Dream Ferraris up for auction

If you have always dreamed of owning an iconic Ferrari racing machine, then you are in luck, because it's been announced that two are up for auction at the Ferrari Leggenda e Passione event next month.

A 1967 330 P4 and Alain Prost's 641/2 Formula One racer from 1990 will both go under the hammer on May 17 at the Italian firm's headquarters in Maranello Italy in the third annual running of the Ferrari-only auction.

The P4 is the same chassis driven by former grand prix world champion Jackie Stewart and New Zealander Chris Amon in the 1967 British BOAC International 500 at Brands Hatch. The pair finished second in that race to clinch the world sportscar title for Ferrari.

As an interesting sidebar for Australians, the following year the car was bought by David McKay, who famously ran the Scuderia Veloce team locally. But it only made one start Down Under in the 1968 race at Surfers Paradise before being sold and taken back overseas.

The car's current owner has maintained it to the highest standard and this marks the first time it has been on the market in 38 years.

"With only three original P4s ever built, to say this car is rare is an understatement," says Max Girardo, Managing Director of RM Europe. "There is tremendous excitement surrounding 0858's appearance at our Maranello auction. Its offering represents a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the most important race cars ever created and a highly desirable piece of Scuderia Ferrari racing history. The addition of this historic car to the auction builds on the already mounting anticipation for the event, which is now just under a month away."

No estimates have been given for how much the 330 P4 will sell for given its rarity.

Prost's 641/2 arguably has a greater role in history though. Chassis 121 was the very same car the Frenchman was driving at the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix when his arch Brazilian rival Ayrton Senna deliberately crashed only seconds into the race.

The V12 machine has been overhauled by Ferrari's in-house operation, Ferrari F1 Clienti, that maintains former racing cars for wealthy owners. It is expected that it will sell for in excess of $1million.

This pair is only part of the 34 historic Ferraris that will be sold at the event. Run by RM Auctions in associations with Sotheby's, the auction is the only Ferrari-exclusive auction supported officially by the brand.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi