[Dippy]

If you are a Michael Schumacher fan, this news is for you.

According to media reports, Schumacher's first owned Ferrari road car is going up for auction. It was gifted to the 7 time World Champion when he joined the Ferrari team in 1996.



The car, a Ferrari F355 GTS is finished in Blu Le Mans with Pelle Crema leather. What's more special is that it features Michael's signature on the back of the driver's seat.

Auction notes say that this particular car was built exactly to Schumacher's specification and was delivered to him in April 1996, a couple of days after his podium finish at the European F1 Grand Prix that year.

The car received Ferrari Classiche certification, verifying that it retains its original chassis, gearbox, bodywork, and factory-original colour combination. However, the certification also says that the original engine is no longer fitted on the car.

The engine was apparently upgraded before being delivered to Michael.



It is not known how long Schumacher drove the car, but it was eventually sold in May 2002 for an undisclosed amount.

After 23 years, this F355 GTS is being offered without a reserve price.

The Ferrari F355 was powered by a 3.5 litre naturally aspirated V8 engine putting out 375 horsepower. It initially came with a 6 speed manual gearbox. An F1 gearbox with paddle shifters was introduced in 1997.

The F355 was available in 3 body styles: Berlinetta (coupe), Spider & GTS (targa top)

Michael Schumacher won 5 championships with Ferrari: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.

Source

Link to Team-BHP News

[T.50s]

If I had all the money in the world, I wouldn't stop bidding till I had this car in my garage. A car with such an amazing history and pedigree is what I like but unfortunately I probably won't be able to afford the car even if it was offered to me at the starting price of the auction.

[khanak]

Originally Posted by T.50s

If I had all the money in the world, I wouldn't stop bidding till I had this car in my garage. A car with such an amazing history and pedigree is what I like but unfortunately I probably won't be able to afford the car even if it was offered to me at the starting price of the auction.

Definitely a special car given that it was the first road car gifted to him but he's had some really nice cars over the years. I'm partial to his yellow EB110.

Probably the most famous Bugatti EB110 was the uniquely appointed SS purchased by Michael Schumacher in June 1994.

When he took delivery, Schumacher had secured five wins and a second from the opening six F1 races that season and was well on the way to his first Driver’s Championship.







Despite a subsequent pair of disqualifications, a two-race ban for ignoring a black flag and a late surge from Williams driver, Damon Hill, Schumacher took the title by 92 points to Hill’s 91.

Schumacher’s Bugatti was chassis ZA9BB02E0 RCD 39020. The yellow body was complemented by a blue interior that, aside from an SS steering wheel, was equipped to GT specification.

Such a high profile customer gave Bugatti a boost but couldn’t stop the firm’s inexorable slide towards bankruptcy.

Schumacher registered the Bugatti at his Avenue des Papalins apartment in the Fontvieille district of Monte Carlo.

He retained it until 2003 at which point 39020 was sold to Modena Motorsport in Lagenfeld, Germany.

In 2010, the car re-appeared with Nuremberg EB110 specialist, Reichel Sportwagen, at which point it had around 4000km on the clock.

Source