All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Auctions

A collection of 18 cars worth over $45 million is up for sale

RM Sotheby’s has announced the auction sale of the “Gran Turismo Collection” of 18 cars valued at over USD 45 million, owned by an unknown collector. The collection has 8 Ferrari models, 2 Jaguar cars, 3 Bugatti cars, 2 Lamborghini models, 2 Lancia cars and 1 Audi model.

It all started in 1997 when the owner of the collection bought the first car, a 1991 Ferrari F40. At the time, the F40 had only one owner, and the collector’s intention was to collect some of the best high-performance cars on the planet. Which he succeeded.

The Bugatti collection includes a blue 1993 EB 110 GT (£1,500,000 – £2,000,000 GBP), a 1996 EB 110 Super Sport (£2,500,000 – £3,000,000 GBP) and a 2022 Chiron Super Sport 300+ (£4,000,000 – £4,500,000 GBP).

The Lamborghini collection includes a 1971 Miura SV By Bertone (£1,900,000 – £2,200,000 GBP) and a 1984 Countach LP5000 S By Bertone (£380,000 – £500,000 GBP).

The Lancia collection includes a 1982 037 Group B Works Evolution 1 (£950,000 – £1,200,000 GBP) and a 1985 Delta S4 Group B Works (£1,750,000 – £2,250,000 GBP).

The bulk of the collection consists of Ferrari models 1997 F50 (£3,250,000 – £4,000,000 GBP), 2011 599 SA Aperta (£1,100,000 – £1,400,000 GBP), 2014 LaFerrari (£2,000,000 – £2,500,000 GBP), 1985 288 GTO (£3,250,000 – £4,000,000). GBP), 2006 Superamerica (£190,000 – £230,000 GBP), 2003 Ferrari Enzo (£1,800,000 – £2,200,000 GBP), 2000 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina (£180,000 – £230,000 GBP) and 1991 Ferrari F40 (£1,400,000 – £1,600,000 GBP).

The rest of the collection includes a 1993 Jaguar XJ220 S (£850,000 – £1,100,000 GBP), a 1991 Jaguar XJR-15 (£950,000 – £1,200,000 GBP) – one of only 50 examples in existence and the first production car to use a carbon monocoque, and a 1985 Audi Sport quattro S1 E2 Group B Works (£1,750,000 – £2,250,000 GBP).

The auction starts on November 5, and each car will be sold individually.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

News

INEOS Grenadier 4X4

The seven-time British Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton is known as a great car enthusiast as well as a collector. To his collection of rare and expensive cars, this time he could add a powerful SUV, the INEOS Grenadier 4X4.

The Grenadier is offered with two 3.0-liter 6-cylinder BMW engines: the B57 diesel with 245 hp (180 kW) and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque, and the B58 gasoline with 281 hp (207 kW) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque. The engine is paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Equipped with three locking differentials like the Mercedes G-Class, it is produced in the former Daimler plant in Hambach, France, where Smart cars used to roll off the assembly line.

At first glance, you’ll think it’s a copy of the Land Rover Defender, but the story behind the car is really interesting. INEOS founder Jim Ratcliffe originally wanted to buy the rights to the old Land Rover Defender to continue production, but the company declined. Then he decided to take matters into his own hands and create a new SUV. After a legal battle with the Tata Motors-owned company because the Grenadier looked too much like the Defender, Ratcliffe won the case because the design of the original Defender was never protected.

In a recently published video, Lewis Hamilton showed off his skills in driving this SUV on off-road terrain. “If I were to buy it I would dim the lights, add LED lights to the roof and fit the biggest all-terrain tires available on the market,” said Hamilton, who was quite impressed with the INEOS Grenadier’s performance after the drive.

Source: INEOS Grenadier via YouTube

News

Tesla Model 3 spotted floating in the sea

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is constantly in the media these days, and Tesla cars are increasingly being linked to accidents. A few days ago, not far from Santa Barbara beach in the USA, a Tesla Model 3 was found floating in the ocean.

The car was spotted by walkers who called the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Department, and it is not yet known how the incident happened. The police contacted the owner of the vehicle, who is facing fines and large repair costs.

According to American journalist John Palminteri, firefighters immediately searched the car along with the surrounding area, but no one was found. The police launched an investigation into what actually happened.

“We made sure the car had not been reported stolen and informed the registered owner that it was their responsibility to remove the car. They were driving the car on the beach and then got stuck and left it. Then the tide came in,” a police spokeswoman said. Santa Barbara Raquel Zick.

Recently, a Ford Bronco was found in a similar situation, but luckily, this time nobody was hurt.

Source: John Palminteri via Twitter