Sebastian Vettel has put up for sale his five personal Ferrari sportscars, as well as a couple of collectable Mercedes’ and a rare BMW, through Tom Hartley Junior Exquisite & Performance Cars.
The timing of the sale was picked up by our colleagues as Auto Motor und Sport, who tapped up Vettel’s press advisor Britta Röske a report that she confirmed the whole story and added that the four-time F1 world champion did not want to comment publicly about the reasons for the sale.
Needless today, this mega-sale of highly desirable cars triggers speculation: Is Vettel low on cash? Or is this some sort of snub at Ferrari? A cheeky Aston Martin marketing ploy? Or simply the Champ reducing his carbon footprint?
Of course, the timing and manner of the disposal of his cars leaves room for speculation: Does the F1 star just need space in the garage? Or is the pain of separation from Ferrari so great that he is now separating from his Italian treasures?
An Aston Martin spokesperson told AMuS: “We are not aware of any plans from Sebastian regarding his car collection and we have not made any claims in this regard?
The cars ars offered directly from Vettel, through Tom Hartley Junior Exquisite & Performance Car, are located, registered and taxes paid in Switzerland.
The new owner receives original handbooks including the service/warranty supplement, pouch, OEM torch, spare key, Ferrari car cover and history file.
The cars Vettel is parting with are pretty special:
2016 Ferrari LaFerrari (Sold)
A very late production car that was ordered by and delivered new to Sebastian. Specified with the optional extras that include; Nero roof, Alcantara upholstery with Rosso stitching throughout, medium seat cushion, ‘Vettel’ logo and prancing horse embroidered on the headrests.
Also featuring: 4-point safety harnesses, Ferrari telemetry, integrated audio system, track inner camera kit, suspension lifting system, red brake calipers, carbon fibre fog lamp, carbon fibre mirrors, carbon fibre lower part, anti-stone chipping film, sport exhaust pipes, Handly fire extinguisher plus Navtrak anti-theft system.
2004 Ferrari Enzo
1996 Ferrari F50 (Sold)
Originally delivered new to Denmark and later purchased by Sebastian in 2015, his first year at Ferrari as their number one driver. An F50 is a car we know particularly well, finding one with such low mileage is very rare, but also finding one in such original condition is even rarer.
It comes complete with its flight case, hardtop, roll hoops, tonneau cover, Ferrari ‘Red Book’ Classiche certification binder which confirms the car still retains its original chassis, body, engine and gearbox. In addition, the car also retains its original handbooks including the very important service/warranty supplement, luggage bag, spare key, Ferrari car cover, battery conditioner and documented history file.
2016 Ferrari F12TDF
Specified with optional extras that include; triple-layer paint (Giallo triplo strato), large carbon fibre racing seats, ‘Vettel’ logo and prancing horse embroidered on the headrests, coloured steering wheel, carbon fibre dashboard, yellow rev counter, passenger display, high power hi-fi system, radio navigation and Bluetooth, integrated audio system, personalisation plate, suspension lifting system, carbon fibre rear bench, inner details in Giallo, heat-insulating windscreen, 20” forged Diamond rims, yellow brake callipers.
This edition also sports: Carbon fibre filter box, carbon fibre fog lamp, engine covers in carbon fibre, engine cover signed by all the technicians who worked on the car through the production, titanium exhaust pipes, carbon fibre headlight buckets, carbon fibre under door cover, trolley set and soft bag, bag set for rear shelf, high emotion low emission, AFS System (adaptive headlights to steering), anti-stone chipping film, parking camera plus Navtrak anti-theft system.
2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale
This particular example is a very special spec car, the first new Ferrari Sebastian ever ordered. Specified at the Ferrari ‘Atelier’ with optional extras that include; special paint (metallic black with gold fleck), racing stripe in Grigio Corsa, large carbon fibre racing seats with the ‘Vettel’ logo and prancing horse embroidered on the headrests.
Other features are: interior 3D fabric colour in Grigio, 4-point safety harnesses, Alcantara central tunnel, headliner in Alcantara, coloured steering wheel, yellow rev counter, AFS System (adaptive headlights to steering), carbon fibre front flaps, engine covers in carbon fibre, rear diffuser in carbon fibre, front air vents in carbon fibre, carbon fibre side nolders, titanium exhaust pipes, Alcantara wheel arches, Handly fire extinguisher, yellow brake calipers, anti-stone chipping film, Scuderia Ferrari shields, internal and external electrochromic mirrors, cruise control, radio navigation and Bluetooth, integrated audio system, parking camera, front and rear parking sensors plus Navtrak anti-theft system.
2009 Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series
An SL65 AMG Black Series is a very special car, first unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, it’s, without doubt, the ultimate ‘SL’. With a 6.0 litre V12 with larger turbochargers, a bigger intercooler, a new exhaust system and a more suitable remapped ECU than the standard SL65 the results are an increase in power to 670bhp, a 0-60mph (0-100kph) in just 3.8 seconds and a whopping top speed of 199mph (320kph), albeit electronically limited to tame the V12 engine.
The upgraded performance was matched with equally impressive enhancements to the body and interior over the standard SL65 AMG. The ‘Black Series’ offers a weight-saving carbon fibre-reinforced bonded roof and spoiler, a widened body, 19″ forged alloys to the front and 20″ to the rear, along with carbon fibre interior upgrades complimented with Nappa leather and Alcantara. Only 350 ‘Black Series’ were ever produced and this particular example must be one of the most special of all of them.
Gifted to Sebastian for his victory at the first ever Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix and has remained within his collection ever since. Serviced in September 2020 at less than 30km ago and comes complete with its owners handbooks, pouch, spare key and history file. A very rare opportunity to own what was once the most powerful production Mercedes-Benz ever produced and the example that must boast a better provenance than any other.
2010 Mercedes SLS AMG
The SLS was the first Mercedes-Benz to ever be built entirely from the ground up by AMG. It was introduced at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and has since become a multi-award winning design with inspiration clearly echoing from the classic 300SL Gullwing of the 1950’s. A hand-built 6.2 litre naturally aspirated V8 engine was installed, with a claimed 0-60mph (0-100kph) time of just 3.7 seconds which is testament as to why it was appointed as the official Formula 1 safety car for the 2010-2012 seasons.
This particular example was ordered by and delivered new to Sebastian, it boasts a fantastic specification with optional extras that include; Magno Matte paint, AMG carbon ceramic braking system with yellow painted brake callipers, sports suspension, Exclusive Nappa leather, AMG interior carbon fibre package, AMG performance steering wheel, Bang & Olufsen surround sound system, command APS with DVD changer, reversing camera, ‘Memory package’ which includes electrically adjustable driver and passenger seat, roof lining in Dinamica black, tyre pressure monitoring system, AMG carbon fibre engine cover plus much more.
2002 BMW Z8 Roadster
Is there any better interpretation of a modern classic than a BMW Z8, probably not! Inspired by the legendary BMW 507 and starring in James Bonds ‘The World Is Not Enough’ in 1999. The Z8 took ten-times longer to produce than a contemporary BMW as it was primarily assembled by hand. All examples produced were in left-hand drive configuration and the most desired colour was Titan Silver metallic, of which only 1,895 examples were produced.
This particular example was delivered new to North America where it would reside until 2015, during that time it only had 2 previous owners. Upon Sebastian’s purchase it was officially imported into Switzerland and later sent to BMW Classic where included in the works, the electronics were changed from U.S. to ECE spec and has remained within his collection since.