Ferrari Center Stage At Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Week
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RM Sotheby’s (NYSE:BID) announced that the 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione Tour de France, s/n 0557GT, as headline attraction for its Y 2015 Monterey sale, to be held on 13-15 August in Monterey, California during Pebble Beach Classic Car Week.
This 250 GT Berlinetta is the car that instituted the ‘Tour de France’ name following its overall victory at that race in Y 1956.
“Our Monterey sale continues to raise the bar for collector car auctions year after year, and we’re excited to continue the tradition next month. Our specialists have handpicked a truly outstanding roster of vehicles for this year’s sale, each vetted for its correctness and authenticity – it will certainly be a great showcase of our focus on quality of product and inventiveness of presentation,” said Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division. “We’re thrilled to round out what is certainly our finest Monterey offering to date with a car of such incredible historical significance as the first ‘Tour de France’-winning, Tour de France!”
0557GT is the 5th of 7 Scaglietti-bodied Series 1 competition berlinettas, and one of the most important ‘Tour de France’ examples in existence,
It was sold new for the track by Enzo Ferrari to the Marquis Alfonso de Portago, the Spanish race driver, who, joined by his close friend Ed Nelson, entered the car in the 1956 Tour de France Auto.
The event saw 0557GT routed at 3,600 miles and undertake 2 hillclimbs, one drag race, and 6 races at various circuits, including Le Mans, Comminges, Rheims, and Montlhéry.
Messrs Portago and Nelson managed to win 5 of the 6 circuits, claiming 1st overall and beating both Sir Stirling Moss’s Mercedes-Benz 300 SL and future 3X Tour winner Olivier Gendebien’s Ferrari 250 Europa GT.
0557GT’s performance marked the 1st of 4 consecutive victories for the 250 GT Berlinetta model at the French race, and undefeated in its racing career.
Following its triumph at the Tour de France, Portago piloted the car to a 1st-overall finish at the Coupes du Salon at Montlhéry in October 1956, followed by a 1st place finish at the Rome Grand Prix that same year. He went on to drive the car to victory at the Coupes USA in April 1957.
Following Portago’s death at the Mille Miglia in May 1957, 0557GT was returned to the Ferrari factory at Maranello and offered to C. Keith W. Schellenberg, of Richmond, Yorkshire, England, who kept the car for the next 20 yrs.
Notably, 0557GT has never been wrecked or suffered any major damage, and remains highly original, which is unusual for a car with such racing pedigree.
It will be presented in fine cosmetic and mechanical condition, and is offered at RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale for the 1st time in 23 years, where it is expected to set a new benchmark price for the model.
“The ‘Tour de France’ is the 1st significant model in the Ferrari 250 lineage, it predates the Testa Rossa, the SWB Berlinetta, the 250 GTO and the 250 LM, and, as such, represents an important milestone in the company’s history,” said Alain Squindo, Vice President, RM Sotheby’s.
Mr. Squindo continued, “Ferrari 0557GT is part of a very exclusive group of Ferrari’s most historically important individual cars, as famous designations like “Mille Miglia,” “Daytona,” and of course “Tour de France” were earned by singular cars that reigned victorious at those races. 0557GT therefore stands head and shoulders above its fellow stablemates, which it effectively named. Add to that the car’s history with Fon de Portago, its exquisite presentation and freshness to market, and the scene is set for a very, very memorable Monterey auction.”
Stay tuned…
HeffX-LTN
Paul Ebeling
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