Former F1 World Champion to offload his classic Ferrari supercar at auction.
It must be a hard life being a Formula One driver and ex-World Champion - you're so busy that you don't have time to play with all your toys. This would appear to be the case for 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button, who has consigned his 1979 Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer to Bonhams Auction at the Museum at RAF Hendon on the 11th April.
The press release reads;
"A 1978 Ferrari 512BB Berlinetta Boxer owned by British Formula One driver, Jenson Button, is to be sold by Bonhams at its sale of Collectors' Motor Cars at the RAF Museum, Hendon, on 11 April 2011. The car, which was bought last year by Button, the then reigning Formula One World Champion, has attracted a pre-sale estimate of £90,000 – 110,000.
Due to a busy schedule as Britain's number one Formula One point-scorer, Button has decided to part with the car. He says: "I've had a great time driving the Boxer, however my F1 commitments will not enable me to enjoy the car to its fullest. It has had a thorough service that has addressed all the usual issues of an older Ferrari."
The car, which Bonhams' Tim Schofield (Head of Motor Cars) describes as "a wonderful example with important provenance and exceptionally good value when compared to its nemesis the Lamborghini Miura", was ordered new in December 1977 and was delivered to its first owner, Stafford Pemberton, in April 1978. It has had £94,000 spent on it over the past 33 years, which includes a bodywork refurbishment and an all-new interior conducted by renowned marque specialist, Nick Cartwright, in the 1980s. It has recently undergone a major service at JD Classics, which was completed in September 2010.
With 49,155 miles on the odometer, the car is in excellent original condition and comes finished in black with a light oatmeal leather interior."
Personally, I'm wondering if a certain Ron Dennis had a word in Jenson's ear, that as a McLaren driver he shouldn't be seen driving one of their arch-rival's cars on the street.
Jenson's loss is one lucky buyer's gain, since the carburettor-equipped 512 is the pick of the Boxer family, less peaky than the 365, and more powerful than the later injection cars. It also looks rather good in black. The estimate possibly prices in a slight premium for the celebrity owner, but considering the huge £94,000 spent on it during its life it should be well maintained.