More than 45,000 visitors to the Bremen Classic Motorshow 2024 were able to witness its creation. Around 80,000 guests of the national car museum The Loh Collection admired it as an exhibit of the outstanding special exhibition "Ferrari - Masterpieces for the racetrack and road". Now it is being auctioned off to the highest bidder at the same museum: the 1.60 × 1.20 meter painting "Passion in Red" by Henrik Schmeer.
On November 23, 2025, it will go up for bid at the major charity auction of coveted automobilia.
The work was created as part of the F40/U30 project, which Smilla Blaube (24) initiated in response to the problem of young talent in the classic car scene. Her recipe to combat the ageing of the hobby: don't wait and see what working groups of established industry representatives come up with to promote young people, but get active yourself.
Enthusiastic youth
The remarkable result could be admired for the first time at the major Bremen classic car show in February 2024: a central 390-square-metre exhibition stand where classic car fans in the under-30 age group presented what they love about old cars - and what they can contribute themselves in terms of craftsmanship and culture.
Smilla Bluebee's impressive contribution: exhibiting a Ferrari F40, which was generously made available to her by the national car museum The Loh Collection. "A dream car for old and young alike, and thus a bridge of passion between the generations," says the Hamburg native about her F40/U30 project.
In order to give young talents a stage and space for exchange, she engaged the renowned young classic car painter Hendrik Schmeer (24), who modeled the valuable F40.
Created before the eyes of the trade fair visitors
The creation of the "Passion in Red" artwork became a live event under the eyes of visitors to the Bremen Classic Motorshow.
It finally received its accolade as part of the Ferrari special exhibition at the National Automobile Museum, which attracted worldwide attention.
Now the prominent painting (acrylic on canvas) is being auctioned off by the renowned automobile auction house Ni-Cola in the rooms of the spectacular museum in Dietzhölztal near Siegen. The proceeds will go to the children's cancer charity and other charitable causes. Bidders are welcome in person, but also by telephone or online.
