Lost & Found Ferraris Headline RM Sotheby’s Monterey

The Monterey auctions are heating up, even with a few months left before the first car crosses an auction block.

Just this week, RM Sotheby’s announced The Lost & Found Collection — which is being touted as a once-in-a-generation collection of barn find Ferraris. It will cross the block at this year’s Monterey auction in August.

The story is this: In 2004, Hurricane Charley ran across the coast of Florida, and among the damaged buildings was one that housed 20 vintage Ferraris — cars that had been hidden away since the barn they were stored in partially collapsed in 1990. Unknown to most collectors, these cars had some great history, including appearances at Le Mans, the Targa Florio and the Mille Miglia.

From there, the cars were moved to a secure warehouse in Indianapolis. And now, they’re heading to auction.

“While a select group of Ferrari collectors knew about the existence of these extraordinary cars, the rest of the world remained unaware. This represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for enthusiasts to acquire these iconic Ferraris, some of which have participated in renowned races. Most of these lost Ferraris remain untouched, preserving their purity and original condition since the day they were acquired — a true embodiment of the ‘barn find’ concept. It is the first time that RM Sotheby’s has presented a barn find collection of this magnitude to the market,” says Rob Myers, Chairman and CEO of RM Sotheby’s.

The Cars:

1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale by Pinin Farina – One of four 250 GT Coupes built by Pinin Farina in 1956 with Superamerica-style coachwork, this car was sold brand new by the factory to its first owner, King Mohamed V of Morocco. Traces of its breathtaking original color combination of Celeste with a Nero roof over a Naturale Connoly leather interior, as well as the presence of its numbers-matching V-12, make this Speciale a tantalizing restoration candidate (Estimate: $1,700,000 – $2,300,000).

1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy by Scaglietti – Making its debut on the Ferrari stand at the XLVII Torino Motor Show, this 275 GTB participated in the 1966 Targa Florio with Luciano Conti (publisher of Italy’s “Autosprint” magazine) and co-driver Vittorio Venturi. Notably, this was the first long-nose 275 GTB to be fitted with a low-weight alloy body and six carburetors (Estimate: $2,000,000 – $2,500,000).

1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider Series I by Pinin Farina – This car has the most extensive racing history of the 20 cars offered. Originally clothed in Pinin Farina Spider coachwork, it was sold new to Scuderia Guastalla principal Franco Cornacchia for the use of ex-Scuderia Ferrari driver Franco Cortese. Significantly, Cortese and co-driver Perruchini achieved 4th in class (14th overall) at the 1954 Mille Miglia. Subsequently rebodied by Scaglietti, further notable races include a Benzoni-Naust effort at the 1956 Targa Florio (Estimate: $1,200,000 – $1,600,000).

1978 Ferrari 512 BB Competizione – This Ferrari 512 BB Competizione is one of three factory-specified examples prepared for the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans. Entered by Luigi Chinetti Sr./ NART as race #87 and driven by Jacques Guérin, Jean-Pierre Delaunay, and Gregg Young, the car managed an impressive showing, completing over 19 hours and 232 laps before retirement. Appearing largely as it did when it left the Circuit de la Sarthe, this Ferrari boasts a short ownership chain of just two private caretakers (Estimate: $1,800,000 – $2,800,000). 

The complete Lost & Found Collection includes:

1978 Ferrari 512 BB Competizione     

1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy by Scaglietti     

1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale by Pinin Farina   

1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupe Series I by Pinin Farina  

1967 Ferrari 330 GTS by Pininfarina      

1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider Series I by Pinin Farina   

1965 Ferrari 275 GTS by Pininfarina     

1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti   

1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti   

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti   

1968 Ferrari Dino 206 GT by Scaglietti     

1960 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Series II by Pinin Farina   

1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 by Pininfarina      

1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series II by Pininfarina  

1976 Ferrari 308 GTB ‘Vetroresina’ by Scaglietti    

1969 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 by Pininfarina     

1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series I ‘Interim’ by Pininfarina   

1980 Ferrari 512 BB       

1991 Ferrari Testarossa       

1977 Ferrari 400 Automatic

Learn more here.

Images: RM Sotheby’s

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Jim Pickering

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