The former home of Henry VIII will play host to a selection of some of the rarest Ferraris ever built as Concours of Elegance gets underway in the UK next month.
Ferraris from the 1950s to the present day will appear in the Main Concours event, headlined by the unique 166MM/ 212 Export ‘Uovo’, which sold at auction last year for $US4.5m (NZ$6.6m).
The ‘Uovo’ is a one-off designed for 1950s racing driver and entrepreneur Count Giannino Marzotto as the ultimate sports racing car of its day. The design is not only aerodynamic but also lightweight, inspired by the aeronautical training of the car’s designer, Franco Reggiani, shedding around 150kg compared with similar Ferraris of the time.
The Uovo seen at the 1951 Coppa della Toscana hill climb. Photo / Courtesy of Archivio Foto Locci
The bespoke design, complete with a reflection-free windscreen made of crystal, worked wonders on the car’s performance, granting it a number of race wins, including the 1951 Giro della Toscana.
The ‘Uovo’ has rarely been seen in public, making the Concours of Elegance a special opportunity to see one of the world’s rarest Ferraris.
Ferrari 500 TRC. Photo / Tim Scott
Joining the Uovo is the Ferrari 500 TRC by Scaglietti. Named after the FIA ‘C’ racing regulations to which it was built to comply, this 500 TRC, or ‘Testa Rossa C’, is regarded as one of the most beautiful Ferraris ever built.
This particular example is the last TRC produced, and the last ever four-cylinder car Ferrari made. It also comes complete with an impressive race history, including class wins at both the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Ferrari 365 California Spyder. Photo / Tim Scott
Then there’s an extremely rare 365 California Spyder. One of only fourteen ever made, this car was designed by Pininfarina as a direct successor to the 500 Superfast Coupe. Named “California” after its 250 predecessors, the 365 Spyder was fitted with a sophisticated 4.4-litre V12 engine, capable of producing up to 320hp.
Also on display at the Concours is a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Scaglietti – one of 165 built. Featuring a 3-litre V12 engine, the 250 GT SWBs were a shortened version of the long-wheelbase TDF (Tour de France) cars, fitted with modified suspension for higher cornering speeds.
Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy Long Nose. Photo / Supplied
Any Ferrari 275 GTB is special, but the alloy-bodied Long Nose confirmed for Concours of Elegance deserves extra attention. One of just 80 examples, this car has the lighter alloy body, Long Nose design and the earlier two-cam powertrain. The 275 was designed by Pininfarina, built by Scaglietti, and was the first Ferrari to feature fully independent transaxle suspension, pioneered on-track by Ferrari.
Once considered the ‘entry-level’ Ferrari, the Dino has gone on to become one of the most sought-after Ferraris of its era, and Concours of Elegance will be displaying one of the 357 early L-Series cars – a Dino 246 GT. Featuring a six-cylinder mid-mounted 2.4-litre engine, which produces 195bhp, the Dino is capable of 235km/h. This year marks the 50th anniversary since the first Dino was produced, in 1968.
Ferrari 250 SWB Berlinetta. Photo / Supplied
Finally, a 2018 Ferrari GTC4Lusso ‘Tailor Made’ will also be present in the Main Concours. Finished in a bespoke Arancia paint, this car was customized to exactly the owner’s specifications. Released earlier this year as the replacement for the Ferrari FF, the car features a 6.3-litre V12 engine, capable of reaching speeds in excess of 330km/h.
