These multi-million-pound Ferraris are about to become lifesavers

As part of its 14 October sale at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, British auction house H&H will auction off a pair of multi-million-pound V12 Ferraris – with all proceeds being donated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution at the behest of their late owner…

The two cars – a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB and a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 – come from the estate of the late Richard Colton, a respected Northamptonshire-based businessman. At his request, the prancing pair will fund a new RNLI lifeboat to be named Richard and Caroline Colton, taking the name of the prominent Ferrari V12 collector and his late wife. “We are deeply grateful and humbled by Mr Colton’s generous gift and his decision to benefit the RNLI in this way,” said RNLI legacy manager Guy Rose. “Six out of every 10 lifeboat launches are only made possible because of gifts left to us in Wills.”

Seahorses on a special mission

The SWB – chassis 1995 GT – is in largely original condition, and was ordered by Colonel Ronnie Hoare and used to launch the UK Ferrari distributor Maranello Concessionaires. As such, it included every option available, effectively making it a semi-competizione model, with a comp-spec motor, gearbox, fuel tank and limited-slip differential. Meanwhile, the four-cam GTB – chassis 10177 GT – began life as the Maranello Concessionaires demonstrator, before being acquired by Colton in exchange for a Bentley Speed Six in the mid-70s. Like the SWB, Colton fully exploited its touring credentials, with many European trips contributing to the 78,000 miles it displays on the odometer today.

Photos: Neil Fraser for H&H