- Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is offloading his remarkable collection of race cars, which have been driven by icons such as Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, and Nelson Piquet.
- In total, 69 F1 and Grand Prix cars spanning a history of more than five decades will be sold, including some of the most valuable Ferraris ever produced.
- The sale is being handled by the team at Tom Hartley Jnr Ltd (a seller of high-end sports and competition cars).
With nearly four decades at the helm of Formula 1 and a lifetime in motorsports, the legendary Bernie Ecclestone has unsurprisingly amassed a car collection that’s almost unrivalled by anyone else’s on Earth. Now, Ecclestone plans to sell his entire collection of F1 and Grand Prix cars — estimated to be worth around £300 million (AU$585.5 million) — with 69 different vehicles spanning a 50-year history.
Among the cars up for sale are Ferraris driven by the world championship-winning likes of Michael Schumacher and Niki Lauda, alongside Brabham cars raced by Nelson Piquet, Carlos Pace, and others. The collection also includes the first British car to ever win an F1 race in Stirling Moss’ Vanwall VW10 from 1958, Alberto Ascari’s Italian GP-winning 375 F1, and the famed Alfa Romeo-beating “Thin Wall Special” Ferrari.
“All the cars I have bought over the years have fantastic race histories and are rare works of art,” said 94-year-old Ecclestone.
“I love all of my cars but the time has come for me to start thinking about what will happen to them should I no longer be here, and that is why I have decided to sell them.”
“After collecting and owning them for so long, I would like to know where they have gone and not leave them for my wife to deal with should I not be around.”
Also included in the sale is the Gordon Murray-designed Brabham BT46B Lauda won the 1978 Swedish GP behind the wheel of, as well as the Brabham BT45C in which Lauda made his team debut.
Bernie Ecclestone added: “A grand prix and, in particular, a Formula 1 car is far more important than any road car or other form of race car, as it is the pinnacle of the sport, and all the cars I have bought over the years have fantastic race histories.”
“Having collected what are the best F1 cars dating back to the start of the sport, I have now decided to move them on to new homes that will treat them as I have and look after them as precious works of art.”
The collection is being sold through a close business associate of Ecclestone — high-end sports and competition car dealer Tom Hartley Jnr Ltd.
