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Where have they gone? Albert Obrist and his Ferrari collection

Name: Ferrari 375 F1 1951
Brand: Ferrari

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Created on May 3, 2025

Text:

Thomas Suter

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Archiv Albert Obrist

Wolfgang Wilhelm

Daniel Reinhard

Archiv Albert Obrist

Wolfgang Wilhelm

Albert Obrist: "Enzo Ferrari's work is the only epochal work of art in Italy in the 20th century"

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Wasn't there something else? Albert Obrist in conversation

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Braking maneuvers? Albert Obrist explains ...

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Adriano Cimarosti's Grand Prix Suisse book on Albert Obrist's coffee table

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Albert Obrist explains his love for Ferrari

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Thoughtful Albert Obrist in conversation

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Albert Obrist being interviewed in his chalet in Gstaad

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Albert Obrist remembers his meeting with Enzo Ferrari

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Albert Obrist has certainly not lost his sense of humor

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Albert Obrist recognized the cultural significance of Ferrari early on

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Albert Obrist in conversation in his Gstaad chalet

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Many old stories come up again in conversation

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Albert Obrist lets his gaze wander far back in time

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Albert Obrist in his carefully restored Gstaad chalet

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Albert Obrist was good friends with Jean Tinguely

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Tinguely artwork on the wall of the Obrist chalet in Gstaad

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Phil Hill and Albert Obrist with the Ferrari Dino 246 F1

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A look at the book about the Obrist collection - Phil Hill and Albert Obrist with the Dino 246 F1

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Club International des Anciens Pilotes de Grand Prix F1 (C.I.A.P.G.P.F1) at a meeting in the mid-eighties, including José Froilán González (in the car), Huschke von Hanstein, Juan Manuel Fangio, Clay Regazzoni, Sir Jack Brabham, Toulo de Grafenried, Phil Hill, Maria-Theresa de Filippis

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A look into the book of Obrist memories - Racers' meeting

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A look into the book of Obrist memories - Mauro Forghieri

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A look into the book of Obrist memories - Mauro Forghieri in the Ferrari 250 GTO

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The Ferrari 315 S from 1957 in the Albert-Obrist collection

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The Ferrari TR59 from 1959 during restoration

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Albert Obrist's collection - famous Ferrari racing cars in perfect condition, in the foreground an Alfa Romeo

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A look into the book of Obrist memories - Albert Obrist racing in the Ferrari 250 GT Competizione

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Albert Obrist at the wheel of the 1967 Ferrari 330 P4

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Albert Obrist at the wheel of the Ferrari 375 F1 from 1951

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Albert Obrist in the Ferrari TR59 from 1959

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Albert Obrist in his office, there was no shortage of Ferrari literature

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A look into the book of Obrist memories - Obrist family

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The Obrist Ferrari Collection - presented like a work of art

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Article about Albert Obrist when he restored sailing ships

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Summary

Even as a boy, Albert Obrist was fascinated by motor racing at the Bern Grand Prix. He later owned a top-class collection of Ferrari racing cars and regarded these racing cars as cultural highlights. The collection was later broken up, but the cars from the Ferrari 250 GTO to the 330 P4 and 375 F1 were of course preserved and are now part of other collections. Obrist turned his attention to new things. In this interview, Albert Obrist looks back on his life and his impressive Ferrari collection.

This article contains the following chapters

Grand Prix Bern as inspiration
Finally his own Ferrari
The cultural significance of Ferrari
Not a collection, a project
On credit
Profiteer Bernie Ecclestone
Still connected to Ferrari
Active in historic racing
From racing car to schooner
Secluded in his carefully restored hideaway

Estimated reading time: 11min

Preview (beginning of the article)

He knew them all - Juan Manuel Fangio, Toulo de Graffenried, Piero Taruffi, Umberto Maglioli, Nino Vaccarella, Phil Hill, Michele Alboreto and Jean Tinguely. The link: a passion for cars, or more precisely: a passion for Ferrari. "And over the years, of course, I got to know a lot more people, including a lot of nice people...", he smiles. To limit Obrist's fascination to Ferrari alone would be far too short-sighted. His image of a Gesamtkunstwerk (actually, his life is already a kind of Gesamtkunstwerk...) includes architecture, art and old sailing boats in addition to the models from the Italian luxury manufacturer. And he set himself the goal of complete perfection in everything he tackled.

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