Two multi-million pound Ferraris to be auctioned for the RNLI

Laura Hodgetts

Two Ferraris – estimated to sell for around £2million and £6million – are being auctioned to raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

The bequest by the late Richard Colton, a man nervous of the sea, will see his two Ferraris transformed into an RNLI lifeboat to be named after him and his wife Caroline.

It is one of the largest bequests ever received by the RNLI and one of the most unusual.

H&H Classics, one of Britain’s oldest classic car auction houses, will sell the cars at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire, Europe’s largest historic aviation centre, on 14 October 2015.

Guy Rose, legacy manager at the RNLI, said: ‘Leaving a legacy in a will is a very personal decision so we are humbled that Mr Colton chose the RNLI as the beneficiary of the sale of his two prized Ferraris.

‘The proceeds will go towards helping our volunteer lifeboat crews save lives at sea. As a charity, the RNLI relies on donations to fund its lifesaving work.

‘In fact, six out of ten lifeboat launches are only made possible through gifts left to us in wills. Whether these legacies are large or small, we are deeply grateful to supporters like Mr Colton for their generosity and support for our charity.’

Simon Hope, chairman of H&H Classics, said: ‘We are honoured to have been chosen to handle this sale which is of national significance.

‘These stunning motorcars have been with Richard Colton for 40 years and meant a very great deal to him. So we are absolutely committed to realising the maximum amount for the cars. It promises to be an historic sale.’

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The Farraris being auctioned to raise funds for the RNLI

The Farraris being auctioned to raise funds for the RNLI

The two Ferrari motorcars:

  • 1960 Ferrari 250 GT short-wheelbase (SWB) Berlinetta chassis 1995 GT, of which just 167 were made, with just 10 supplied new to the UK market

Unveiled at the 1959 Paris Salon, today the Ferrari 250 GT SWB is on many experts’ list of the ‘most beautiful cars in the world’. It’s certainly one of the most valuable, joining the 250 Testa Rossa and 250 GTO in the multi-million-dollar club and is a ‘must-have’ for any serious Ferrari collector.

In its day, the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta was the fastest, most accomplished 3.0-litre GT racing car that money could buy. H

Mr Colton bought this car, Rosso Corsa and registered ‘574 NOT’, in the late 1970s and covered some 60,000 miles in it come rain or shine, enjoying many impromptu trips to the continent, including the Ferrari 50th Anniversary celebrations at Maranello in June 1997.

  • 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 chassis 10177 GT – thought by many to be the ultimate front-engined, Enzo-era Ferrari road car

Another powerful Ferrari that made its debut in Paris, just 350 of the 300bhp, 160mph berlinettas were made, of which a mere 27 were supplied new to the UK market.

Widely regarded as the best all-round GT car of the 1960s, the Ferrari 275 GTB/4 comfortably eclipsed rivals from Aston Martin, Maserati, Jaguar and Lamborghini. First-time owners included the Hollywood star Steve McQueen.

The example offered – ‘10177 GT’ – began life as the Maranello Concessionaires demonstrator. Swapping a Bentley Speed Six for the Ferrari in 1974, the late Richard Colton proceeded to drive it extensively throughout the UK and Europe. Now showing some 78,000 miles on its odometer, like its stablemate 250 GT SWB, the silver 275GTB/4 was a frequent visitor to Scotland, Sweden, France and Italy. It has been regularly maintained by marque specialists.

All bidding enquiries should be directed to Damian Jones, Sales Manager at H&H Classics, on +44 (0) 1925 210035, email damian.jones@handh.co.uk