The 2008 Formula 1 season was one of the most dramatic in living memory. Felipe Massa came into the final race–his home Grand Prix in Brazil–knowing that he needed to win, with Lewis Hamilton finishing 6th or lower, in order to become World Champion. Massa duly fulfilled his side of the bargain by taking victory, only for Hamilton to overtake the Toyota of Timo Glock on the last corner of the last lap–putting him into the 5th position that he needed. Hamilton took the title, but Massa’s performance under the most severe pressure–and his dignified reaction afterwards–won him a legion of fans.

Consolation for Ferrari came via the fact that the team secured the Constructors’ Championship, with the V-8 engine of the F2008 having powered Massa and his teammate, Kimi Räikkönen, to a total of eight victories that year. New regulations dictated the removal of driver aids such as traction control, and between them Massa and Räikkonën won four out of the first five races. As the season went on, Massa had the upper hand on his illustrious teammate–who had won the previous year’s Championship–and won the French, European and Belgian Grands Prix before rounding off the year with victory in Brazil.

Built in Italy, this F2008 show car belonged to Jo Vonlanthen–a former Swiss F3 Champion who also drove for Williams in the 1975 Austrian Grand Prix. It is said to have been exhibited in Ferrari dealerships in Italy and Switzerland for several years, and has most recently been part of the private collection of Belgian ace Thierry Boutsen, who won three Grands Prix during his 10-year career in Formula 1 and twice finished 2nd in the 24 Hours of Le Mans . It shows some cracks in its bodywork, but otherwise is ready to form part of a fine display for its next owner.

Created as a static display model with no engine or running gear, this F2008 show car evokes a memorable year in the Scuderia’s history–and the most recent occasion on which Formula 1’s most famous team won the World Constructors’ Championship.