Bonhams announced its 11th annual “Ferrari et les Prestigieuses Italiennes” sale in the winter setting of Gstaad.

Set in the heart of the Swiss Alps in the fairytale, five-star Palace Hotel in Gstaad, the Bonhams sale of Ferrari and other prestigious Italian motor cars is now in its 11th year. Headlining this year’s sale on December 20th will be two historically important competition Ferraris from the Estate of the late Antoine Midy, a well-known French collector.

The 1955 121 LM Spyder by Scaglietti, chassis no. 05581LM, was raced by the late Phil Hill (the only American to have won the Formula One World Championship), in both the 1955 Le Mans 24 Hours and the Venezuela Grand Prix. The six-cylinder Ferrari 121LM was new on the grid and was the fastest car that year, outpacing the world championship-winning Mercedes-Benz 300SLRs and the ‘Longnose’ Jaguar D-Types. Eugenio Castellotti also competed in the car in that year’s Mille Miglia.

In 1957 Carroll Shelby and John Kilborn competed in ‘05581′ at Sebring and the Cuban Grand Prix while the car was in the long-term ownership of Luigi Chinetti in the USA. In 1976, the car joined the Mas du Clos Collection of Pierre Bardinon before passing directly into the hands of Antoine Midy. During this time the car has participated in many historic events such as the Mille Miglia retrospective and the Ferrari Shell Challenge. It is estimated to sell for $3,950,000 - $5,700,000.

Also from the same collection is the 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Spyder by Carrozzeria Motto, chassis no. 0094E, which won 2nd in class and finished 3rd overall in the 1954 Mille Miglia, driven by Piero Scotti. The car was subsequently raced extensively by Argentinean driver Roberto Bonomi. More recently, ‘094E’ competed in the 1980 Mile Miglia Retrospective while in the ownership of M Bollaert of Buenos Aires. During Midy’s ownership, the car took part in the Tour Auto and raced at Monaco, and is estimated to fetch $2,300,000 - $3,200,000.

Other Ferrari highlights include a 1955 250 GT Pinin Farina ‘Europa GT/ Boano’ Coupe, chassis 0435 GT, to be offered at No Reserve (estimate $480,000 - $ 550,000), and an ex-Tour Auto and Tour de Corse 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB Group IV Michelotto, one of only 11 produced, (estimate $780,000 - $865,000).

For further information relating to Bonhams’ Gstaad Sale, please go to www.bonhams.com/cars.

[Source: Bonhams; Photo credits: Ferrari 121 LM Spyder, Ted Walker Ferret Fotographics; Ferrari 212 Export, Giorgio Nada Editore Novafoto Sorlini Archive]