Huge collection of 500 cars and boats seized from ‘businessman’ in Italy to go under the hammer
Auction giant Sotheby's expects the Italian job lot to fetch more than £30m
AN ITALIAN job lot of more than 500 cars and boats are expected to fetch in excess of £30million in the biggest auction of its type Europe has ever seen.
The private collection, built up by a businessman, must now be sold without reserve after they were seized by the Italian government.
It is made up of models from every high-end manufacturer includings a staggering 60 Porsche 911s.
There are 58 Jaguar, including 21 E-Types, and 45 Ferraris with a very rate 275 GTB expected to sell for more than £2 million.
In total, the collection is made up of 430 cars, 150 motorcycles, 60 boats and hundreds of bicycles and automobilia items.
The sale has been dubbed ‘Duemila Ruote’ (2000 Wheels) with RM Sotheby’s auctioning everything off over the weekend of November 25.
Augustin Sabatié-Garat, car specialist at RM Sotheby’s, said: “We’re delighted to have been selected to bring this incredible collection to market.
“The diversity of the lots is especially exciting, from entry-level sports cars to the rarest and most desirable supercars in the world.
“These are cars that buyers today want and are actively hunting for.
“The fact that so many of them are being exposed to the world again after many years in hiding sets the stage for one of the coolest and most exciting auction events of not only 2016, but in RM’s history.”
It is not just high-end models from Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche being sold, but also more
affordable classics including five Ford Sierra Cosworths and three sporty Ford Escorts.
The sale also includes run-of-the-mill motors such as a Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet and Volvo XC90.
There will be a diverse mix of BMW, Triumph and Ducati motorbikes, 140 bicycles and a selection of bobsleds.
The sale will be held at Fiera Milano, a huge exhibition centre in Milan, Italy.
Sabatié-Garat added: “The sheer size of the collection means that enthusiasts will be spoilt with variety.
“If you’re in the market for a Porsche 911, you’re in luck, with some 60 different examples offered without reserve.
“If a Jaguar E-Type needs to land in your garage, the sale will feature a selection of 21 different examples.
“The list goes on and encompasses a tremendously diverse range of categories. it’s like an automotive Aladdin’s Cave.”