An engine-less Ferrari SF1000 show car sold for a staggering $1.4 million as the top result in the RM Sotheby’s Ferrari Once in a Millennium Online-Only auction 2020.
RM Sotheby’s Online-Only Once in a Millennium Ferrari Sale 2020
RM Sotheby’s, in partnership with Ferrari, achieved a surprisingly high €1,680,840 ($1,858,778) from only 16 lots in its Online Only: Once in a Millennium auction, which closed for bidding on 14 December 2020.
Held in celebration of Scuderia Ferrari’s milestone 1000th Grand Prix event, which took place at Mugello, Italy on 11-13 September 2020, the Online Only sale offered 16 exclusive motorsport lots, all without reserve, relating to the landmark 2020 race. All lots represented a unique opportunity for Ferrari and F1 enthusiasts with a variety of experiences, original Ferrari equipment, racing gear, and a show car on offer.
2020 Ferrari SF1000 Show Car
The top result at the RM Sotheby’s Online-Only — Once in a Millennium sale was €2,72,000 ($1,400,000) paid for a full-scale Ferrari SF1000 show car that attracted much pre-sale publicity. The rare, and clearly very desirable, lot had a pre-sale high estimate of €200,000!
This show car was built as a 1:1 replica of the Ferrari SF1000 that raced (with limited success) at the 2020 Toscana Grand Prix — the 100th race Ferrari participated in. The show car boasts two sets of driver’s numbers: Charles Leclerc’s number 16 on the nose and Sebastian Vettel’s number 5 on the rear tailfin. Both drivers also signed the car.
As a show car, this Ferrari SF1000 was built without an engine, gearbox, braking, or electronic systems. The new owner is only allowed to use it for private static displays — it may not be made a running vehicle or used for commercial purposes.
The result of the show car was six times presale estimate but still a bit cheaper than a real Formula 1 Ferrari. The most expensive modern Formula 1 car was Michael Schumacher’s Grand Prix-winning Ferrari F2001 that sold in the Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in November 2017 for $7,504,000. The second highest Ferrari F1 result was Michael Schumacher’s 2002 Ferrari F2002 F1 Car that achieved $6,643,750 at Abu Dhabi 2019. Non-race-winning Formula 1 cars usually sell for less than a million.
Other Top Lots at the RM Sotheby’s Online-Only Ferrari Millennium 2020 Sale
A number of lots doubled their pre-sale estimates including a racing suit signed by Mick Schumacher which sold for €45,600; a Sebastian Vettel signed racing suit which sold for €36,000; racing gloves signed by Sebastian Vettel sold for €12,600; racing gloves signed by Charles Leclerc sold for €12,000; and a racing suit signed by Charles Leclerc which made an incredible €63,600 against its pre-sale high estimate of €15,000. Worryingly for Sebastian Vettel must be that the Charles Leclerc items generally achieved stronger results.
Also on offer were two Behind the Scenes Grand Prix Race Experiences, which sold for €42,000 apiece; a Charles Leclerc Replica Racing Helmet which sold for €31,200; a Sebastian Vettel Replica Racing Helmet which sold for €31,200; two signed Ferrari SF1000 Rear Wing Endplates which sold for €27,000 and €26,400 respectively; three 2021 Formula 1 Grand Prix Race Experiences at Ferrari Gestione Sportiva, Maranello, which sold for €12,000, €10,800 and €10,800 respectively; and Mick Schumacher Signed Racing Gloves which sold for €5,640.