A rather special car is set to go under the hammer at the Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro & Classic Car Sale in February (22nd – 23rd), with a model owned by a former racing legend up for grabs.
The 1992 Honda NSX, owned by Formula One (F1) legend Ayrton Senna will be open for bids. It used to be based at his home in Portugal and was purchased for the Brazilian by his friend, manager and mentor Antonio Carlos de Almeida Braga.
However, after the popular driver’s death in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, the car was kept in the garage with no-one allowed to lay a finger on it.
Two years later, the car changed hands and was soon sold again to a buyer who kept it for 17 years.
It will soon be put up for auction with an estimated price of between £75,000 and £85,000. The Honda comes in a black exterior, with black leather seats, a manual gearbox and only 31,800 miles on the clock.
Managing director at Silverstone Auctions Nick Whale said: “Very rarely does a car with such pedigree and provenance come to market, especially with such a powerful and personal link to arguably the greatest F1 driver of all time, and as such, we’re incredibly excited to offer it for auction.”
The sale comes in the year when many will mourn the 20th anniversary of Senna’s passing, and it is sure to be a cherished memento of the once great driver.
It was a car that Senna himself was personally involved in the development of and 2015 will mark the 25th anniversary of its introduction.
Senna’s part in the car’s development was due to the engines being supplied by his McLaren F1 team. McLaren and Honda are expected to combine once again in 2015 for the F1 season.
Mr Whale added that those at the auction house are “extremely pleased” to be offering an item that had such a close personal connection with the racing icon.
“Over the past few years we’ve been privileged to offer race suits, helmets and signed photographs amongst other pieces connected to him as well as other F1 drivers such as Fangio and James Hunt,” he continued.
From the auction images, the car looks in absolutely sensational condition and still exudes the same class and beauty that it showed when it was first released.
“The Honda NSX was an engineering masterpiece with the famous Honda VTEC engine technology and handling that surpassed all its supercar rivals. Senna’s black NSX did remain one of the most cherished possessions of the greatest race driver of our generation and still today remains the property of the Senna family in Brazil,” the Silverstone Auction release states.
When the stunning vehicle finally goes under the hammer, it won’t be a surprise if it exceeds its initial estimate.
Who could pass up the opportunity to make a bid for such an incredible machine that has an unbelievable history attached to it?
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