DECEMBER 20, 2004

Meanwhile in Gstaad

The rich and famous gather at this time of year at Gstaad in Switzerland and for the last seven years Bonhams has organised the Exceptional Ferrari Motor Cars, Automobilia and Fine Wristwatches auction in the run-up to Christmas so that those with cash can pick up their last-minute Christmas gifts for their nearest and dearest. This year the big talking point was the bidding for an ex-Dino de Laurentis/Clint Eastwood Ferrari 275GTB which got up to $481,800 and a 1958 Ferrari 250 California Spider which went for $1,252,220. Among the other cars sold was the ex-King Hussein of Jordan's orange 1974 Ferrari 365GT/4 Boxer Berlinetta which raised $152,265. Although the sale raised around $5 in total only two-thirds of the lots were sold and it is worth noting that three Grand Prix cars did not reach their reserve price, including a Michael Schumacher F399. Interestingly the F1 90/641 which was up for auction was listed as being chassis 119 which was raced by Alain Prost but which Ferrari later swapped for Jean Alesi's contract with Frank Williams. The car has spent the last few years in the Williams Exhibition Centre in Grove but it seems that Frank and Patrick Head decided that they no longer had any room for the car. The 641 did not reach its reserve price of $700,000. There were also five Ferraris on sale from the collection of Holland's John Bosch, including an ex-Berger 412 T2 chassis from 1995. Bosch was formerly a silent partner of Ken Tyrrell's Formula 1 team.