The classic and Historic racing car world was rocked to its foundations at Monaco on Saturday 15 May 2004 when Bonhams achieved the modern record price of more than EUR 1,400,000 for the star lot offered – the actual Formula 1 Ferrari F1/2000 in which Michael Schumacher not only won the last four Grand Prix races of the 2000 season, but also secured Ferrari’s breakthrough Drivers’ World Championship crown after a 21-year drought.

The Bonhams Europe team’s annual Monaco Sale is established as the longest running and most consistently successful in the charismatic Principality – its stature reflected by SAS Prince Rainier’s approval for Bonhams to hold their glittering events in his personal motor collection overlooking the picturesque harbour of Fontvieille. Bonhams EUR 5.8 million sale achieved dynamic bidding clean across the board, not only for the acknowledged high-value historic competition cars on offer but also for some relatively humble ‘fun’ models, while Automobilia also achieved strong prices.

While Bonhams’ famously painstaking worldwide promotion of the four-year old Formula 1 Ferrari was successful in securing its spectacular sale to a private European collector, an older classic from the world-famous Maranello marque also sold well – the 1966 ex-Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari 275GTB/C which placed 2nd in its Category in that year’s Le Mans 24-Hour race selling for an overall EUR 915,500.

A successful charitable sale was also clinched when the 1977 Formula 3 Chevron B38 Single seater racing car –once driven by Italian rising star Elio de Angelis to win the 1978 Monaco Grand Prix supporting race – realised EUR27,600. Elio de Angelis became a Grand Prix-winning Formula 1 driver as Nigel Mansell’s Lotus team-mate before losing his life in an accident 18 years ago to the day. His family subsequently donated the car to Father Don Sergio Mantovani, founder of a charitable home for the aged in Modena –for whose benefit the Bonhams sale was achieved. Don Sergio was present together with Elio’s father at the auction to witness the result.

A new world record price was achieved for a much admired 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spyder America which was hammered down for a staggering EUR204,900 to the disbelief of onlookers.


“Automobilia” also sold very strongly at Bonhams Monaco 2004– a rare René Lalique glass “Victoire“ mascot realising no less than EUR17,250, a pair of Michael Schumacher’s racing overalls from the 2003 season fetching EUR12,075 and a personal Tag Heuer watch of Ayrton Senna going for EUR11,500.

Other leading prices achieved included:

•1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Berlinetta sold for EUR299,500.
•1963 Ferrari 250GT Lusso Berlinetta sold for EUR222,500.
•2003 Aston Martin DB ‘America Roadster‘ sold for EUR189,500.

Bonhams Director and auctioneer at the sale Simon Kidston said afterwards: “We’re really proud of this year’s Monaco auction, which produced a great return for our European team’s clients. This was our largest and most valuable Monaco sale in 10 years, and it just seems to get better".

Click HERE to view the complete results.

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Bonhams Europe S.A. 7 Av. Pictet-de-Rochemont 1207 Geneva Switzerland Tel: 0041 22 300 31 60 Fax: 0041 22 300 30 35 [email protected]

Text/Photos - Bonhams