It’s not uncommon to see a wide array of rare Ferraris being auctioned-off nowadays, but when we’re talking about two extremely coveted and atypical models, things get way more interesting.
At the New York – Driven By Disruption auction, RM Sotheby’s has assembled a one-of-a-kind portfolio of extremely rare cars, all of which can be easily considered masterpieces of automotive culture. Even so, a hand full of Ferraris managed to stand out from the pack, including the blue 1955 500 Mondial by Scaglietti, and the “Nero” 1953 212 Inter Coupe by Vignale.
Don’t get fooled by the 500 Mondial’s beaten-up body, as the marks of time didn’t made it the less valuable of the two; as a matter of fact, its $5,000,000 – $7,000,000 estimated price makes it one of the most valuable cars at the auction. Like we stated before, nowadays, an unrestored, patina-preserved car, with battle-scars gathered throughout its lifetime is much more desired by true aficionados than a fully-restored, fresh-looking example.
And it doesn’t come much more originally-preserved than this Scaglietti-bodied machine, as it still retains its original condition, including the tubular steel chassis, the 170 bhp, 1,984 cc DOHC inline four-cylinder engine with two Weber 40 DCOA/3 carburetors engine, the five-speed manual transaxle gearbox, coach work, and even the French Blu paint – an incredible achievement for an automobile born in into motorsport, that emerged unscathed from its “natural habitat” and its kept on running for the next 60 years or so.
Mind you, after completing its second event, the 500 Mondial was taken to the Ferrari factory to be refurbished, although the Italian car maker never actually got to repair it. It did, however, change its color in the recognizable red hue, and used it a museum piece at the Autodromo di Monza. Years later, one of its many owners arranged for a body shop to to delicately remove the layer of red paint applied by the factory to reveal its original coat of French Blu – a operation which took nearly three months to complete.
The second car, a Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe by Vignale, is possibly quite the opposite of the 500 Mondial, presenting itself as a noticeable change from typical Ferrari design, in a completely restored state.
Sketched by Giovanni Michelotti, this stunning looking automobile was the first of six similar 212 Inter Coupes bodied by Vignale to Michelotti’s styling, and its $2,000,000 – $2,400,000 estimated price reflects its rarity and quality.
With a high waistline, a low roofline, and a chop-top appearance, this car bears the delicate, yet iconic Vignale-Michelotti cues that set it apart from other classic Ferraris. Even so, its exquisite design and classy appearance didn’t save it from a history of turmoil. For example, only in 2009 the car was mated with its proper engine, after a previous collector was forced to substitute it with another V12 after he over-torqued it.
Still, the car was completely restored to factory specifications using an intricate level of detail, which brought it numerous accolades, including a Platinum Award at the prestigious Cavallino Classic in January 2013, and a Ferrari Classiche certificate.
PHOTO GALLERY
