Photo: H&H Classics
Businessman and classic car collector Richard Colton, who died earlier this year aged 82, made what could easily represent one of the most generous donations a charity ever received. The wealthy entrepreneur, who was said to be nervous of the sea, donated a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB and 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 to benefit the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
The rare beauties recently headed to one of Britain’s oldest classic car auction houses, where they will go under the hammer on October 14. The sale will take place at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire - Europe’s largest historic aviation center - and the funds will go towards the RNLI’s lifesaving work around the coast of the UK and Republic of Ireland.
We always appreciate these types of gestures, because let’s face it, there are few wealthy people that would ever make such donations. But the cars themselves is what we want to talk about.
First, the Ferrari 250 GT SWB. It's widely considered as one of the most beautiful cars in the world. A rarity that easily sits next to iconic breeds such as the 250 Testa Rossa and 250 GTO, this beauty certainly is one of the most valuable of such. Back in the day, the 3.0-liter GT racing car was the fastest money could buy, as it combines low weight, high power, well-sorted suspension and four-wheel disc brakes in perfect harmony.
Colton bought the Rosso Corsa and registered it under “574 NOT” in the late 1970s. He covered some 60,000 miles in it and even attended the Ferrari 50th Anniversary celebrations at Maranello in June 1997.
If the first did not impress you, the second sure will. The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is one of the only 350 breeds ever created and one of a mere 27 supplied new to the UK market. We’re looking at a model the famous Steve McQueen used to drive, widely regarded as the best all-around GT car of the 1960s.
A man that loved his cars on the road rather than parking them in a garage, Richard Colton proceeded to drive this one extensively throughout the UK and Europe. Similar to its stablemate 250 GT SWB, the Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is now showing 78,000 miles on its odometer.
The two classic beauties are estimated to value at least $3 million, but the auction will most likely raise that amount big time. For those interested, further details can be consulted in the press release below.
As to the proceedings, Richard Colton requested the money raised to also be used to build a new lifeboat called Richard and Caroline Colton, named after himself and his late wife. In a way, these two Ferraris will turn from sportscars to live savers, which is kind of cool.
We always appreciate these types of gestures, because let’s face it, there are few wealthy people that would ever make such donations. But the cars themselves is what we want to talk about.
First, the Ferrari 250 GT SWB. It's widely considered as one of the most beautiful cars in the world. A rarity that easily sits next to iconic breeds such as the 250 Testa Rossa and 250 GTO, this beauty certainly is one of the most valuable of such. Back in the day, the 3.0-liter GT racing car was the fastest money could buy, as it combines low weight, high power, well-sorted suspension and four-wheel disc brakes in perfect harmony.
Colton bought the Rosso Corsa and registered it under “574 NOT” in the late 1970s. He covered some 60,000 miles in it and even attended the Ferrari 50th Anniversary celebrations at Maranello in June 1997.
If the first did not impress you, the second sure will. The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is one of the only 350 breeds ever created and one of a mere 27 supplied new to the UK market. We’re looking at a model the famous Steve McQueen used to drive, widely regarded as the best all-around GT car of the 1960s.
A man that loved his cars on the road rather than parking them in a garage, Richard Colton proceeded to drive this one extensively throughout the UK and Europe. Similar to its stablemate 250 GT SWB, the Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is now showing 78,000 miles on its odometer.
The two classic beauties are estimated to value at least $3 million, but the auction will most likely raise that amount big time. For those interested, further details can be consulted in the press release below.
As to the proceedings, Richard Colton requested the money raised to also be used to build a new lifeboat called Richard and Caroline Colton, named after himself and his late wife. In a way, these two Ferraris will turn from sportscars to live savers, which is kind of cool.
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