To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' The Petersen Automotive
Museum Auction event, 8 December 2018.
Estimate:
$1,200,000 - $1,600,000
- Delivered new to Stefano Casiraghi, second husband of Princess
Caroline of Monaco
- Fitted with desirable Plexiglas windows
- Retains its original books and tools
- Four owners and just over 4,000 km from new
- Original engine and gearbox; Ferrari Classiche certified
� Please note that Internet bidding is not available for this lot.
Interested parties that are unable to attend the sale may register
to bid by telephone or place a commission bid online at
rmsothebys.com.
While most original owners of F40s could be characterized as thrill
seeking and eccentric, there were some that were perhaps more
exciting than others, and this F40 was purchased by one such
individual. Delivered in March 1989, chassis no. 80161's first
owner was Stefano Casiraghi. An Italian socialite and businessman
born to a wealthy Italian family, Casiraghi gained international
attention in 1983 when he married Princess Caroline of Monaco.
Certainly someone with a penchant for speed and fast machinery,
outside of his business ventures and royal marriage, Casiraghi was
known for offshore powerboat racing and was a successful racer,
once holding a speed record on Lake Como for travelling 172 mph.
His highest achievement in the sport was that he was crowned world
champion of speedboat racing in 1989, the same year that he
received his F40. In his ownership of the car, Princess Caroline
and Casiraghi were photographed many times with the F40 while out
and about enjoying Monaco's lavish lifestyle, even leading the
Speedboat Parade around the streets of Monaco. Tragically,
Casiraghi died the following year in a powerboat racing accident
just off the coast of Monaco in October 1990 at the age of 30, an
event which ushered in many changes to increase safety in offshore
racing.
Prior to his passing, the F40 had a short-lived tenure in the
Casiraghi household. Allegedly, Princess Caroline was scared of the
car and its performance, in no small part due to Casiraghi' s
spirited driving. In May 1989, just a few short months after
Casiraghi took delivery, the car was sold to a gentleman living in
Switzerland. Well cared for throughout its life, this F40 has been
driven sparingly with that owner, only amassing some 4,000 km with
its second owner. In 2016, it was finally sold from that second
owner of 26 years to a collector in Paris, before being purchased
by the fourth and current owner, who subsequently shipped his new
F40 stateside to his home in Pennsylvania. Since then, the car has
continued to be well preserved and maintained. Importantly, the F40
is still accompanied by its original books, tools, and even a copy
of the original sales invoice bearing Casiraghi's signature. Most
recently, the F40 was certified by Ferrari Classiche, confirming
that it retains its original chassis, engine, and gearbox.
Celebrated as not only Ferrari's 40th anniversary supercar but the
last road car from Maranello to be designed and engineered under
the leadership of Enzo Ferrari, the F40 is a must-have for many
Ferrari collectors and a car that will excite even the biggest
thrill seekers, as it did for Stefano Casiraghi when new. Delivered
new to a truly fascinating figure, this is surely one of the finest
F40s in existence, having travelled hardly more than 4,000 km from
new. It would be the perfect addition to any Ferrari collection the
world over.To view this car and others currently consigned to this
auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/ca18.
