Pining after a “Resale Red” Ferrari? Yikes, sounds like someone didn’t get the memo—red Ferraris are out, friend. If you want to impress the masses and signify that you are more than just a hefty checkbook with legs and a garage, outfit your new Maranello Meteor with a coat of something a bit more unique. The same goes for the vintage stuff too—don’t settle for Rosso Corsa when RM Sotheby’s has a pair of 1970s Ferraris in a wonderful and rare shade of Oro Chiaro.
In English, that translates to a far less exotic “Light Gold,” but the sentiment is still there. This pair of Prancing Ponies are part of RM Sotheby’s Gold Collection that’s a subset of its upcoming Paris Sale, so if you’re into gold paint but not Ferraris, the aforementioned group also includes a gold 1973 Jensen Interceptor, 1972 Porsche 911 S Targa, and a 1977 Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera. Those are neat, but we’ve got eyes only for the Disco-Fab Italians.
The most impressive of the pair is the 1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB. Even by Ferrari standards, not many 365 GT4 BBs were made, with only 367 sold between 1973 and 1976, and only three of those were ever finished in this lustrous shade of gold. This is the first roadgoing Ferrari fitted with a non-“vee” engine; in the case of the 365 BB, the subsequent 512, and Testarossa families that followed soon after, power came from a flat-12. Ferrari dorks are quick to mention the engine design is that of a 180-degree V-12, but that little factoid just proves it’s flat, doesn’t it? We digress.
According to the auction docket, this flat-12 stunner arrived new to its first owner in Tyler, Texas, of all places, and hopped around owners until it landed in Sweden with its third caretaker. The car remained with this owner for the next 27 years, only changing hands in 2015 before heading to the upcoming sale.
The other car is a bit more pedestrian, at least as far as vintage Ferraris go. If you pick up RM’s gold 1979 Ferrari 308 GTS, you’ll be only the third owner to put a name on the title, having remained with the same Italian family who purchased it new until 2016. Just around 23,000 miles sit on the odo, and as such, the Oro Chiaro Metallic paint and beige interior are original to the car, as are both the engine and transmission. If this provenance wasn’t enough, the car comes with Ferrari Classiche certification, making this one of the safest buys around.
Get in touch with RM Sothebys to register ahead of the Paris sale if you want to play the Italian version of King Midas.
