Alain Delon and the Scandalous Ferrari

The immense French actor Alain Delon passed away this morning. A lover of cars, particularly Ferraris.

In February 2015, the auction house Artcurial presented a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider during its Retromobile auction. A car purchased in November 1971 by Jacques Baillon, which was part of the prestigious collection started in the 1950s by his father, Roger Baillon. Jacques Baillon drove very little with the Ferrari, which, like most of his cars, quickly ended up stored away before nearly being forgotten.

When the auction house’s experts stumbled upon this marvel, its body showed the marks of time. This is known as “a barn find,” the discovery of a beautiful forgotten piece. But these sharp-eyed classic car detectives found a delightful detail that gives this car a very particular value. A copy of the Monegasque registration certificate in the name of actor Alain Delon proves that he was the owner, registering it precisely on May 23, 1963, in the Principality.

Delon sent the Ferrari to the United States where he was living at the time. It can be seen in many period photos with either the actor behind the wheel or his wife Natalie. In July 1965, Alain Delon parted ways with the California Ferrari and entrusted the sale to a specialist in luxury cars. It was purchased on August 2, 1965, for the sum of 30,000 francs while the car had only recorded 37,000 km.

Ferrari and Delon, an explosive union

50 years later, Artcurial offered the car at auction with an expert estimate between 9,500,000 and 12,000,000 euros! Cars marked with the Cavalino Rampante are particularly unique objects of speculation. Naturally, all communication regarding the sale revolves around this car and its prestigious owner, which puts the actor in a furious mood. We understand him well, as he was the owner of this car for only 2 years out of its 54-year existence, and especially since this sale will not earn him a single cent while his image is being excessively exploited with this “Delon’s California Ferrari.” “The auction house is using my name to drive up the prices. I had this Ferrari from 1963 to 1965, during the filming of The Leopard. I sold it 50 years ago!” exclaimed Alain Delon in anger. “I only owned it for two years.”

But nothing could stop the sale. Delon knew this and eventually let go. On February 6, 2015, the hammer of Hervé Poulain, the fastest auctioneer in France, came down in front of an overheated room after fierce bidding. The car was sold for 16,288,000 euros.