Ferrari celebrates 70 years of history at Fiorano
Posted: 10.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
The 1953 340 MM and the 1986 Testarossa Spider named “Best of Show” at the Concours d’Elegance
Maranello, 10 September 2017 – The Concours d’Elegance prize-giving ceremony brought Ferrari’s two days of 70 th Anniversary celebrations at the Fiorano circuit to a stylish conclusion: a very special weekend that saw more than 4,000 clients and almost a thousand cars from across the globe converge on the track where every Ferrari gets its maiden outing. It was the perfect culmination too of a year that has already featured a whole programme of celebratory events spanning 60 different nations and continuing until the end of 2017.
Today, however, clients’ and enthusiasts’ eyes alike were all on the 120 historic cars, some incredibly rare and valuable, competing for the title of Best of Show in the Racing Car and Road Car categories at the Concours d’Elegance. Divided into 20 different classes and displayed on the grass at Fiorano, the fleet presented judges with a very difficult task. Nonetheless, the jury finally agreed to award the two titles to the 1953 340 MM Spider Vignale and the 1986 Testarossa Spider.
The 340 MM Spider Vignale has a spectacular sporting history. This particular example competed in several races and its greatest coup was taking victory in the 1953 Mille Miglia in the hands of Giannino Marzotto and Marco Crosara. The 1986 Testarossa Spider, on the other hand, is a unique car – the only spider version of this model ever built. In fact, it was commissioned especially to celebrate Gianni Agnelli’s 20 th anniversary as Fiat chairman and he owned it until 1991.
One of the most memorable moments of the Fiorano weekend was the auction, the start of which was marked very fittingly by a flyover by the Eurofighter Typhoons of the Italian Airforce’s 4 th Wing from Grosseto, which have a deep connection to Ferrari as their fuselages too sport the Prancing Horse insignia, first used by the heroic Italian fighter ace Francesco Baracca. The auction saw collectors vying for the 38 enormously valuable Maranello cars, which included an exclusive LaFerrari Aperta sold for 8.3 million euro. That sum will be donated in its entirety to Save the Children to provide education to thousands of the most disadvantaged children across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. In all, the cars that went under the hammer fetched a total of 63 million euro, a record figure for a single-make auction.
Another unforgettable high point of the weekend was Saturday evening’s spectacular Rosso 70 show which commenced with a welcome speech by Chairman Sergio Marchionne before brilliantly illustrating Enzo Ferrari’s unique vision and dreams and how they crystallised into everything that Ferrari represents in the world today.
An unforgettabel show
Posted: 09.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
A spectacular trip through Ferrari’s 70 years at Fiorano
Maranello, 9 September 2017 –Enzo Ferrari’s vision and boyhood dreams revealed in a uniquely thrilling story that brilliantly encapsulated the passion, attention-to-detail and flair that produced the Maranello marque’s inimitable style. The Rosso 70 show was the high point of the first day of Ferrari’s 70th Anniversary celebrations at the Fiorano circuit, captivating the 4,000-plus guests who were completely undeterred by the wet weather.
Chairman Sergio Marchionne got the evening underway by welcoming his guests, who had come from all over the globe, before handing over to the cadets of Modena’s Military Academy for the raising of flag followed by the Italian national anthem. The audience was then whisked off on an exhilarating voyage of discovery of the life and vision of Enzo Ferrari.
The central part of the show focused on the lifestyles and changing society of the last 70 years, a story inextricably linked with that of Ferrari, an international style icon since its earliest days. Taking turns on the stage also were the first Ferrari ever built, the 125 S, the 250 California of the 1950s, the 250 GTO of 1962, celebrated as much for its track victories as its beauty, the 512 BB, the legendary Testarossa, star of American TV series and videogames alike, the F50, the Enzo and, of course, the LaFerrari Aperta, the iconic Prancing Horse 70th Anniversary car.
Passion too had its place with a monologue delivered by Irish Game of Thrones star, Liam Cunningham, providing a segue into the section of the show devoted to racing, Formula 1 and otherwise, and the homage to the Scuderia’s champions through the years. Then Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel stepped on the stage. Last but not least was a video tribute to the great Michael Schumacher, whose long battle continues.
The show concluded with a spectacular virtual pit-stop featuring driver Marc Gené in a Ferrari Formula 1 car, and a thrilling display by dancers, acrobats and percussionists who accompanied the clients to the Jamiroquai concert that closed the evening.
The day had begun in Modena with lunch at the Military Academy for Concours d’Elegance participants and the arrival of 500 Ferraris from all over Europe. The largest single-make auction ever held also took place before dinner with 35 Prancing Horse cars going under the hammer. These included the LaFerrari Aperta that sold for 8.3 million euro. Proceeds from that particular sale will go to Save the Children, an organisation that provides education for the world’s most disadvantaged children.
The celebrations continue on Sunday with the Ferrari 70 Concours d’Elegance. A total of 120 cars, divided into 20 classes, have been entered, some of inestimable value. An astonishing and unmissable display of elegance and exclusivity.
LaFerrari Aperta sells for record 8.3 million euro
Posted: 09.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Proceeds go to Save the Children. 1959 California fetches 7.9 million
Maranello, 9 September 2017 – Ferrari set yet another record this evening when a LaFerrari Aperta sold for a staggering 8.3 million euro at the RM Sotheby’s auction during the Prancing Horse’s 70 th Anniversary celebrations at the Fiorano circuit. The proceeds from the sale of the car will be donated to Save the Children, an international organisation that works to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in over 120 countries worldwide. In this case, the funds raised will be used for educational projects in Asia and Africa.
The figure is a new record for a 21 st century car. The previous record of 7 million dollars was set last December at Daytona by an exclusive LaFerrari, which went under the hammer to raise funds for earthquake victims in Central Italy.
The LaFerrari auctioned today is a special extra addition to the initial 209 cars built in this limited-edition special series. It has a unique metallic Rosso Fuoco livery with double metallic Biano Italia racing stripe on its bonnet and tail.
Several other extremely valuable Ferraris also sold at Fiorano, not least a California 250 GT SWB for 7.9 million euro, a 1958 250 GT Cabriolet Series I for 4.7 million and the aluminium-bodied 365 GTB/4 rediscovered in a Japanese hayloft, which changed hands for 1.8 million euro.
Ferrari marks its 70th anniversary with a weekend of celebrations at Maranello
Posted: 07.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
The show will be broadcast by RAI 1 on Saturday night
Maranello (Italy), 7 Sept 2017 – The celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Ferrari are due to open tomorrow at Maranello, attracting thousands of customers from around the world to celebrate their connection with the Prancing Horse.
As part of this special weekend dedicated to Ferrari fans, international rallies have already begun in several European cities (Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Monte Carlo, Prague, Reims, Salzburg and Rome), converging tomorrow in Milan. Then on Saturday morning a single grand parade of 500 Ferraris will drive to the Fiorano circuit, the main venue of this great celebration of motoring.
Rare Ferrari collectors items will be on display on Saturday in Modena, where they will pay homage to the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari with a drive to the MEF (Museo Enzo Ferrari), before stopping at 11:30 am in front of the Palazzo Ducale, the site of the Military Academy.
Saturday from 4 pm RM – Sotheby’s is holding an auction that promises to be the most significant ever for the vehicles of a single carmaker.
In the evening, guests will be able to attend the show “Ferrari Settanta”, which recounts the company’s past and present while also taking a peek into the future. As the Fiorano circuit is not big enough to welcome all lovers of the Prancing Horse, this highly anticipated show will be broadcast later in a Rai 1 special from 11.30 pm.
On Sunday a Concours d’Elegance will conclude the celebrations in style. A jury of international experts will have the difficult task of choosing the two “Best of Show” cars in the GT and Sportscar categories from among 120 precious vintage Ferraris.