Ferrari Always Delivers

Monaco Car Auctions reviews the second edition of the ASTAROSSA, its auction dedicated exclusively to Ferrari that took place on June 8 in Monaco.

For its 2024 edition, ASTAROSSA organized by Laurent Blomet highlighted the universe of collecting, beyond automobiles, offering an eclectic catalog that mixed artworks and collectible items, all related to Ferrari, starting at amounts around 50 euros. A neon sign reading “F40” was sold for over 17,000 euros.

Among the sales of this edition, we notably note a true rarity with the ASA 1000 GT sold for 72,800 euros. A car that does not wear the Ferrari badge yet is part of the history of the Maranello brand. In the late 1950s, Ferrari came up with the idea to create a smaller and more affordable GT, which became a reality in 1959. Enzo Ferrari personally used it to test under the registration Prova M031, before a second version was presented at the Bertone stand at the 1961 Turin Motor Show. Under the designation “1000”, the design was done by Giorgetto Giugiaro, and the engine, a 4-cylinder 1,032cc, benefited from a typical Ferrari design, looking almost like 2/3 of a 250 GT bench. But months passed and no logo adorned the hood of the prototype. When it became evident that Ferrari would never make it a model under the Cavallino Rampante, Niccolò de Nora, the son of a prominent Milanese industrialist and a customer of the brand, acquired the rights to manufacture and market the 1000. He then created ASA (Autocostruzioni, Società per Azioni) and the production prototype was presented at the 1962 Turin Motor Show under the name ASA 1000 GT.

World in Red

Enzo Ferrari had a keen sense as commercial success was not achieved, and fewer than 100 units were produced before the company’s closure in 1967. However, the concept was relaunched with more success under the name Dino.

In the end, more than 73% of the lots in the catalog were sold, including 94% for automobilia, the collectible items on which Monaco Car Auctions focused this year.

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