From Ferraris to Fiats: Fred Leydorf’s Legendary Traditional Vehicles Are Up for Public sale

The automotive world is gearing up for one among its most anticipated occasions of the yr: the 2025 Amelia Island Auctions. Set to happen on 6 and seven March on the Omni Amelia Island Resort in Florida, the celebrated annual public sale showcases a blinding array of uncommon and traditionally vital vehicles. Historically held the weekend earlier than The Amelia Concours d’Class, Gooding Christie’s choices are identified to be a standout on the Amelia Island Auctions, often that includes distinctive Porsches and uncommon collections from well-known figures, reminiscent of Jerry Seinfeld. This yr, the public sale home highlights a rare assortment from Fred Leydorf, whose love for unique vehicles has left a distinguished mark on the trade. The headline providing — a surprising 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta — guarantees to steal the highlight, however it’s removed from the one masterpiece on supply.

Fred Leydorf & Ferrari

Within the traditional automotive world, Fred Leydorf’s legacy brings to thoughts an unwavering ardour for vehicles and a real advocate for Ferrari. Leydorf’s love for vehicles started at an early age — a trait which led him to change into a mechanical engineer at American Motors and Ford Motors. Finally, his love for unique vehicles prolonged to the Ferrari Membership of America, the place he performed a key position within the organisation’s institution. From 1971 to 1973, Leydorf turned integral to the membership’s progress, serving as its fourth president and main its technical committee. His dedication to preserving the legacy of those autos — alongside along with his intensive community of mates within the automotive world — allowed him to create a set of uncommon and traditionally vital vehicles.

The 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta holds a very particular place in Leydorf’s coronary heart. This explicit instance — a chassis 0472 AM — is anticipated to fetch between USD 8,000,000 and USD 10,000,000, and serves as a historic instance of Ferrari’s engineering prowess and exclusivity. David Gooding, president of Gooding Christie’s, shared his enthusiasm for the sale: “It’s an unbelievable honour to carry the Fred Leydorf Assortment to market, particularly his magnificent Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta which has lengthy been thought of the centrepiece of his well-known assortment for over 55 years. We’re happy with our distinctive catalogue for Amelia Island, and are assured that our first official public sale as Gooding Christie’s might be a most memorable event.”

Initially ordered by Alfred Ducato, the vp of the United California Financial institution in San Francisco and a devoted Ferrari fanatic, the 375 MM Berlinetta was custom-built to Ducato’s specs. The manager had a longstanding private relationship with each Enzo Ferrari and Ferrari’s American distributor, Luigi Chinetti, and his Ferrari orders had been identified for his or her meticulous element. When the automotive was accomplished in February 1955, it was completed in Ferrari’s hanging gentle blue Azzurro color, sporting a contrasting black roof and pure leather-based inside. Ducato’s Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta would go on to signify the top of Ferrari’s road-going sports activities vehicles of the period, successful First in Class for European Sports activities Vehicles over USD 10,000 on the Pebble Seaside Concours d’Class in 1956.

Finally, the automotive handed to Norman N. Thompson, who repainted the automotive within the conventional Ferrari racing purple throughout the Sixties. Leydorf acquired the automotive in 1969, the place he sought to be taught extra in regards to the automotive’s wealthy historical past. Within the following years, Leydorf consulted with a community of trusted Ferrari consultants, together with the legendary Aurelio Lampredi — Ferrari’s famend engineer — who supplied a sketch of the engine’s inner workings. Leydorf’s enthusiasm for historical past and authenticity guided the automotive’s restoration, culminating in a triumphant debut on the Pebble Seaside Concours d’Class in 2006 — precisely 50 years after the automotive was first proven on the occasion by Ducato.

Since its restoration, the Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta has been proven at choose concours occasions, to nice acclaim. Most just lately, it earned the Better of Present Overseas award on the 2019 Concours d’Class and the Pavilion Award on the 2022 Cincinnati Concours d’Class. Right this moment, the 375 MM’s present situation is a testomony to the dedication Leydorf invested within the automotive over greater than 55 years of possession, retaining its authentic engine, gearbox, and differentials.

READ MORE: Iconic Auctioneers Break Data as Traditional Automotive Market Revs Up for 2025

An Exhilarating Public sale Lineup

Whereas the Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta is undoubtedly the star of the public sale, different notable autos are positive to seize the eye of collectors.

1959 Porsche 356 A 1600 GS/GT Carrera Speedster

Estimated between USD 900,000 to USD 1,200,000, this 1959 instance is bodied by Reutter, one among Porsche’s most famous coachbuilders, and can be a notable automotive in The Fred Leydorf Assortment. All through its time, the automotive has competed in a number of the most prestigious racing occasions of its time, together with Zandvoort, Avus, Solitude, and Monza. In recent times, it was awarded First in Class and Finest Porsche on the 2017 Cincinnati Concours d’Class, additional elevating its worth as a collector’s merchandise.

1960 Porsche 356 B Roadster

Additionally included in The Fred Leydorf is a 1960 Porsche 356 B Roadster, fetching a value between USD 175,000 and USD 225,000, with out reserve. That includes coachwork by Drauz, the automotive is completed in Porsche’s uncommon color of Fjord Inexperienced. This explicit 356 B Roadster is a standout instance of Porsche’s dedication to high quality and craftsmanship throughout the period, with its pristine situation and timeless aesthetic making it a sought-after traditional.

1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 S

The 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 S is undoubtedly one of many star points of interest on the upcoming Amelia Island Auctions. This Miura showcases its gorgeous Berton coachwork, wearing a hanging Rosso Corsa (racing purple) with a Skay Nero (black) inside and darkish blue inserts. This instance was owned by Giulio Vignale, nephew of legendary coachbuilder Alfredo Vignale, who acquired the automotive in 1969 and held onto it for a powerful 39 years. In more moderen instances, the automotive underwent a complete restoration carried out by Miura specialists Carrozzeria Cremonini and Prime Motors. Consequently, the automotive is remarkably genuine, that includes quite a few period-correct particulars and retaining a lot of its authentic documentation, together with its Certificates d’Origine. With simply over 7,800 kilometres on the odometer, this case is anticipated to fetch between USD 2,500,000 and USD 3,000,000.

1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS

One in every of solely 108 examples ever constructed, the 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS is an iconic piece of motorsport historical past, estimated at a value between USD 1,500,000 to USD 1,800,000. Completed in silver metallic with a blue inside, this chassis 904-028 was initially owned by German racer Gerhard Koch. Throughout his possession, the automotive excelled on the racetrack, securing victories such because the Rheinland-Pfalz Trophy on the Nürburgring and a 2nd total end on the Grand Prix de Paris. After passing to a different German racer, Rainer Ising, the automotive continued its success in European occasions earlier than architect Alexander Pollack acquired the automotive in 1972, the place it stayed for greater than 5 many years. Because of its cautious preservation, the Porsche 904 has retained lots of its authentic elements, together with its physique, tail part, and seating. The automotive is accompanied by an in-depth report by Porsche historian Jerry Pantis, who considers it probably the most genuine and traditionally vital examples of the Porsche 904 in existence.

1954 Fiat 8V Collection II Berlinetta

The 1954 Fiat 8V Collection II Berlinetta is revered for its gorgeous design by Fabio Luigi Rapi and Carrozzerie Speciali, that includes a particular fashion of secondary decrease lights and entrance finish. This 8V stays a testomony to its meticulous preservation, retaining its matching-numbers engine (no. 000139) as confirmed by manufacturing facility data. Initially completed in a glossy gentle inexperienced (Verde Metallizzata) and trimmed in beige leather-based, it has preserved its authentic inside for a powerful 71 years. The Italian automotive remained in its residence nation for many of its life, acquired by Angelo Brinobet in 1980, who owned a Fiat/Alfa Romeo dealership. Beneath Brinobet, the automotive was entered into 1000 Miglia reenactments and earned FIVA certification together with an ASI Gold standing — a uncommon accolade reserved for autos in excellent authentic situation. The Otto Vu additionally boasts entry acceptance for each the 2025 Heat Up USA occasion and the 2026 1000 Miglia, and is anticipated to fetch a value of USD 1,000,000 to USD 1,400,000.

1970 Porsche 914/6 GT

A uncommon gem from Porsche’s racing historical past, the 1970 Porsche 914/6 GT is one among solely 12 manufacturing facility works vehicles constructed for GT endurance testing. It was initially owned by German privateer racer Gotthard Egerland, and the automotive was actively campaigned in a wide range of occasions, together with on the 1970 ADAC Eifelpokalrennen 500 Kilometers on the Nürburgring, the place it secured a sixth place end. Egerland raced the automotive till 1976, the place subsequent house owners continued the automotive’s racing legacy, reminiscent of Markus Schachtschneider, who used it in a number of historic European occasions. In 2019, the automotive underwent an exhaustive two-year nut-and-bolt restoration by Porsche specialist Gaswerks Storage. With its authentic color scheme, a 901/25 twin-plug competitors engine, and an in depth report by marque historian Jürgen Barth, the 914/6 GT is priced at USD 850,000 to USD 1,000,000.

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