Rare ‘shark-nose’ Ferrari to debut at new British concours

By Lizzie Pope

| 29 Oct 2019

Classic & Sports Car – Rare ‘shark-nose’ Ferrari to debut at new British concours

This stunning 1962 Ferrari 196SP will make its UK debut at the first Auto Royale, that’s coming to Northamptonshire on 17-19 July 2020.

It is the first car to be announced for this brand-new international concours d’elegance that’s expected to feature 150 classics, with many more on display, too.

And it’s fair to say this Prancing Horse is setting the bar rather high – it’s the last of five surviving Scuderia Ferrari sports prototypes built for the 1961-’62 seasons.

This car was campaigned at the 1962 12 Hours of Sebring, Nürburgring 1000km and Elkhart Lake, as well as at 1963’s Nassau Speed Week.

Yet despite its international racing exploits, this will be this Ferrari’s first appearance at a British event.

And with a $8-10m price-tag, according to figures from the 2019 RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction, it’s an impressive act for all other concours entrants to follow.

“It’s such a pleasure to finally give car enthusiasts a vision of what will be an incredible line-up at our first Auto Royale at Althorp,” said Paul Mathers, Director of Marque II International Media & Events, which founded the event.

“This stunning Ferrari truly captures the spirit of Auto Royale and our mission to bring rare and spectacular machines to be enjoyed in the surrounds of this wonderful family estate at Althorp.

“I am excited to bring all I have learnt overseas to the world’s biggest classic and historic car market and create something very special for car enthusiasts around the country. As a passionate collector and an enthusiast of British motoring, I am genuinely privileged to have the opportunity to establish a new but traditional concours d’elegance that will bring people together, ignite their passions and get them talking.”

“Many acknowledge Althorp as one of Britain’s greatest country houses. A splendid example of understated English architecture, it’s set amongst 550 acres of lush, classical parkland,” added Lord Spencer.

“More importantly though, Althorp was built by my family as the Spencer family’s headquarters. It is therefore with great pleasure that I open the gates of this special, historic place to you for an event I believe is set to take its place among the great international concours d’elegance.”

Images: Lou Johnson/Spacesuit Media

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