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The very car that clinched the 2003 World Championship for Schumacher has now claimed a world record price.

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Michael Schumacher’s Championship-Winning 2003 Ferrari F1 Car Sold For A Whopping $14.8 Million

 

 

Michael Schumacher’s championship-winning F1 car recently crossed the auction block at RM Sotheby’s, blowing all expectations away by closing at a price of $14.8 million. Pour one out for all the hopefuls that showed up with only seven figures to spend.

The car in question was a Ferrari F2003-GA, chassis #229. F1 diehards would know that as the actual car that Schumacher drove to eighth place in the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix, securing him the 2003 Formula 1 Drivers World Championship. Of the nine races in which Schumacher drove chassis #229, he claimed victory five times, in Spain, Austria, Canada, Italy, and the US. He also scored three pole positions and three fastest laps, to boot. Those statistics make chassis #229 the winningest F2003-GA of the six that were built for the 2003 season.

Despite Schumacher’s reputation, though, the 2003 season was by no means a walkover. He clinched the driver’s title by just two points over Kimi Räikkönen in the last race of the year. It was in part due to Ferrari starting the year running the previous year’s car, winning just one of the opening four races. The F2003-GA only debuted at the Spanish Grand Prix, the fifth race of the season. Despite the close fight, Ferrari was able to best its rivals at McLaren and Williams to claim victory in the Constructors championship as well.

Ex-racing cars are valued a little differently than typical vehicles. Their price isn’t just about performance or specs, but about history and pedigree. This auction concerned a championship-winning F1 car from the most venerated F1 team of all time, as driven to multiple wins by one of the most legendary drivers of the sport. These factors are what helped push chassis #229 from a $9.5 million valuation to a $14.8 million sale.

Even better is that the car is no mere show piece. Instead, it’s been maintained and overhauled by the Ferrari Classiche Department, and was sold in fully-running order. Its most recent service was this year, with the car only running 148 miles since then. The F2003-GA is a potent beast, on track, too; we’ve seen examples lay down scorching laps at US racetracks like Road Atlanta.

With that said, running a modern ex-F1 car doesn’t come cheap. Enthusiast Bud Moeller, who owned an F2003-GA, quoted a rough cost of running the car at $1000 per lap in a Reddit AMA. That’s based on the price to regularly overhaul the engine, gearbox, and other components. It doesn’t take into account the necessary expense of Ferrari’s team to start and run the vehicle at the track, nor crash damage, which can quickly add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.

Here’s hoping the lucky new owner gets that engine back up to the 19,000 rpm redline before long. The world deserves to hear that championship-winning V10 sing once more.

1914 Rolls Royce Alpine Eagle

Classic Cars, On The Block

SOLD, $905,000
Muffy’s “pick of the auction:” selling NO RESERVE to the highest bidder, this 1914 Rolls Royce Alpine Eagle was originally owned by His Grace the Duke of Westminster and armored for combat in the Arabian Desert to fight the Ottoman Turks and their Central Powers allies.

T.E. Lawrence, widely known as Lawrence of Arabia, once wrote “More valuable…than rubies in the desert.” The great British warrior, archaeologist, diplomat, and writer was referring to the fleet of armored Rolls-Royces commissioned for fighting in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign by the British Empire and Arab Revolt allies against the Ottoman Empire and the Imperial German allies.

By October of 1914 all Rolls-Royce production of civilian motorcars had ceased as the company fulfilled the requests of the British war office to produce armor plated Silver Ghosts. These vehicles were based on the same chassis used in the grueling Austrian Alpine Trials of 1913 by the factory rally team known as the Alpine Eagles.

Chassis 34LB was ordered in July 1914 by His Grace the Duke of Westminster and built to full Alpine Eagle Specifications. It was returned to Rolls-Royce in 1916 to be fitted with armor before being shipped to Egypt and Palestine. After service in the War, it was returned to Rolls-Royce in 1920 and rebuilt for civilian use.

It is fitted with a tri-pod turret and a display-only, non-working Maxim .30 caliber machine gun.

Of all the Minis we have consigned to The Silverstone Auctions NEC Classic Sale, ‘DJB 93B’ might be the most significant of them all. ⁠

Classic Cars, On The Block

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Silverstone Auctions are delighted to offer, the only Mini ever to win the RAC Rally, in the hands of Rauno Aaltonen.

Following its success at the 1965 RAC Rally, Tony Fall drove the Mini to victory in the Scottish Rally the following season. ⁠
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‘DJB 93B’ enjoyed a retirement shortly after its win in Scotland, until 1996, when it was passed to Phil Short, World Rally Team Manager for Toyota and Mitsubishi, who commissioned a full restoration to factory works spec. ⁠
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While other ex-works cars come onto the open market from time to time, many of them are likely to cost very much more and few are likely to have been prepared to the standard of authenticity to be found on this car.⁠
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This marvellous little Mini has been rebuilt as far as has been practical to the original specification in which it would have started the 1965 RAC Rally.⁠
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📸 – @alankennyphotography ⁠
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#silverstoneauctions #silverstone #necclassic #necclassicsale #necclassiccarshow #classicsalenec #mini #morris #morrismini #austinmini #minicoopers #racrally #scottishrally #worksmini #worksminicooper #minicooperworks #rallymini #miniworld #minimagazine #ukminis

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Bank-seized, and selling to the highest bidder with no reserve this Saturday, October 29 with our partners, Henderson Motor Series:

Classic Cars, On The Block

This 1937 Bugatti Type 57C VanVooren Cabriolet Roadster was rare the moment it rolled off of the factory floor.

One of twenty produced, this is one of the few Type 57C’s with an open cockpit, and was one of the most adored vehicles upon its release. For more info and to view the docket, visit https://bit.ly/3SuqTKC

#bugatti #luxury #cars #automotiveindustry #auctions #collectorcars #ferrari #maybach #mercedesbenz #lamborghini #bentley #mclaren #ford #chevrolet #cadillac

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Silverstone Auctions McLaren M23 replicas

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If you have watched the film “Rush”, then you’ll likely have seen this very car.

One of two McLaren M23 replicas built for Ron Howards dramatic story of the 1976 F1 Championship.

Two 1976 McLaren M23s were built as replicas to ensure the production team had drivable availability of a McLaren M23 on set. These were very clever replicas produced down to the finest detail and indistinguishable from the real car in the film scenes.

Displaying a very convincing patina which takes you back at first glance as the iconic livery is etched into any motorsport enthusiast’s mind from 1976, a season that elevated James Hunt to global English hero and sportsmanship, the like of which we may never see again.

📸 – @alankennyphotography
#silverstoneauctions #silverstone #necclassic #necclassicsale #rush #jameshunt #freddiehunt #malboro #mclaren #mclarenm23 #historicf1 #classicf1 #formuła1 #1976f1

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BCA Low mileage luxury in Top Car Thursday!

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#BCA Online will offer over 4,700 vehicles across 20 sales in its programme on Thursday, 20 October.

Highlights in tomorrow’s sales programme include Fleet Sale 1 at 9:00am with over 200 vehicles, the weekly Top Car sale at 10:30am with up to 300 vehicles, and there are over 660 vehicles available in three evening sales.

As usual, the Top Car sale is well stocked with luxury, low mileage vehicles, including this 2020 #Porsche 911 3.0 Targa 4 S (992) PDK Convertible. Presented in Grade 1 condition, this one-owner convertible has covered 3,262 warranted miles from new. Finished in black with leather interior, it has a navigation system, parking sensors, climate control and alloy wheels.

This 2022 #MercedesBenz EQS 450+ AMG Line Premium Hatchback is offered in Grade 1 condition with a warranted mileage of 10,299 from new. This nearly new one-owner electric vehicle is finished in Selenite Grey Designo paint with leather trim and features a Burmester sound system, navigation system, Driving Assistance Pack – Plus, Parking Pack with 360 camera and parking sensors, keyless go system, climate control, Distronic cruise control, 21” alloy wheels, sliding panoramic roof and privacy glass.

This #AstonMartin V8 Vantage 4.0 (ZF8) Coupe has covered 17,202 warranted miles and was registered in 2019. This luxury coupe is equipped with navigation system, parking sensors, climate control, 20” alloy wheels and is finished in Flugplatz Blue with blue leather interior.

Offered in Grade 1 condition, this Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Pro Coupe was registered in 2020. It has covered 3,501 warranted miles from new and is finished in grey with leather trim. It also features parking sensors, navigation system, climate control and 20” alloy wheels.

Another Grade 1 vehicle, this 2021 #LandRover Defender 90 2.0 P300 AWD X-Dynamic HSE has covered 7,856 warranted miles from new. Finished in white, it features privacy glass, panoramic roof, 20” alloy wheels, leather trim, climate control, parking sensors and navigation system.

BCA’s stock includes many thousands of vehicles across all price sectors and product types to provide the most choice, whatever a buyer is looking for.
Go to www.bca.co.uk/sales for full details of the BCA sales programme.

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