Bernie Ecclestone sells his collection of historic Grand Prix and F1 cars
The story of Bernie Ecclestone
Bernie Ecclestone is considered the godfather of Formula One. His involvement in the sport began in the 1950s with the Connaught team. He later managed the careers of the talented Briton Stuart Lewis-Evans and the brilliant Austrian driver Jochen Rindt, who posthumously won the Formula One World Championship in 1970 after he was killed that same year at Monza.
Then Bernie bought and ran the Brabham team, winning Grands Prix with legendary drivers such as Carlos Reutemann, Carlos Pace and Niki Lauda. Under his leadership, Brabham also won world titles with Nelson Piquet.
Formula One Constructors’ Association
As leader of the Formula One Constructors’ Association, Ecclestone played a crucial role in the transformation of Formula One. Along with other prominent team owners and managers such as Enzo Ferrari (Ferrari) and Colin Chapman (Lotus), he began the process of making Formula One the global sports giant it is today.
In 1987, he founded the Formula One Group, through which he controlled and developed the commercial rights of the sport until 2017. By then, he was well into his eighties. Now, at age 94, Bernie is enjoying retirement but still follows Formula One with great interest.
Huge collection
In his lifetime, Ecclestone has amassed an enormous collection. Every car in Ecclestone’s collection is unique and has been out of the public eye for years, sometimes more than half a century. Many cars have never been displayed since Ecclestone purchased them. The collection includes iconic models such as Ferraris driven by world champions Mike Hawthorn, Niki Lauda and Michael Schumacher, as well as Brabhams driven by greats such as Nelson Piquet, Carlos Pace and again Niki Lauda. A highlight is the one-off Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT46B “fan car,” which was used only once and won the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix by more than half a minute.
Why sell?
Bernie Ecclestone on his decision: “I have been collecting these cars for over 50 years and have always bought only the best. While many other collectors focus on sports cars, I have a passion for Grand Prix and Formula One cars. A Grand Prix car and especially a Formula One car is much more important than a street car or other race car, because it represents the top of motorsports. All the cars in my collection have an impressive racing history and are rare works of art. I love all my cars, but it is time to think about what happens to them when I am no longer around. That is why I have decided to sell them. After all these years, I want to know where they will end up and not leave my wife with that responsibility.”
Pearls!
Tom Hartley takes charge of selling the collection. “This is without a doubt the most important race car collection in the world. A collection like this has never been offered for sale and probably never will be again. The collection spans 70 years of Grand Prix and Formula One history, with highlights including world championship-winning Ferraris of Mike Hawthorn, Niki Lauda and Michael Schumacher, all of Bernie’s Brabhams, including the famous ‘fan car,’ and the Vanwall VW10 in which Stirling Moss won multiple Grands Prix, including the first Formula One constructor’s title in 1958. For me, the Ferrari’s are the highlight. Bernie assembled a collection of Ferrari Formula One cars that would be virtually impossible to recreate today. Think of the famous Thin Wall Special, the first Ferrari to beat Alfa Romeo, and Alberto Ascari’s Italian Grand Prix-winning 375 F1.”
History Formula One lives on in this collection
Hartley continued: “Also, the Brabhams are special. Bernie has owned these cars since new and many have not been seen for decades. The Brabham team achieved 22 Grand Prix victories, 24 pole positions and two world titles under Bernie’s leadership. Innovations such as carbon brakes and in-race refueling also come to his credit. A collection like this is unprecedented. It is a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire cars never before offered for sale. The history of Formula One lives on in this collection.”