After decades of keeping his impressive collection of 69 autos Grand Prix, Bernie Ecclestoneformer president of Formula 1, has decided to sell his automotive jewels. The sales operation will be in charge of Tom Hartley Jrclassic car expert, who will manage the marketing of each copy individually for private collectors, without resorting to public auctions.
Ecclestone’s collection, which encompasses 70 years of Formula 1 history and it is estimated that it will raise “billions of dollars”, it is one of the most prominent in motorsports in the world. The most illustrious cars include iconic models driven by legends such as Niki Lauda, Michael Schumacher y Stirling Moss. According to Hartley Jr., “this is simply the most important collection of racing cars in the world.”
One of the most prized pieces is the Vanwall VW10 that Stirling Moss drove to win several Grand Prix and allowed him to secure the team’s first constructors’ championship in 1958. This vehicle is considered by Ecclestone to be his favorite car: “I had a pretty close relationship with the boss and with Stirling and Stuart Lewis-Evans”he mentioned referring to the Connaught and Vanwall pilot.
Another notable car is the Brabham Alfa Romeo BT46Bdesigned by Gordon Murray, with which Lauda triumphed in the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix before its ban. “I’ve been collecting these cars for over 50 years. and I have only bought the best copies. I love all my cars, but the time has come to start thinking about what will happen to them if I am no longer here,” commented the historic F1 magnate about the reason why he decided to get rid of them.
This set of vehicles is not only a testament to the history of Formula 1, but also to Ecclestone’s important contribution to the sport. From his beginnings with Connaught to ownership of the Brabham team, where he was a pioneer in implementing innovations such as carbon brakes and refueling in the race, its impact is undeniable. Under his leadership, Brabham achieved 22 Grand Prix victories and two world championships.
“I knew Mr. Ferrari very well, so I have always been a little attached to Ferraris”the 94-year-old former F1 owner told the magazine Magneto. This collection includes historic Ferraris, such as the F2002 champion and other significant cars from Ferrari’s legacy in Formula 1.
Tom Hartley Jr. considered this sale as “a great opportunity for a demanding collector”. In addition to racing cars, Ecclestone’s collection includes valuable Tourist Trophy motorcycles and an impressive range of street cars, although these are not part of the current sales operation.
Ecclestone insisted that the decision to sell is not motivated by economic reasonsdespite the fact that in recent events it disbursed 490 million dollars to cover a fine penalized for not declaring assets abroad. Right now, his priority is to ensure that these unique cars find new homes where they will be appreciated and valued: “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 take care of them if I am not here.”
