The playboy’s Ferrari that sold for £2.5m: auction results

1953 Ferrari 166 MM Spider

Sold by Gooding & Company, £2.5m

This spectacular Ferrari 166 was built for the celebrated Dominican playboy Porfirio Rubirosa (who died in 1965 after crashing his 250 GT into a tree on the outskirts of Paris). Ferrari bought back the 166 in 1955 and sold it on to Belgian concessionaire Jacques Swaters, after which it had three further owners in five years prior to being acquired in 1960 by UK enthusiast Bernard Worth. Worth consigned the car to Gooding & Company after using it for 63 years to participate in events ranging from the first meeting of the Ferrari Club of Great Britain in 1967 to the Mille Miglia.

1972 Ford Escort Mexico

Sold by Iconic auctioneers, £35,438

Only the Mexico badges give away that this is one of the souped-up Escorts, named after the model’s victory in the 1970 London-Mexico World Cup Rally. It’s one of just six four-door examples.

2007 Maserati MC12 versione Corsa

Sold by Gooding & Company, £2m

Maserati’s MC12 was one of the most spectacular road cars of the 2000s – this Corsa version was even more special, being one of 12 built to the same spec as the world-championship winning GT1 cars.

1997 Brooke 190ME

Sold by Bonhams Online, £15,500

Hand-built Brooke cars of the 1990s aimed to emulate the thrill of driving a post-war, mid-engined, single-seat racer. This 510kg car is the only one fitted with a 190bhp Honda Type R engine.

2008 Jeep Wrangler ‘EarthRoamer’

Sold by Collecting Cars, £25,250

This Australian-converted Jeep ‘Earthroamer’ promised all the comforts of home anywhere. Despite its relatively small size, it was equipped with a queen-size bed, fridge, shower and kitchen.

1966 Porsche 906

Sold by Bonhams, £1.6m

One of 62 906s originally built, this car was first owned by Japanese driver Shintaro Taki and clocked-up numerous wins and podiums in Japan. It continued to be raced for a further eight seasons.

1998 Subaru Impreza STi 22B

Sold by Iconic auctioneers, £480,000

This was presented to Colin McRae as thanks for his performances during the 1995-98 World Rally Championship seasons. One of just three prototype 22Bs built, it fetched a world record price.

1957 Jaguar XKSS

Sold by RM Sotheby’s, £10.5m

This 25,000-mile XKSS was one of the best-preserved examples known of the original 16 built. Initially shipped to the US, it returned to Britain and entered the collections first of Anthony Bamford (until 1975) and then of Glaswegian enthusiast Campbell McLaren – who registered it JAG 1.

Forthcoming Sale Highlights

• RM Sotheby’s (online), October 4-11
  This sale comprises more than 300 items consigned directly from 1992 Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell, all of which have been on display in his private museum in Jersey. Lots on offer include race-worn helmets, boots, suits and gloves as well as caps donned for podium appearances, steering wheels and motorcycles. Also up for grabs are all of Mansell’s trophies from his careers in both F1 and IndyCar.
• Bonhams, Stafford, October 14-15
  Whether you’re looking for a motorcycle to rebuild from the ground up in readiness for next spring or one that you can simply spend the next six months polishing to perfection, Bonhams’ twice-yearly specialist sales at the Staffordshire County Showground offer all the choice any fan of two wheels could ask for. It will feature more than 300 machines across multiple categories.
• Iconic auctioneers, Birmingham, November 12
  Iconic Auctioneers (formerly Silverstone Auctions) is set to draw some of the world’s top motorcycle collectors to Birmingham’s NEC with the offer of one of the best Brough Superior SS100s in existence. One of 25 Matchless-engined Broughs surviving out of 102 built, the matching numbers machine has a documented history dating back 70 years and is expected to fetch £240,000-£260,000.
• Bonhams, Abu Dhabi, November 25
  Bonhams heads to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit for this inaugural ‘On The Grid’ sale, which will be conducted live on the circuit ahead of the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The event inaugurates Bonhams’ new role as the official auction partner of the F1 Paddock Club – and the top lot will be the 1978 ex-Mario Andretti JPS Lotus 79, which is tipped to fetch as much as £7.5m.