[RahulNagaraj]

According to reports, a burnt-out and crumpled old Ferrari 500 Mondial was sold for a whopping $1.875 million at RM Sotheby's Monterey auction recently. However, while the car itself looks like just a heap of crumpled metal, it is said to have a unique history and could be the new owner's ticket to Mille Miglia - one of the most prestigious historic racing events.



The now crumpled old Ferrari 500 Mondial with chassis number 0406MD was initially sold to sports car dealer Franco Cornacchia and raced by his privateer team, Scuderia Guastalla. The team's lead driver was Franco Cortesa, who was formerly a factory race driver for Scuderia Ferrari. With the Mondial, Cortese finished 4th in class and 14th overall at the 1954 Mille Miglia.



The same car was then exported to the United States in 1958 and was said to have been involved in a heavy crash sometime between 1963 and 1965. The final ownership transfer of the 500 Mondial was recorded in 1978. Since then, the car has been preserved in its race-damaged condition for 45 years.

Reports state that research confirms that the crumpled old Ferrari is the same 500 Mondial that took part in the 1954 Mille Miglia. This means that once restored, the new owner will be able to participate in the prestigious event, whose current iteration has very stringent entry requirements. The current version of Mille Miglia only allows vehicles confirmed to have participated in the race during its heydays - that is Italian race cars from 1927 to 1957.

Talking about the car itself, the Ferrari 500 Mondial was built to celebrate the back-to-back FIA Formula One World's Driver Championship wins of Alberto Ascari in 1952 and 1953. The 500 Mondial was powered by the same 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine that powered Ascari's Grand Prix-winning race car. The auctioned car is said to be the 2nd built in the first series of 13 Mondials.

Source: Jalopnik

Link to Team-BHP news

[Dhillon]

Restoring this will need another million dollars atleast.

[NomadSK]

It seems buying the “10Cr” Rolls Royce, recently crashed/burned and in news, is an investment opportunity.

[Vasuki]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

It seems buying the “10Cr” Rolls Royce, recently crashed/burned and in news, is an investment opportunity.

That's a good one.

But to think of it, no one would give 1 paise premium for a car crashed by an idiot.

The Ferrari 500 Mondial got this premium as it was driven by legends and made to commemorate legends.

[NomadSK]

Originally Posted by Vasuki

But to think of it, no one would give 1 paise premium for a car crashed by an idiot.

Agreed. But you never know this “idiot” could be a very high profile individual. Who else would ride a 10Cr Rolls Royce in INDIA that too in a convoy of super cars. That’s what I read.

Media/journalist have been upfront naming the tanker driver/helper but none have revealed the identity of the car occupants. Although it doesn’t matter to me, but the playing field should be level. Such a shame.

Sorry I took it OT.

[SnS_12]

The reason this car was sold in this condition at this price is because it has a valid VIN and Ferrari will restore it for a price but at the end the overall market cost will be much higher than both of the cost of buying and restoring it.

Any interesting video on the subject of rebuilding wrecked Ferrari's by Ferrari.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-k0lrsFxm4

[FourBanger]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

Media/journalist have been upfront naming the tanker driver/helper but none have revealed the identity of the car occupants. Although it doesn’t matter to me, but the playing field should be level. Such a shame.

Sorry I took it OT.

https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/...187-2023-08-27

Media has revealed the name