From Ferraris to Fiats: Fred Leydorf’s Legendary Classic Cars Are Up for Auction

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The automotive satellite is gearing up for 1 of its astir anticipated events of the year: the 2025 Amelia Island Auctions. Set to instrumentality spot connected 6 and 7 March astatine the Omni Amelia Island Resort successful Florida, the prestigious yearly auction showcases a dazzling array of uncommon and historically important cars. Traditionally held the play earlier The Amelia Concours d’Elegance, Gooding Christie’s offerings are known to beryllium a standout astatine the Amelia Island Auctions, usually featuring exceptional Porsches and uncommon collections from celebrated figures, specified arsenic Jerry Seinfeld. This year, the auction location highlights an bonzer postulation from Fred Leydorf, whose emotion for exotic automobiles has near a salient people connected the industry. The header offering — a stunning 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta — promises to bargain the spotlight, but it is acold from the lone masterpiece connected offer.

Fred Leydorf & Ferrari

In the classical car world, Fred Leydorf’s bequest brings to caput an unwavering passionateness for cars and a existent advocator for Ferrari. Leydorf’s emotion for automobiles began astatine an aboriginal property — a trait which led him to go a mechanical technologist astatine American Motors and Ford Motors. Eventually, his emotion for exotic cars extended to the Ferrari Club of America, wherever helium played a cardinal relation successful the organisation’s establishment. From 1971 to 1973, Leydorf became integral to the club’s growth, serving arsenic its 4th president and starring its method committee. His committedness to preserving the bequest of these vehicles — on with his extended web of friends successful the automotive satellite — allowed him to make a postulation of uncommon and historically important cars.

The 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta holds a peculiarly peculiar spot successful Leydorf’s heart. This peculiar illustration — a chassis 0472 AM — is expected to fetch betwixt USD 8,000,000 and USD 10,000,000, and serves arsenic a historical illustration of Ferrari’s engineering prowess and exclusivity. David Gooding, president of Gooding Christie’s, shared his enthusiasm for the sale: “It is an unthinkable honour to bring the Fred Leydorf Collection to market, particularly his magnificent Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta which has agelong been considered the centrepiece of his well-known postulation for implicit 55 years. We are arrogant of our exceptional catalogue for Amelia Island, and are assured that our archetypal authoritative auction arsenic Gooding Christie’s volition beryllium a astir memorable occasion.”

Originally ordered by Alfred Ducato, the vice president of the United California Bank successful San Francisco and a dedicated Ferrari enthusiast, the 375 MM Berlinetta was custom-built to Ducato’s specifications. The enforcement had a longstanding idiosyncratic narration with some Enzo Ferrari and Ferrari’s American distributor, Luigi Chinetti, and his Ferrari orders were known for their meticulous detail. When the car was completed successful February 1955, it was finished successful Ferrari’s striking airy bluish Azzurro colour, sporting a contrasting achromatic extortion and earthy leather interior. Ducato’s Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta would spell connected to correspond the pinnacle of Ferrari’s road-going sports cars of the era, winning First successful Class for European Sports Cars implicit USD 10,000 astatine the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance successful 1956.

Eventually, the car passed to Norman N. Thompson, who repainted the car successful the accepted Ferrari racing reddish during the 1960s. Leydorf acquired the car successful 1969, wherever helium sought to larn much astir the car’s affluent history. In the pursuing years, Leydorf consulted with a web of trusted Ferrari experts, including the legendary Aurelio Lampredi — Ferrari’s renowned technologist — who provided a sketch of the engine’s interior workings. Leydorf’s enthusiasm for past and authenticity guided the car’s restoration, culminating successful a triumphant debut astatine the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance successful 2006 — precisely 50 years aft the car was archetypal shown astatine the lawsuit by Ducato.

Since its restoration, the Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta has been shown astatine prime concours events, to large acclaim. Most recently, it earned the Best of Show Foreign grant astatine the 2019 Concours d’Elegance and the Pavilion Award astatine the 2022 Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance. Today, the 375 MM’s existent information is simply a testament to the dedication Leydorf invested successful the car implicit much than 55 years of ownership, retaining its archetypal engine, gearbox, and differentials.

An Exhilarating Auction Lineup

While the Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta is undoubtedly the prima of the auction, different notable vehicles are definite to seizure the attraction of collectors.

1959 Porsche 356 A 1600 GS/GT Carrera Speedster

Estimated betwixt USD 900,000 to USD 1,200,000, this 1959 example is bodied by Reutter, 1 of Porsche’s astir renowned coachbuilders, and is besides a notable car successful The Fred Leydorf Collection. Throughout its time, the car has competed successful immoderate of the astir prestigious racing events of its time, including Zandvoort, Avus, Solitude, and Monza. In caller years, it was awarded First successful Class and Best Porsche astatine the 2017 Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance, further elevating its worth arsenic a collector’s item.

1960 Porsche 356 B Roadster

Also included successful The Fred Leydorf is simply a 1960 Porsche 356 B Roadster, fetching a terms betwixt USD 175,000 and USD 225,000, without reserve. Featuring coachwork by Drauz, the car is finished successful Porsche’s uncommon colour of Fjord Green. This peculiar 356 B Roadster is simply a standout illustration of Porsche’s committedness to prime and craftsmanship during the era, with its pristine information and timeless aesthetic making it a sought-after classic.

1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 S

The 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 S is undoubtedly 1 of the prima attractions astatine the upcoming Amelia Island Auctions. This Miura showcases its stunning Berton coachwork, dressed successful a striking Rosso Corsa (racing red) with a Skay Nero (black) interior and acheronian bluish inserts. This illustration was owned by Giulio Vignale, nephew of legendary coachbuilder Alfredo Vignale, who acquired the car successful 1969 and held onto it for an awesome 39 years. In much caller times, the car underwent a broad restoration carried retired by Miura specialists Carrozzeria Cremonini and Top Motors. As a result, the car is remarkably authentic, featuring galore period-correct details and retaining overmuch of its archetypal documentation, including its Certificate d’Origine. With conscionable implicit 7,800 kilometres connected the odometer, this lawsuit is expected to fetch betwixt USD 2,500,000 and USD 3,000,000.

1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS

One of lone 108 examples ever built, the 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS is an iconic portion of motorsport history, estimated astatine a terms betwixt USD 1,500,000 to USD 1,800,000. Finished successful metallic metallic with a bluish interior, this chassis 904-028 was primitively owned by German racer Gerhard Koch. During his ownership, the car excelled connected the racetrack, securing victories specified arsenic the Rheinland-Pfalz Trophy astatine the Nürburgring and a 2nd wide decorativeness astatine the Grand Prix de Paris. After passing to different German racer, Rainer Ising, the car continued its occurrence successful European events earlier designer Alexander Pollack acquired the car successful 1972, wherever it stayed for much than 5 decades. Thanks to its cautious preservation, the Porsche 904 has retained galore of its archetypal components, including its body, process section, and seating. The car is accompanied by an in-depth study by Porsche historiographer Jerry Pantis, who considers it 1 of the astir authentic and historically important examples of the Porsche 904 successful existence.

1954 Fiat 8V Series II Berlinetta

The 1954 Fiat 8V Series II Berlinetta is revered for its stunning plan by Fabio Luigi Rapi and Carrozzerie Speciali, featuring a distinctive benignant of secondary little lights and beforehand end. This 8V remains a testament to its meticulous preservation, retaining its matching-numbers motor (no. 000139) arsenic confirmed by mill records. Originally finished successful a sleek airy greenish (Verde Metallizzata) and trimmed successful beige leather, it has preserved its archetypal interior for an awesome 71 years. The Italian car remained successful its location state for astir of its life, acquired by Angelo Brinobet successful 1980, who owned a Fiat/Alfa Romeo dealership. Under Brinobet, the car was entered into 1000 Miglia reenactments and earned FIVA certification on with an ASI Gold presumption — a uncommon accolade reserved for vehicles successful outstanding archetypal condition. The Otto Vu besides boasts introduction acceptance for some the 2025 Warm Up USA lawsuit and the 2026 1000 Miglia, and is expected to fetch a terms of USD 1,000,000 to USD 1,400,000.

1970 Porsche 914/6 GT

A uncommon gem from Porsche’s racing history, the 1970 Porsche 914/6 GT is 1 of lone 12 mill works cars built for GT endurance testing. It was primitively owned by German privateer racer Gotthard Egerland, and the car was actively campaigned successful a assortment of events, including astatine the 1970 ADAC Eifelpokalrennen 500 Kilometers astatine the Nürburgring, wherever it secured a 6th spot finish. Egerland raced the car until 1976, wherever consequent owners continued the car’s racing legacy, specified arsenic Markus Schachtschneider, who utilized it successful respective historical European events. In 2019, the car underwent an exhaustive two-year nut-and-bolt restoration by Porsche specializer Gaswerks Garage. With its archetypal colour scheme, a 901/25 twin-plug contention engine, and a elaborate study by marque historiographer Jürgen Barth, the 914/6 GT is priced astatine USD 850,000 to USD 1,000,000.

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The station From Ferraris to Fiats: Fred Leydorf’s Legendary Classic Cars Are Up for Auction appeared archetypal connected LUXUO.

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