Wednesday 31st October 2007

Bernie's Bangers

Under the hammer time for Ecclestone's collection

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Fancy this? It'll set you back about £4million

For most OAPs, clearing out your garage is usually as simple as reversing a dull but functional supermini into the drive.

However, Bernie Ecclestone isn’t like most OAPs, so when he clears out his garage, you know you’ll be in for a treat. And what better way to clear out your clutter than at the inaugural Automobiles of London auction held today at Battersea Evolution?

The event brings together 43 of Mr Ecclestone’s leftovers, along with cars from the collections of a Brazilian and an Italian enthusiast.  

Having never driven any of the cars, and many being bought simply for their investment potential, Ecclestone has decided that the time was right to dispose of some of his collection to make room for the motors that he really has his eye on.

Amongst the highlights are a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster, which is one of only 26 built and is estimated to fetch between £3.25million-£4million; George Harrison’s 1964 Aston Martin DB5 slated to sell for between £120,000-150,000; and a 1969 Fiat 500L given to Ecclestone by Jean Alesi predicted to sell for £7,500-£10,000.

The sale could net Ecclestone around £20million, which he clearly is in need of with a fortune already estimated at over £3billion.

The sale begins at 4pm today, and £50 gets you and a friend a catalogue and a place to watch the lots go under the hammer.

[Road_Terrorist]

He probably hasn't driven any because he can't reach the pedals!

[Bada Bing!]

I quite fancy Jean Alesi's 500 for under 10 grand.

[Insight]

"Ecclestone has decided that the time was right to dispose of some of his collection to make room for the motors that he really has his eye on."

What's he buying next? All the 2008 McLaren cars so that Ferrari can win the next season, again.

[rob e]

i was there last night - v. impressive sale.

this might do me as a company car
http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?CarID=r12...

[johnnymaestro]

I got sent the RM Auction Book for some reason and my favourite was the Bizzarini GT America, It looked beautiful. Either that or I would've had Kogan's Brabham BT36 BDA that was also for sale.

[Mattygooner]

rob e said:

i was there last night - v. impressive sale.

this might do me as a company car
http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?CarID=r12...

Hopefully your job does not involve corners, roads thiner than the M1, beards or women.

Very cool though.

What will bernie do with all that money he will make? wipe his are probably. Perhaps he could pay McLarens petrol bill.....

[Tonsko]

All very nice indeed...but sadly, they won't ever be driven much, to protect the investment.

[rob e]

Mattygooner said:

rob e said:

i was there last night - v. impressive sale.

this might do me as a company car
http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?CarID=r12...

Hopefully your job does not involve corners, roads thiner than the M1, beards or women.

Very cool though.

What will bernie do with all that money he will make? wipe his are probably. Perhaps he could pay McLarens petrol bill.....

got a soft spot for them - had one for my wedding car in budapest!!:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1079281563...

[Vipers]

Road_Terrorist said:

He probably hasn't driven any because he can't reach the pedals!

No worries, could stand on his walet?

[Egbert Nobacon]

Insight said:

"Ecclestone has decided that the time was right to dispose of some of his collection to make room for the motors that he really has his eye on."

What's he buying next? All the 2008 McLaren cars so that Ferrari can win the next season, again.

He's probably looking to buy cars in which he can actually see over the steering wheel and drive them ....

[Huntsman]

Anybody know what Kogan's Delage fetched?

[Sgt^Roc]

Road_Terrorist said:

He probably hasn't driven any because he can't reach the pedals!

He needs to spend less time farting around with old cars and explain why a rookie driver dominates a two time world champion and nearly take the world crown, about time him and old Max sorted about some descent racing rather than allow cry babies like Alonso to continue whining because he could not keep up with a rookie driver and wanted No 1 status the same as old Schumy used to have it, last point if Max is worried Hamilton will do as well next year he should stop there as it is a given, those that could mount a challenge Rosberg etc are in crap cars, and those that are not are crap drivers, but that’s F1 most motorsport is about winning but with F1 these days its about taking part.

[rob e]

his merc went for 3.7

pretty good prices overall. the red bizzarrini went for about 215 iirc - that would have gone into my dream garage.

[Mattygooner]

Hehe, well if it is sentimental, you may need to dress up like elvis.

Bizzarini is a lovely piece of kit, i remember classic lemans 06, there was a red one on the grid and the 2 pipes sticking out the back were so large i could have lived in one for several years.

Don't care to much for the merc but they are rarer than a virgin in Basildon.

[Marki]

Egbert Nobacon said:

Insight said:

"Ecclestone has decided that the time was right to dispose of some of his collection to make room for the motors that he really has his eye on."

What's he buying next? All the 2008 McLaren cars so that Ferrari can win the next season, again.

He's probably looking to buy cars in which he can actually see over the steering wheel and drive them ....

Apparently he is concentrating on his racing car collection so they quoted on the BBC

[Kickstart]

I thought the interesting point was that Bernie E has sold these cars whilst the market is sky high. He doesn't need the space (owns Biggin Hill hangers) and he doesn't need the cash to purchase other cars. This is Bernie at his finest selling the cars at the top of the current overinflated market before it deflates. I strongly suspect that this sale will mark the high point of classic car prices (excluding historic pre 66 racing cars).

[rob e]

Kickstart said:

I thought the interesting point was that Bernie E has sold these cars whilst the market is sky high. He doesn't need the space (owns Biggin Hill hangers) and he doesn't need the cash to purchase other cars. This is Bernie at his finest selling the cars at the top of the current overinflated market before it deflates. I strongly suspect that this sale will mark the high point of classic car prices (excluding historic pre 66 racing cars).

totally agree - afterall he started life as a second hand car sales man ;-)

[johnnymaestro]

Kickstart said:

I thought the interesting point was that Bernie E has sold these cars whilst the market is sky high. He doesn't need the space (owns Biggin Hill hangers) and he doesn't need the cash to purchase other cars. This is Bernie at his finest selling the cars at the top of the current overinflated market before it deflates. I strongly suspect that this sale will mark the high point of classic car prices (excluding historic pre 66 racing cars).

In the Auction Book in the bit about Bernie it says that he is selling off some of his collection so that he can add to/increase his race car collection.

[disco1]

Vipers said:

Road_Terrorist said:

He probably hasn't driven any because he can't reach the pedals!

No worries, could stand on his walet?

Don't be silly, those cars couldn't stand up under the weight of it

[loose cannon]

i wish somebody would feckin sell him off