In recent years there have been several auctions of some single-seaters that have written the history of Formula 1, some of which are symbolic of certain decades or golden periods of a certain team. At the end of this year, it will be the turn of the famous Lotus 79 to end up in the hands of a new owner, with the latter being able to win it on the occasion of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023, the final appointment of the upcoming season scheduled for November 24th to 26th. Specifically, the event will be organized by the auction house Bonhamswhich estimates the transfer at an inclusive figure between 6.5 and 9.5 million dollars.
A portion that includes significant historical aspects: the car, the last one Black Beauty existing, was the one that brought the seventh and last constructors’ world title to the English team in the trophy case 1978all thanks to the performance of Ronnie Peterson, (who unfortunately died in the hours following the Italian Grand Prix) and above all of Mario Andretti. The single-seater, famous for its black livery and gold sponsors, was the same number 5 driven to triumph by the Italian-American driver, winner of six races and crowned world champion in that season for the first and only time in his career . Designed by Geoff Aldridge and Martin Ogilvie, the car found success also thanks to the effectiveness of the 3.0-litre Ford-Cosworth DFV V8 engine, but it set the pace above all from an aerodynamic point of view, with the study and introduction of the ‘ground effect.
Undoubtedly a superlative example of the history of Formula 1, which according to the estimates advanced by Bonhams itself, which will handle its sale, has no chance of beating the record of most valuable Formula 1 single-seaters auctioned: in 2013, in fact, a lucky (and very rich) collector appropriated the Mercedes Benz W196 winner of the 1954 Swiss and German Grands Prix driven by Juan Manuel Fangio at around $29.60 million, no Formula 1 car has ever been sold for these figures.
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