People who know about making money are regularly hyping up cars as the best way of investing cash. Auction results constantly throw up surprises as desirable vehicles achieve record sums, and there’s no better brand to invest in than Ferrari. The Maranello manufacturer has arguably the biggest fanbase in the world and, if you find a genuine Ferrari in good condition, it could prove a safer investment than the building society.
This weekend’s Autosport International show features an auction by specialists Coys, with a number of Ferraris going under the hammer. The usual caveats apply: do your homework first and don’t necessarily assume that every Ferrari will soar in price. But it probably will.
1981 Ferrari Mondial 8
Estimate: £25,000 – £30,000
A grey Mondial. It’s got to be one of the least desirable Ferraris ever sold, yet we still reckon it has something about it. Not to mention a £25,000 lower estimate, which is either desirable or bonkers depending on your view. On the one hand, £25,000 for a classic Ferrari is a bargain. On the other hand, ropey examples of these were dropping below £10,000 a few years ago.
This one has a red interior, which gives a much-needed pick-me-up we reckon. Left-hand-drive with a lack of MOT history suggests this one hasn’t enjoyed a life in the UK, although the auctioneers tell us it comes with plenty of history and a current UK registration document.
1986 Ferrari Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet
Estimate: £25,000 – £30,000
A four-seat, mid-engined soft-top Ferrari for £25,000 – £30,000, what’s not to like? With the Mondial’s V8 engine bored out to 3.2 litres and power up to 270hp, this Cabriolet should be more desirable than a standard Mondial or, indeed, the 8. Despite that, it’s likely to make a similar amount of money to the Mondial 8 also up for auction, reckons Coys.
Finished in Ferrari Rosso Corsa (red to you and me) with a yellow interior, this Mondial Cabriolet has covered just 78,800 miles in its 31-year life. There’s a history file to back that up, says the seller, including an 11-page specialist appraisal detailing the car’s condition.
1991 Ferrari 348 TS
Estimate: £40,000 – £50,000
The final ‘junior’ Ferrari developed by old man Enzo before his death, the 348 replaced the very successful 328 GTB/GTS. With a longitudinally-mounted V8 engine producing 304hp, the ‘TS’ stood for ‘trasversale spider’, referring to its transverse gearbox and soft-top roof.
This Giallo Fly yellow example was first registered in France before being imported to the UK in 1998. It’s covered just 41,300 miles and comes with a detailed history file, say the auctioneers. As Ferraris go, this could be a bargain…
1983 Ferrari 512 BBi
Estimate: £250,000 – £300,000
If you really want to splash out at this weekend’s sale, this could be the Ferrari for you. The name refers in part to the 512’s 5.0-litre 12-cylinder boxer engine, which helped take the Ferrari to a top speed of 183mph – incredible for the time.
This example was sold new by Charles Pozzi Automobiles of France and has passed through the hands of just three owners since new. All the important paperwork is included to prove this is a genuine car that’s been serviced and maintained to a high standard – an important consideration when you’re investing a serious amount of money in a V12 Ferrari.
1975 Ferrari 365 GT4/BB
Estimate: £280,000 – £320,000
The Ferrari 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer was a revolutionary car for the brand. It replaced the front-engined Daytona, and was the first mid-engined 12-cylinder road car produced by Maranello. Rivalling the Lamborghini Miura and later the Countach, the 365 GT4/BB proved to be extremely rare. Just 387 were built.
This is one of just 58 UK-spec right-hand-drive cars, sold new to “Ferrari royalty” Colonel Ronnie Hoare: chairman of Maranello Concessionaires UK. It comes with stacks of paperwork, including an original order form detailing blue metallic Dino paintwork with a beige interior. It’s had a full restoration and the seller describes it as “one of the best on the market today”.
1994 Ferrari 348 Spider
Estimate: £40,000 – £45,000
One of two 348s to feature at the Autosport International auction, the Spider version was a relatively late offering, arriving less than two years before the model was replaced by the F355. As such, it sold in relatively small numbers, making it a sensible investment today.
This 348 Spider looks the part in Nero Black paint with contrasting Crema leather. It’s covered just 40,000 miles with an enthusiast owner for the last 11 years. As such, it’s got plenty of history, and being stored in a temperature-controlled garage means it’s in exceptional condition.
1985 Ferrari 208 GTS Turbo
Estimate: £40,000 – £50,000
Downsized, turbocharged engines are all the range now, but they’re nothing new. Ferrari introduced a 2.0-litre turbo version of its 308 in 1980 to cater for the domestic Italian market, where cars with engines bigger than 2.0 litres faced much heavier VAT. The 2.0-litre V8 (yes, V8!) produced 220hp, taking it to a top speed of 150mph.
The 208 Turbo offered for sale this weekend was built in 1985 and first registered in 1987 when its first owner exported it to Malta. Its second owner was the president of Malta’s Ferrari Owners’ Club, who set about a comprehensive restoration. It then fell into the hands of its third and current owner, who’s owned the car for the last 17 years.
1995 Ferrari F355 Spider
Estimate: £65,000 – £80,000
There was a time when the F355 was the modern classic Ferrari to own, but numbers are gradually starting to dwindle and prices are creeping up. It still represents good value for money, and a good compromise between old and new. In Spider form, it could make for a January bargain ahead of spring.
This F355 is a left-hand-drive model finished in the desirable Rosso Corsa with Nero leather. It’s covered just 23,000 miles and is UK-registered, despite seemingly have enjoyed a life in the sun. The perfect car to keep at your European holiday home, perhaps?
1993 Ferrari F40 Michelotto LM specification
Estimate: £800,000 – £1,000,000
The F40 is arguably the most desirable Ferrari of the last 30 years. The last model to be personally approved by Enzo Ferrari himself, the mid-engined V8, rear-drive sports car regularly achieves strong money when examples appear up for auction.
This is no ordinary F40, either. Rather than leading a pampered life, it was prepared for racing early on, and has spent most of its life competing in motorsport. More than £80,000 has been spent restoring it in recent years, and it comes with a stack of spare parts should you wish to take this rare F40 racing again.
1982 Ferrari Mondial 8
Estimate: £25,000 – £35,000
Thinking about bidding on the grey Mondial 8 we featured earlier on? This red example could be an excellent back-up. Ferrari’s first attempt at producing a ‘world car’, the Mondial 8 was powered by a fuel-injected 3.0-litre V8.
This Mondial 8’s had lots of recent work carried out by its owner of several years, with a large history folder accompanying the car. With a lower estimate of £25,000, it could be one of the more affordable stars of the auction.
1978 Ferrari 308 GTS
Estimate: £30,000 – £40,000
Readers of a certain age will associate the Ferrari 308 GTS with Magnum PI. It proved to be a hit for the firm – and not just because of its American crime drama connotations. More than 12,000 examples of the 308 GTB/GTS were sold over a 10-year production span, but that isn’t great news for collectors today. Although prices are creeping up, it’s never going to be a particularly exotic collector’s piece.
Since being sold by Maranello Ferrari of Egham, Surrey, this 308 GTS has passed through the hands of a small number of dedicated owners. During that time, it’s covered an incredibly low 7,649 miles, before being recommissioned with a full service and cambelt in 2017.
1976 Ferrari Dino 208 GT4
Estimate: £40,000 – £45,000
Revealed at the 1973 Paris Motor Salon, the Dino 208 GT4 was, like the 208 GTS Turbo we featured earlier, aimed at the Italian market with its tiny 2.0-litre V8 engine. Just 840 were sold, all left-hand drive and destined for Italy.
This very original Dino stayed with its first owner for nearly 40 years. It was recently purchased by ex-F1 driver Alex Wurz who registered it in Monaco, before quickly passing it on to its current owner who imported it to the UK. It’s yet to be registered here, however, meaning you have the chance to be its first UK-registered owner.
2002 Ferrari 360 Spider
Estimate: £55,000 – £65,000
A successor to the popular F355, the Ferrari 360 was groundbreaking when it arrived in the late 90s. Using an all aluminium spaceframe chassis and a new V8 engine, it was a huge step forward for the Maranello firm.
The number of Ferrari 360s around proves how popular it was but – like most Ferraris – prices are going up. This silver example has been used sparingly, covering an average of 1,000 miles a year since being bought new in 2002.
2012 Ferrari FF
Estimate: £120,000 – £130,000
We’ll end with the most modern Ferrari to feature at the auction, a 2012 FF. The manufacturer’s first four-wheel-drive model, the FF shooting brake proved you didn’t need to run a Range Rover as a family car alongside your Ferrari.
This Nero Black example has had one owner from new, with just 36,000 miles on the clock.
