F1 World Champion Jody Scheckter’s sensational car collection worth £11MILLION heads to Monaco sale

Formula One legend Jody Scheckter’s renowned car collection is up for auction – and sensationally it includes his World Championship-winning Ferrari.

In a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an F1 fan with deep pockets to acquire a championship car direct from the driver, the 1979 Ferrari 312 T4 is being offered by the South African ‘unsung hero of F1’ via RM Sotheby’s May sale in Monaco.

The 312 T4  – the car that secured Scheckter the coveted title of World Champion – is just the jewel in the glittering crown of his collection that reflects the best of the ’70’s, a time many pundits consider the heyday of the sport. 

The T4 is estimated to sell for between €5.25million and €6.5million (£4.5m and £5.5m) and, while the entire collection of 12 motors could earn the former champ €12.9m (£11m) if all sell for their top-end guide prices.

The 1979 Ferrari 312 T4 that won Formula One legend Jody Scheckter’s his World Championship is up for sale in Monaco with RM Sotheby’s

Powered by the legendary 3-litre flat-12 engine, it was the first Ferrari Grand Prix car that featured full ground effect

South African Formula One World Champion turned organic farm, Jody Scheckter lifted the trophy in 1979 – and is called the ‘unsung hero of F1’

The Ferrari Factory in Maranello is where Scheckter purchased the Ferrari from  November 1982. It remains in entirely original condition and has only ever been driven by him.

Packed full of McLarens and Tyrells, the racer-turned-biodynamic-farmer’s 12-car lineup also includes a 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ road car raced twice at the Targa Florio.

But there’s no doubt that the bidding frenzy will break out over the 1979 Ferrari 312 T4 with its crème de la crème of F1 pedigree. 

Enzo Ferrari’s last Formula One Drivers’ World Championship-winning car, it was powered by the legendary 3-litre flat-12 engine, and the first Ferrari Grand Prix car that featured full ground effect. 

The chassis was also the winner of all three of Scheckter’s victories in 1979 – the Belgian, Monaco, and Italian Grands Prix.

Scheckter, who now lives in Hampshire, purchased it from the Factory in November 1982. It remains in entirely original condition and has only ever been driven by him.

Alongside this unique and unrepeatable Ferrari is a trio of McLaren’s with almost as much heritage behind them, including the 1973 McLaren M23. 

Arguably the M23 is one of McLaren’s greatest models and one of the sport’s best-looking cars. 

The model also secured the team its first constructors’ championship title and two drivers’ championships with Emerson Fittipaldi and James Hunt. Offered without reserve it’s estimated to sell for between €1.75m and €2.25m (£1.5m and £1.9m).

The rest of the McLaren trio is made up of a 1971 McLaren M19A – one of only two in existence – which is the exact chassis that Scheckter made his F1 debut in at the 1972 United States Grand Prix, and a Formula Two category 1972 McLaren M21.

The full collection of Scheckter’s cars that – if sold for their higher estimate – could cash in some £11million for the former F1 Champion

With almost as much heritage behind them, the McLaren lots include Scheckter’s 1973 McLaren M23 – arguably the M23 is one of McLaren’s greatest models and one of the sport’s best-looking cars

The lineup of incredible McLarens also includes the 1971 McLaren M19A – one of only two in existence 

1972 McLaren M21 – presented in the famous McLaren Papaya Orange colours of Scheckter’s 1972 Formula 2 season

Back in the 1970’s bold designs, slicks and turbochargers were just a few of the innovations that made F1 highly dangerous and so exciting, and few constructors achieved as much success in this period as Tyrrell.

So Scheckter’s duo of Tyrrells, including a glorious 1975 Tyrrell 007 and a remarkable six-wheeled 2008 Tyrrell P34, are two truly evocative examples of a remarkable decade in motorsport.

 Scheckter’s duo of Tyrrells, including a glorious 1975 Tyrrell 007 and a remarkable six-wheeled 2008 Tyrrell P34, are two truly evocative examples of a remarkable decade in motorsport.

The 007 was driven in 12 races by Scheckter between ’75 and ’76 and crossed the line third at Silverstone in ’75. 

The last offering at the Monaco sale is the 1977 Wolf WR1 which brought Scheckter to second place in that year’s F1 Drivers’ Championship. 

After Scheckter it was raced by future World Champion Keke Rosberg (father of World Champion Nico Rosberg). 

Estimated to reach between €450,000 and €650,000 (£380k and £550k) it’s the lot to go for if you appreciate an F1 upstart success story.

1977 Wolf WR1 from The Jody Scheckter Collection brought Scheckter to second place in that year’s F1 Drivers’ Championship and then went on to be raced by future World Champion Keke Rosberg

‘The Magic Merlyn’ 1969 Merlyn Mk11a is also up for grabs – it launched the careers of Emerson Fittipaldi, Colin Vandervell, and Scheckter

The Scheckter sale concludes with a 1974 Trojan T101, a 1973 Rondel Motul M1

The 1974 Trojan T101 €65,000 – €100,000 without reserve is one of the cheaper cars in the Scheckter Collection

The Scheckter sale concludes with a 1974 Trojan T101, a 1973 Rondel Motul M1, a 1971 Merlyn Mk21 and ‘the Magic Merlyn’ 1969 Merlyn Mk11a which launched the careers of Emerson Fittipaldi, Colin Vandervell, and Scheckter.

The only road car up for grabs – for a bidder who actually wants to drive their piece of automotive history – is a more recent addition to Scheckter’s collection: A 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ, which was previously owned by Scuderia Ferrari driver Ignazio Giunti during the start of his competition career.

This collection should deliver monetary results for Scheckter in what has been a challenging year for his post-F1 business venture Laverstoke Park Farm. 

A 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ, which was previously owned by Scuderia Ferrari driver Ignazio Giunti during the start of his competition career is the only road car in the collection

Scheckter post-F1 business venture Laverstoke Park Farm, a 2,500-acre organic farm in Hampshire that hosts CarFest, has been struggling during recent financially challenging times

Home to CarFest, the 2,500 acre organic farm posted a public company message at the start of the year announcing the closure of Laverstoke’s buffalo farm and diary manufacturing due to ‘unprecedented levels of cost increases’.

With no reserve prices set, buyers will be parting with huge sums of cash to get a piece of the most exciting decade of race car development the sport has ever seen. 

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk