It seems that after an astonishing 94 years, Bernie Ecclestone, the pioneer of modern Formula 1, is coming to terms with the reality of his own mortality. This evening, he made a significant announcement - the sale of his entire collection of grand prix and F1 cars. These 69 remarkable examples of automotive art range from a 1931 Bugatti Type 54S to Michael Schumacher's 2002 championship-winning Ferrari. They will be sold individually by Ecclestone's close business associate, Tom Hartley Jnr, a renowned dealer in high-end sports and competition cars.

Why the Sale?

Bernie's daughters and his wife, Fabiana Flosi who is the FIA sporting vice-president for South America, have little interest in becoming the custodians of these historic machines. The combined value of these cars is in the nine-figure range. "I love all my cars," says Ecclestone, "but it's time for me to consider what will happen to them if I'm no longer here. That's why I've decided to sell them. After collecting and owning them for so long, I want to know where they go and not leave that responsibility to my wife."A grand prix and, especially a Formula 1 car, holds a special place as the pinnacle of the sport. All the cars in Ecclestone's collection have fascinating race histories. Having amassed the best F1 cars dating back to the sport's inception, he has now decided to find new homes for them where they will be treated with the same care and regarded as precious works of art.

Ecclestone Grand Prix Collection Highlights

The Ecclestone Grand Prix Collection is truly unique and valuable. It includes 18 Ferraris, with the eldest being the British racing green 1949 Thin Wall Special, previously owned and engineered by Vanwall founder Tony Vandervell. There are 28 Brabhams that were owned from birth and have never been offered for sale before, including Nelson Piquet's 1981 and 1983 championship-winning chassis. Additionally, there's a 1957 Vanwall, a 1954 BRM, a Lancia D50A, a Delahaye Monoplace 'Chaboud Speciale', a Connaught Type-B, two Talbot-Lago T26C Grand Prix, and four Maseratis including a 250F.Some of these cars have been in Ecclestone's possession for over 50 years, while others were purchased in the '90s and 2000s. They have been kept in his private hangar at Biggin Hill airport in south London, and only a few have seen the light of day during all this time.

Some of the Best Cars in the Collection

1951 Ferrari 375 F1 - Chassis No. 5This was the very car that Alberto Ascari won the Italian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in 1951 and the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring that year. Powered by the Scuderia's renowned 4.5-litre V12, it was the model that gave Ferrari its first Formula 1 victory. Bernie's car is one of only two surviving examples. It has recently undergone a two-year restoration at its Maranello birthplace and was demonstrated in front of the British Grand Prix crowd at Silverstone in 2021 by current Ferrari star Charles Leclerc.1957 Ferrari Dino 246 F1 - Chassis No. 0003This chassis was campaigned by Ferrari over three F1 seasons and won multiple grands prix and seven pole positions. It was raced by Phil Hill, Wolfgang von Trips, Tony Brooks, and Richie Ginther and took Mike Hawthorn to the 1958 world drivers' championship. The car was donated by Ferrari to the Henry Ford Museum and has since been owned by Luigi Chinetti, Sir Anthony Bamford, and Albert Obrist before finding its way into the Ecclestone collection.These are just a few of the remarkable cars in Bernie Ecclestone's collection. Each one has a story to tell and represents a significant part of motorsport history. The sale of these cars is a significant event that will attract the attention of car enthusiasts and collectors around the world.