RM Sotheby's today unveils a unique collection of "barn find" Ferraris aptly named "The Lost & Found Collection" that will be on display during the highly anticipated Monterey Car Week in August in Monterey, California.
Located in downtown Speedway, Indiana, across from the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is a treasure trove of dormant stallions that have remained untouched for decades, hidden from Ferrari collectors, restorers and the general public to gather dust.
At first glance, an unsuspecting observer would have no idea that some of these lost Ferraris have competed in the world's most famous races, such as Le Mans, the Targa Florio and the Mille Miglia. Nor would you guess that a Ferrari that once belonged to a king rests quietly in the heart of Indiana. Of course, one might wonder how a collection of such magnitude could be at the mercy of time in a warehouse in Indiana - the answer lies in Hurricane Charley.
Resurfaced for the first time in 15 years
In 2004, Hurricane Charley wreaked havoc on the Florida coast, exposing the forgotten Ferraris to sunlight for the first time since 1990 when the barn they were housed in partially collapsed. The Ferraris, still bearing the marks of the debris from their dilapidated housing, were carefully moved to a secure storage facility in Indianapolis, where they have stood undisturbed ever since.
This remarkable discovery of 20 vintage Ferraris is destined to capture the imagination of enthusiasts and dreamers from all walks of life: the epitome of every collector's wildest dreams and a find that will make a splash in the automotive world and beyond.
"While a select group of Ferrari collectors knew of the existence of these extraordinary cars, the rest of the world remained unaware. This is a unique opportunity for enthusiasts to acquire these iconic Ferraris, some of which took part in famous races. Most of these lost Ferraris have remained untouched and have retained their purity and original condition since the day they were acquired - a true embodiment of the concept of the 'barn find'. This is the first time RM Sotheby's has brought a barn find collection of this magnitude to the market," says Rob Myers, the visionary force behind RM Sotheby's.
Rarities and super classics
The 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Speciale by Pinin Farina is one of four 250 GT Coupés built by Pinin Farina in 1956 with a Superamerica-style body.
This car was sold brand new from the factory to its first owner, King Mohamed V of Morocco. Traces of its stunning original color combination of Celeste with a Nero roof over a Naturale Connoly leather interior as well as the presence of its matching numbers V-12 make this Speciale a tempting restoration candidate (estimate: USD 1.7 to 2.3 million).
The aluminum-bodied 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C made its debut on the Ferrari stand at the XLVII Torino Motor Show and participated in the 1966 Targa Florio with Luciano Conti (editor of Italian Autosprint magazine) and co-driver Vittorio Venturi.
This was the first "long nose" 275 GTB, equipped with a light alloy body and six carburetors (estimate: USD 2 to 2.5 million).
If a car could talk, the weathered chassis of the 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider would have an incredible story to tell - not least because it has the most extensive racing history of the 20 cars on offer. Originally fitted with a Pinin Farina Spider body, it was sold as a new car to the head of Scuderia Guastalla, Franco Cornacchia, who made it available to former Ferrari driver Franco Cortese.
Significantly, Cortese and his co-driver Perruchini achieved fourth place in class at the 1954 Mille Miglia (14th place overall). The car was later modified by Scaglietti and took part in the 1956 Targa Florio with Benzoni-Naust, among others (estimate: USD 1.2 to 1.6 million).
The Ferrari 512 BB Competizione from 1978 is one of three factory-specified examples that were prepared for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1978. The car was entered by Luigi Chinetti Sr./NART under starting number 87 and driven by Jacques Guérin, Jean-Pierre Delaunay and Gregg Young.
He put in an impressive performance, completing over 19 hours and 232 laps before retiring. This Ferrari, which is essentially in the condition in which it left the Circuit de la Sarthe, has a short chain of ownership with only two private custodians (estimate: USD 1.8 to 2.8 million).
The entire Lost & Found collection
- 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
The 20 Ferraris will go under the hammer at the Monterey auction from August 17 to 19, 2023. Further information can be found on the RM/Sotheby's website.
