Canada’s own RM Auctions will hold its annual Automobiles of Arizona sale in Phoenix this Thursday and Friday with one of the most diverse offerings of motor cars ever featured in this event’s 12 year history.
All eyes are turned to the star of this sale: a rare, race-bred 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta valued at $1,900,000 to $2,400,000 US. Bearing chassis number 0024 M, it was originally commissioned as the 1949 Paris Motor Show car and finished in Argentine racing colours (two tones of bright blue with yellow sides) as it was being prepared for the Automobile Club of Argentina.
A rumor says that this Ferrari was intended as a gift to Eva Perón. Maybe because of a photo published by the New York Times, in October 1949, that shows the Argentine president’s wife standing next to the car? In reality, the car was used by Argentine pilot Carlos Menditeguy at the January 15th, 1950 Mar del Plata open road race, which he won. However he was never able to keep the car as importation papers were not made permanent. In June 1950, 0024 M was shipped back to Italy. There, in November of that year, Italian race driver Luigi Francesco Zaccaria finally bought the car. In 1951, he raced it in the Mille Miglia with Aprile Palmer by, a well-known female driver who purchased it shortly afterwards.
Since then, this Ferrari saw several owners and it went through a complete restoration. It is now finished in red and fitted with its original components, including chassis, numbers-matching engine, gearbox and differential. As an original entrant in the original Mille Miglia it is eligible for nearly any event open to historic Ferraris.
Racing cars, musclecars and classics
The Arizona sale begins this Thursday at 6:30 pm but not with the rare Ferrari. This first evening will be devoted exclusively to British marques, with diverse offerings including a 1921 Rolls-Royce 40/50HP Silver Ghost Phaeton (Est. $350,000-$475,000 US), a 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Newmarket Sport Phaeton (Est. $300,000-$450,000 US) and a 1958 Aston Martin DB2 Mark III (Est. $200,000-$250,000 US). RM will even offer a 2004 LTI TXII (the famous London taxi) with fewer than 400 miles (Est. $40,000-$50 000 US)!!
Friday brings a different selection of motor cars, highlighted by the 1949 166 MM Barchetta and 10 other Ferraris. This Italian collection will include a 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series I (Est. $900,000-$1,100,000 US) and a 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder (Est. $800,000-$1,000,000 US) owned by Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson. In addition, there will be a 1933 Packard Twelve Sport Phaeton (Est. $1,500,000-$2,000,000 US), a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton (which was driven by Elvis in the movie Spinout; Est. $1,000,000-$1,300,000 US) and a unique 1964 Dodge Hemi Charger Concept Car Formerly owned by well known concept car collector Joe Bortz (Est. $750,000-$1,000,000 US).
This two-day auction will showcase over 160 automobiles. It takes place on January 20 and 21 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona.
All eyes are turned to the star of this sale: a rare, race-bred 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta valued at $1,900,000 to $2,400,000 US. Bearing chassis number 0024 M, it was originally commissioned as the 1949 Paris Motor Show car and finished in Argentine racing colours (two tones of bright blue with yellow sides) as it was being prepared for the Automobile Club of Argentina.
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| The 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta. (Photo: Hugh Hamilton-Courtesy of RM Auctions) |
A rumor says that this Ferrari was intended as a gift to Eva Perón. Maybe because of a photo published by the New York Times, in October 1949, that shows the Argentine president’s wife standing next to the car? In reality, the car was used by Argentine pilot Carlos Menditeguy at the January 15th, 1950 Mar del Plata open road race, which he won. However he was never able to keep the car as importation papers were not made permanent. In June 1950, 0024 M was shipped back to Italy. There, in November of that year, Italian race driver Luigi Francesco Zaccaria finally bought the car. In 1951, he raced it in the Mille Miglia with Aprile Palmer by, a well-known female driver who purchased it shortly afterwards.
Since then, this Ferrari saw several owners and it went through a complete restoration. It is now finished in red and fitted with its original components, including chassis, numbers-matching engine, gearbox and differential. As an original entrant in the original Mille Miglia it is eligible for nearly any event open to historic Ferraris.
Racing cars, musclecars and classics
The Arizona sale begins this Thursday at 6:30 pm but not with the rare Ferrari. This first evening will be devoted exclusively to British marques, with diverse offerings including a 1921 Rolls-Royce 40/50HP Silver Ghost Phaeton (Est. $350,000-$475,000 US), a 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Newmarket Sport Phaeton (Est. $300,000-$450,000 US) and a 1958 Aston Martin DB2 Mark III (Est. $200,000-$250,000 US). RM will even offer a 2004 LTI TXII (the famous London taxi) with fewer than 400 miles (Est. $40,000-$50 000 US)!!
Friday brings a different selection of motor cars, highlighted by the 1949 166 MM Barchetta and 10 other Ferraris. This Italian collection will include a 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series I (Est. $900,000-$1,100,000 US) and a 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder (Est. $800,000-$1,000,000 US) owned by Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson. In addition, there will be a 1933 Packard Twelve Sport Phaeton (Est. $1,500,000-$2,000,000 US), a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton (which was driven by Elvis in the movie Spinout; Est. $1,000,000-$1,300,000 US) and a unique 1964 Dodge Hemi Charger Concept Car Formerly owned by well known concept car collector Joe Bortz (Est. $750,000-$1,000,000 US).
This two-day auction will showcase over 160 automobiles. It takes place on January 20 and 21 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona.