Ferrari SF1000 replica sells for £1m

This million-pound Ferrari is a bit special in other ways too: it’s without an engine, gearbox, brakes or electrics. Everywhere else, including its unique livery, it is a 1:1 replica of the Ferrari SF1000, this year’s racecar that celebrates Scuderia Ferrari’s unmatched run of 1000 F1 grand prix starts.

The car was built, by Ferrari, as a static display model to be the centrepiece of the 1,000 GP celebrations held during the Gran Premio della Toscana race weekend at Mugello in September. Subsequently it has gone on to be the centrepiece of the RM Sotheby’s ‘Once in a Millennium’ online auction.

The car had a guide price of €150-200,000 but when the gavel fell the winning bid was €1,060,000, plus commission, plus VAT. Which makes it around £1.2m all up – surely a record for a new-build replica that’s just for looking at?

And it is nice to look at, with its livery inspired by the team’s first Formula 1 car. That was the 125 F1 which raced in 1950, the first year of the FIA’s World Championship of Drivers. In tribute to this year’s drivers, the car has Charles Leclerc’s number 16 on the nose and Sebastian Vettel’s number 5 on the rear tailfin. The car has also been signed by both drivers, adding to its appeal as a coveted display model for any Ferrari collection.

After 1000 grands prix – comprising 238 race wins, 228 pole positions, 254 fastest laps, 16 constructors’ world titles and 15 drivers’ championships – the car does represent a huge motorsport milestone for sure. But what a shame the real SF1000 didn’t do a bit better this year…

The SF1000 display model was one of 16 lots of Ferrari memorabilia in the auction, held by RM Sotheby’s in association with Ferrari. Other pieces snapped up included signed gloves (sold for €10,000) and rear wing endplates. An endplate signed by Leclerc and Vettel sold for €22,000.

There were also signed racesuits up for grabs and which do you think made the most, Leclerc’s or Vettel’s? Interestingly while Seb’s went for €30,000 the young Frenchman’s suit made €20,000 more than that…

Images courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.