RM Sotheby’s announced top Ferraris from a Swedish collection — including a 500 TR Spider, 250 GT SWB, and 2019 Monza SP1 — for the Villa Erba 2023 sale.
RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2023 classic car auction will feature the Aurora Collection of some fine Ferraris from a Swedish single-owner collector that will be offered without reserve. Top Ferraris from this collection include amongst others four spectacular cars by Scaglietti: a 1956 Ferrari 500 TR Spider, a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, and a 1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider. The collection also includes cars from Pininfarina — a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS and a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II. These classics will be complemented by a 2019 Ferrari Monza SP1. The collection also includes a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing and a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster.
Aurora Collection at RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba Sale 2023
RM Sotheby’s will offer without reserve the Aurora Collection, which spans a remarkable 68 years of automotive history and encompasses a truly remarkable selection of significant Ferraris, at the Villa Erba classic car auction on 20 May 2023 during the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy.
The collection has largely been hidden from the public eye in Sweden and has never been displayed nor shown at any concours event and is therefore an exciting opportunity for any serious collector. Many examples boast exceptional histories and low mileage, making them rare finds in the marketplace.
Top Ferraris by Scaglietti at RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba Sale 2023
Some of the highlights on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2023 classic car auction are Ferraris produced with coachwork by Scaglietti:
One of the centerpieces of the collection is the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta by Scaglietti, a model regarded by many as one of the most beautiful sports GT cars ever created. The example offered is number 62 of 165 built and was the last SWB built in the 1960 body style. First delivered new to US West Coast Ferrari dealer MCM Modern Classic Motors of Reno, the car later featured in the 1968 film The Love Bug. In more recent years, the SWB was Ferrari Classiche certified in October 2008. Today, the car is known to retain its matching-numbers chassis and engine according to factory records. (Estimate: €7,500,000 – €8,500,000)
Joining the 250 GT SWB at the center of the collection is an incredible 1956 Ferrari 500 TR Spider by Scaglietti. Boasting extensive race history in period, including a class win and 4th place in the 1957 Helsinki Grand Prix, this is example number 3 of the mere 17 built. Although this example has not been seen for over a decade, this 500 TR was campaigned at various historic events in the 1980s, including the 1982 Mille Miglia Storica and the 1984 Targa Florio Storica, and has appeared in a number of Grand Prix de Monaco Historique races, as well as rounds of the Shell Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge. This incredible, Lampredi-powered masterpiece has resided in the consignor’s collection since 2011. (Estimate: €4,000,000 – €4,500,000)
The 1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti is an incredibly special example of the ultimate 1970s open-top Ferrari. As one of only 122 factory-built Daytona Spiders, this example is remarkable for having been acquired new by the consignor and its very sparing use in the 50 years since. Today, the car’s odometer reads a meager 3,862 miles. The car retains its matching-numbers chassis, engine, and transaxle, according to factory records, and is offered in its original color of Marrone. The car was certified by Ferrari Classiche in November 2011 and is estimated at €2,500,000 – €3,000,000.
The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 by Scaglietti was delivered new to Rome, Italy, but spent much of the first part of its life in San Jose, USA. Acquired by the current owner in 2011, the ‘Four-Cam’ was certified by Ferrari Classiche in September 2014 and is confirmed to retain its original chassis, engine, and transaxle. The car presents beautifully and is estimated at €2,700,000 – €3,200,000.
Top Pininfarina Ferraris at RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba Sale 2023
To complete the ultimate 275 pairing, the collection features a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS by Pininfarina, which was delivered new to the US to importer Luigi Chinetti Motors. Today, it retains its original chassis, engine, and transaxle. Arguably one of the prettiest open-top Ferraris ever made, the Ferrari Classiche-certified car is estimated at €1,300,000 – €1,700,000.
Further stylish open-top motoring is available courtesy of a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II by Pininfarina, which was also delivered new to Luigi Chinetti Motors. A beautiful example that retains its matching-numbers body, chassis, and engine, this is number 145 of the mere 200 that were built. The car was awarded Ferrari Classiche certification in February 2013 (Estimate: €1,000,000 – €1,400,000).
Modern Ferraris
The Aurora Collection also includes several modern-era cars headlined by a 2019 Ferrari Monza SP1. The SP1 is a limited-production model and forms part of the ‘Icona’ series, inspired by heritage Ferrari racing cars. With only 25 kilometers on its odometer, this is arguably the finest example available to the market and the first example to come to auction. This carbon fiber-clad hypercar featuring a 6.5-liter V-12 that produces 799 horsepower is the ultimate in driver-focused performance and is estimated at €2,500,000 – €3,000,000.
One of the rarest Ferraris of the modern era is the 2011 Ferrari SA Aperta. Produced to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Pininfarina, this example is powered by the GTO-derived 6.0 V-12 and is one of only 80 produced. Fully accompanied by its owner’s manuals, fitted luggage, and toolkit, the car is offered with close-to-delivery mileage, showing only 209 kilometers on the odometer. The car was awarded Ferrari Classiche while still in the Maranello factory in 2010. (Estimate: €1,000,000 – €1,400,000).
Classic Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs
However, it is not just Ferraris on offer from The Aurora collection but also two exceptional examples from Mercedes-Benz. An unquestionable cornerstone of any serious collection, and unquestionably one of the most sought-after collector cars of any era, is a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. The collection features a beautiful 1955 example presented in classic silver that is estimated at €1,200,000 – €1,500,000. This is complemented by a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster, another beautiful, fuel-injected Mercedes from the mid-1950s which provides comfortable and refined touring capability (Estimate: €600,000 – €800,000).
