RM Sotheby’s London auction on November 4th is already bristling with jaw dropping collector cars, but the recently announced addition of ‘The Factory Fresh Collection’ has just upped the ante even further. Hailing from a Singapore-based garage belonging to one owner, the collection comprises 17 Ferraris, a Bentley, and two Jaguars, including a XJ220 with a scarcely believable odometer reading of just 46 miles. However, arguably the most eye-catching lot among the bunch has to be the ultra rare Ferrari 512 TR Spider, which we’ll take a closer look at shortly. Below are some of our favourite prancing horses from the collection, so let’s examine these mint-condition Ferraris and see which one takes your fancy, shall we?
1994 Ferrari 512 TR Spider
Let’s not delay any further, this is the car we expect collectors to be clamouring over come November 4th. Ferrari built only three 512 TR Spiders, and we’re so glad the sole previous owner specced this 1994 example in a shade as marvellous as Blu Cobalto. Step inside and you’ll notice the interior is swathed in a sea of very 1990s-appropriate Blu Scuro Connolly leather. The second thing you’ll noticed is that the seats appear to have been sat in only a handful of times, and that’s because this example has covered just 570 kilometres since rolling off the assembly line in Maranello.
The 512 TR arguably offers the best combination of looks and handling of all the Testarossa variants, so this unicorn-status Spider’s lofty estimate of between 2,100,000 and 2,700,000 pounds is certainly justified. While we expect this Ferrari to remain in a hermetically-sealed chamber for the rest of time, we can’t help but daydream about breaking-in that factory-fresh flat-12.
2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina
Next up we have the 512 TR Spider’s successor, finished in a more conventional combination of Rosso Corsa over Nero leather. While not quite as rare as the 512 TR Spider above, just 48 units of the 550 Barchetta were built in RHD, making this an arguably unrepeatable opportunity to acquire a pristine example.
This single-owner 550 Barchetta is — you guessed it — basically brand new, having covered just 220 kilometres since 2001. Built to celebrate Pininfarina’s 70th anniversary, the 550 Barchetta is an altogether more hardcore (and special) proposition than the 575 Superamerica that followed it, forgoing its roof in favour of a better V12 listening experience. This stunning homage to the V12 Ferraris of old is expected to fetch between 280,000 and 350,000 pounds.
1994 Ferrari 348 GTB
We can’t quite work out why, but the 348 GTB is still often overlooked in favour of the F355 that came after, despite boasting much prettier bodywork (to our eye, at least). Sure the handling may not be quite as sharp, but that probably won’t be an issue for the next owner of this example, because it currently shows just 181 kilometres on the clock, and we certainly wouldn’t be brave enough to add to it.
One of only 252 examples of the 248 GTB built, of which just 14 are believed to be RHD examples, this could turn out to be one of the best deals of the entire auction. If you ask us, the estimate of between 120,000 to 160,000 pounds might be on the high end for a 348, but taking into account its rarity and mileage, we wouldn’t be surprised if it sells for north of the upper bound.
1983 Ferrari 400i
The 400i has slowly but surely been gaining recognition among collectors lately, and this dark blue example represents an excellent chance to add one to your collection. With just 2,473 miles on the odometer, it goes without saying that you’re unlikely to find a lower-mileage example, especially not in the lovely blue over cream combo this example boasts.
Purists may scoff at the automatic transmission, but the 400i was always more of a grand tourer than a canyon carver, so the three-speed auto suits its nature to a tee. With the 400i’s clean, boxy exterior ageing like a fine wine, you should’t miss this chance to experience its 4.8-litre V12 first-hand.
1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS
Despite lacking a proper prancing horse badge on the bonnet, the 246 has always ranked among the prettiest Ferraris ever built, and this matching-numbers Gran Turismo Spider could easily steal looks from the most valuable metal out there with its beautiful Nero bodywork and practically flawless matching black interior.
This example enjoyed a full repaint, engine rebuild and suspension overhaul in late 2022, to the tune of 85,000 pounds. With its 2.4-litre V6 heart fresh and ready to roar, this rare RHD Dino 246 GTS would make for a wonderful road trip companion in 2024.
London, 4 Nov
