Keith Richards’ 1972 Ferrari up for sale
What was once rock legend’s Keith Richards’ brand new car can now be your newest reason to brag.
The old 1972 Ferrari of the Rolling Stones guitarist is now looking for a new owner, and priced at $500,000.
Richards, now 79, drove the car more than 25,000 miles before the keys to the Ferrari Dino were handed over to a private Japanese collector in the 1980s.
At the time the car was released, it would have cost around $7,055 to purchase, equivalent to $12,750 today.
But now, the vintage fast car is expected to rake in up to $500,000 at auction, which means it could sell for some 70 times its original retail price.
The motor of the car is described as being “Argento Metallizzato,” meaning metallic silver with the interior made with worn, black leather seats.
Richards used the E-series whip for personal transportation during a European tour.
With a top speed of 146 mph, the car will be up for auction at RM Sothebys in Monterey, California on Aug. 17.
“Fast cars have defined the rock and roll lifestyle since the musical genre’s very beginnings,” the listing reads. ”It is hardly surprising, then, that the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards, one of rock’s undisputed all-time greats, would gravitate toward the Ferrari Dino 246 GT, one of the 20th century’s all-time greatest sports cars.”
“Like Richards himself, the Ferrari Dino — the brilliantly balanced, V-6-powered machine with gorgeous Scaglietti bodywork — needs little introduction.
”Its 2.4-litre engine produced up to 192 horsepower, and it was paired with a five-speed gearbox.”
The listing continues: “Richards shipped his Dino to England in 1975 and registered it on the plates ‘GYL 157N.’”
A spokesman at Coys’ Monaco auction told the Gentleman’s Journal: “A Dino offered at no reserve is rare enough in itself, but when one adds to this proven long-term ownership by rock and roll aristocracy, the Keith Richards car has to be the ultimate Dino.”
When the car returned to Europe in 2014, it was last acquired by musician Liam Howlett, co-founder of British EDM band “The Prodigy.”
A letter from Rolling Stones’ touring manager Alan Dunn dated April 25, 1986 comes with the car, describing Richards’ initial purchase, his ownership and the recorded mileage (25,122) at the time of its sale into a private collection in Japan.
It now has 30,037 miles.
“The Ferrari was carefully maintained through the ownership of two subsequent caretakers, and it presents today much as it did when acquired by Richards in 1972,” the listing states.
