Bonhams to sell ex-Works Ferrari 375 Plus at Goodwood

Bonhams will auction a Ferrari 375 Plus – the first of only five built – at its Festival of Speed auction in June. A factory car, it competed in both the Mille Miglia and Le Mans, and its long-running ownership dispute has now been resolved…

The 330bhp team car, shown to Classic Driver at a private preview event last night, was first campaigned in the 1954 Mille Miglia in the hands of Umberto Maglioli, before being driven to victory at Silverstone by fellow Argentinean Froilan Gonzalez at Silverstone. Its final race for the factory team was at the 24 Hours of Le Mans later that year, which saw the sister 375 Plus take the chequered flag, while this car – chassis 0834AM – was forced to retire, although not before setting the fastest lap of the race.

For some time, the car has been at the centre of an ownership dispute between the Kleve and Swaters families. Bonhams has spent the last year negotiating a deal between the parties and, now that an agreement has been reached, the car can be sold. As a result, the new buyer will not only become the custodian of the restored car, but also numerous extras including a spare 4.9-litre V12 and what remains of its original body panels, still bearing traces of the 1957 Cuban Grand Prix race colours.

Bonhams has not set an estimate yet but, with its ownership title now cleared up, some experts believe that the rare Ferrari could become an eight-figure car when it is sold without reserve at the Festival of Speed in June.

Photos: Joe Breeze & Simon Clay, Marcel Massini (period images)

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