All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Auctions

2014 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is up for auction

Between 2012 and 2015, Bugatti produced only 92 examples of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and one of them, the 2014 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is up for auction.

This car is the 46th produced and was ordered by a Japanese customer who gave up before delivery, so the car ended up in England. It is finished in a combination of black and blue, with blue brake calipers, black magnesium components and stitched seats, which is part of a €375,500 optional equipment package. The current owner bought the car in 2017 and covered it with a paint protection film. In preparation for the auction, the car was serviced in April, which cost more than 30,000 euros.

Inside, the seats are upholstered in Tangerine orange leather with embroidered details on the headrest. Tangerine orange also covers the lower part of the dashboard, door panels and roof, and there is an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel as well as carbon details on the center console.

Under the bonnet is an 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine with 1,183 hp (882 kW) @ 6,400 rpm and 1,100 lb-ft (1,500 Nm) @ 3,000–5,000 rpm. That is enough for the car to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.6 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 375 km/h (233 mph). It has only 4,088 km on the odometer.

The auction will take place on June 12th and the estimated value of this Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is £2,000,000 – £2,500,000 GBP.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

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2014 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is up for auction
News

Rare 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider for sale

At the 1960 Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari revealed a new car based on the 250 GT Berlinetta SWB, the Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider. It is an extremely rare car which makes it a highly desirable collector’s car. One example, actually the first ever produced and one of four in the world, is owned by former German football player Michael Ballack. Now this car will be auctioned in August, and the estimated value is $16,000,000 – $18,000,000 USD.

“It is extremely difficult to come across a car as interesting to collectors as this California Spider. An icon among icons that has a unique place in Ferrari history, as it is the first 250 GT SWB California Spider ever built. It was even in the Ferrari window at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show,” said an RM Sotheby’s spokesperson.

This 250 GT SWB California Spider is powered by a competition-spec Tipo 168 engine that enables acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 seconds with a top speed of 233 km/h (145 mph).

The car is in excellent condition and is equipped with covered headlights and factory removable hardtop, and comes with Ferrari Classiche Red Book certified with original ‘numbers matching’ engine, gearbox, rear axle and bodywork.

Ballack was close friend with Michael Schumacher, which had an impact on the growth of his passion for motorsport and the Ferrari brand.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

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Rare 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider for sale
News

Alpina B3 GT and B4 GT

At the end of May, BMW revealed a redesigned edition of the M3, and it didn’t take long for Alpina to respond with the B3 GT (limousine and Touring) and B4 GT based on the 4 Series GranCoupé.

The car is decorated with gold-colored details and applications, as well as Alpina tiles in the cabin and engine compartment, which remind us why Alpina is among the most respected companies when it comes to upgrading BMW cars. All versions sit on 20-inch rims and customers can choose between several body colors. They are equipped with improved suspension, i.e. control system and reprogrammed operation of the adaptive drive on both axles.

Under the bonnet is a 3.0-L biturbo inline six-cylinder engine with 529 hp (394 kW) @ 6,250 rpm and 538 lb-ft (730 Nm) of torque @ 2,500 – 4,500 rpm, paired with a reprogrammed ZF 8 – step automatic transmission. It reaches 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 308 km/h (191 mph). The slightly heavier, but also more practical body version (Touring) reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 305 km/h (189 mph), and the third B4 GT model has the same performance.

When it comes to price, the B3 GT costs 101,700 euros, while the Touring version is slightly more expensive and costs 102,900 euros. The B4 GT costs 105,100 euros.

Source: Alpina

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Alpina B3 GT and B4 GT