Pontoon-fender’ 1957 Ferrari 250 TR is the only other car in the sale without a printed estimate. We have covered this car in-depth elsewhere on Classic Driver; suffice to say that this is something you can drive on the street, and is also highly desirable. If these two sell...

And there are not one but two 250 GT California Spyders: a red 1962 short wheelbase estimated at 4,300,000 - 5,500,000 euros, and a dark blue 1959 long wheelbase car (ex-Rodríguez family, note) for 2,000,000 - 2,500,000 euros.


Leaving the other super-rare, or competition, cars until later in this preview, what else will be at Maranello? The catalogue is slightly smaller this year (37 cars vs 44 in 2008) but still manages to provide ‘something for everyone’.

That’s if you are a Ferrari collector, of course. And, don't forget, all cars in the sale carry full Ferrari Classiche certification.

1985 Ferrari 288 GTO 380,000 - 450,000 euros

1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' Spider - 880,000 - 1,100,000 euros

There’s a 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' Spyder (880,000 - 1,100,000 euros) that RM’s London office has already received “a lot of interest” on, and two of Ferrari's turbo supercars of recent years: a 1985 288 GTO (380,000 - 450,000 euros) and a 1991 F40 for 230,000 - 260,000 euros.

Two Dinos will be sold in May. The 1973 Ferrari 'Dino' 246 GT carries an estimate of 80,000 - 110,000 euros and the ever-popular, open ‘GTS’ is represented by a red 1972 version for 100,000 - 120,000 euros.

1973 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 75,000 - 95,000 euros

1949 Ferrari 166 Inter Coupe 350,000 - 425,000 euros

We had the opportunity of looking at one of the 275 GTBs this week, so will give you more details on the 1966 Giallo Fly alloy-bodied car (800,000 - 950,000 euros) at a later date. In addition to this long-nose, three-carb car there’s a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB 6C for 480,000 - 580,000 and a very nice potential Tour Auto or Le Mans Classic 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/C – one of only 10 competizione cars built - estimated at 800,000 - 2,200,000 euros.

A sizeable part of the catalogue comes from the Dutch collector Edgar Schermerhorn. These are mainly older cars (such as the 1949 Ferrari 166 Inter Coupe by Touring, for 300,000 - 375,000 euros) but also include a 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast (450,000 - 500,000 euros) and a 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' for 150,000 - 200,000 euros.


Swiss collector Peter Heuberger has entered his 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta Competizione (800,000 - 1,100,000 euros) and the ex-Stirling Moss 1956 Maserati 250F, competitively estimated - in this company - at 1,700,000 - 2,200,000 euros.

The latter is one of three Maseratis in this year’s Maranello sale. The others are an immaculate, brand new 2008 MC12 Corsa (775,000 - 950,000 euros, a car with just ‘factory mileage’) and a pretty 1957 250 S for 1,500,000 - 1,700,000 euros.

1959 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Speciale Bertone 2,200,000 - 2,900,000 euros

1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' Competizione GR,IV - 2,500,000 - 3,200,000 euros

Finally, how about these two for a nice couple of rare road, and racing, GT Ferraris? The 1959 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Speciale Bertone is just one of two cars so-bodied, and the third chassis off the production line. 2,200,000 - 2,900,000 euros will buy you an elegant piece of Ferrari road car history.

Meanwhile, big, front-engined GTs don’t come much tougher than a Gr. IV ‘Daytona Comp’. The example you see here is the ex-Charles Pozzi, 1973 Le Mans class winner, chassis 16363. 2,500,000 - 3,200,000 euros is the estimate – and I wouldn’t say ‘no’.


Prior to the motor cars there will be an extensive selection of Ferrari automobilia including Lot 150, a Ferrari P4 Bodywork Form. ‘Without Reserve’, the fantastic two-part, multi-tubular work-of-art is estimated at 20,000 - 25,000 euros.

So that’s what the 2009 Maranello sale is looking like. It’s going to be an extraordinary event that we will attend and, if you’ve got the time, we strongly suggest you do, too.

To see a full lotlisting of entries to the May 17th Leggenda e Passione auction please CLICK HERE.

To see all motor car entries in the Classic Driver car database please CLICK HERE.

Please CLICK HERE to read our review of the RM 2008 Maranello sale.

Entry is strictly by catalogue-only (70 euros, admits two to auction. Bidder registration costs 120 euros, admits two to auction, previews and reception).

Auction schedule

SALE:
May 17, 3:00 PM Motor cars
(viewing starts at 9:00 AM)

PREVIEW:
May 15, 2009 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
May 16, 2009 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
May 17, 2009 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

COCKTAIL RECEPTION:
May 16, 2009 7:00 PM (by invitation only)

LOCATION:
Ferrari S.p.A.
Circuito di Fiorano
41042 Fiorano, Maranello, Italia

RM Auctions in association with Sotheby's 46a Carnaby Street London W1F 9PS UK UK Telephone: +44 (0)20 7851 7070 Fax: +44 (0)20 7851 7079 North America Telephone: +1 800 211 4371 Website: www.rmauctions.com Email: [email protected].

Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: RM Auctions in Association with Sotheby's / Actual Photo

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