- Retained for over 15 years in the prestigious Bardinon Mas du Clos Collection
- Matching-numbers engine example recently emerging from over 20 years of single ownership
- Campaigned in 17 events during 1952 and 1953, twice finishing as high as 2nd place and notching an impressive overall victory at the 1953 AVUS Grand Prix
- Sister car to Ferrari’s first World Championship-winning car, the extremely successful 500 F2, which took Alberto Ascari to back-to-back World Championships in 1952 and 1953
BLENHEIM, Ontario (25 July 2022) – RM Sotheby’s is proud to offer an incredibly rare racing machine from one of the dominant periods in Scuderia Ferrari history. Raced by Jacques Swaters’ Ecurie Francorchamps and the legendary Marquis de Portago, this 1954 Ferrari 625 F1 will be available at Monterey.
This legendary early Formula One car began life as chassis number 0208F, the fourth of five 500 F2 cars, and was the first Ferrari ever raced by Ecurie Francorchamps. The 500 was campaigned in 17 events during 1952 and 1953, finishing 2nd twice and securing an impressive overall victory in the 1953 AVUS Grand Prix. In 1954, the Formula One championship shifted back to F1 classification and most of the 500 F2 cars were upgraded to 625 F1 specification—as was the case for this car as part of its rebuild at Ferrari. This 1954 Ferrari 625 F1 was renumbered to chassis 0540.
0540 was sold to the legendary Marquis Alfonso de Portago where he campaigned it in four Formula One events during 1955. It then became a part of the most prestigious Ferrari collection ever assembled, where it stayed for more than 15 years, Pierre Bardinon’s Mas du Clos collection. Later, at the hands of notable owners, the car was enjoyed at various vintage events including the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Goodwood Revival, the Monaco historic races, and Coy’s Historic Race Festival, and in December of 2000 the rare Ferrari was purchased by a collector based in Cologne, Germany. He stewarded the car through 21 years of fastidious care, contributing to its current impressive state.
Representing one of the most dominant periods in Scuderia Ferrari history, including Ferrari’s first Drivers’ World Championship, and claiming important ownership provenance and racing use, this extremely rare 625 F1 is stamped with the correct chassis and engine numbers, the gearbox is the correct type, is eligible for some of the most exclusive vintage racing events worldwide, and can expect a warm welcome at premier concours d’elegance. It would make an outstanding addition to any collection (Estimate: $3,000,000 - $4,000,000).