The first car in which motor racing legend Michael Schumacher made his mark is coming to auction next month. The 1991 Jordan-Ford 191 Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater 191-6 takes pole position on the saleroom grid in Paris next week as part of Bonhams Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris sale – with an estimate of €1,400,000-2,000,000.
The seven-time F1 World Champion – who currently holds this record jointly with Lewis Hamilton – finished eighth in the first practice session of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps in August 1991, which was his first outing for the newly formed Jordan team.
Also having its first outing was the Jordan-Ford, launched by the former Formula 3000 team, powered by a Ford-Cosworth V6 circa 650 hp HB engine and voted the best looking F1 car of all time.
Driven by teammate Andrea De Cesaris in that same Belgian Grand Prix, Chassis 191-6 moved up the grid to second place behind Ayrton Senna – before engine failure struck with just two laps to go. Schumacher, who had started in seventh, was forced to retire in the opening lap. This was Schumacher’s only appearance with the Jordan team as he was snapped up by Benetton F1 before the next GP in Italy.
Meanwhile and for the remainder of the season, Chassis 191-6 served as a spare for De Cesaris and the Jordan team, who finished fifth in the Constructor’s World Championship that season.
Since then, the Chassis has been kept by several collectors, and it was driven by Mick Schumacher at Silverstone to mark the anniversary of the launch of his father’s F1 career.
Philip Kantor, International Chairman, Bonhams Collector Cars, said: “This is an unmissable opportunity to follow in the tyre tracks of a racing legend and own a piece of F1 history.”
Also coming to the sale are several important cars that have competed in the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans – which this year celebrates its centenary. Leading this group is a 1948 Talbot-Lago “Chambas” T26, Grand Sport, with an estimate of €2,000,000 – 2,500,000.
This T26 competed five times in the renowned race and is believed to hold the record as the two-seater Talbot with the most Le Mans starts. With known provenance from new, this car is eligible for the most prestigious historic motor sports events including the Le Mans Classic and Mille Miglia Storica – and, of course, this year’s Le Mans centenary celebrations in June.
Other highlights of the sale include:
1972 De Tomaso Pantera Group 4 Coupé, estimate €650,000 – 850,000 – and also eligible for the Le Mans Centenary. This car, in exceptional original condition, qualified the fastest of the Panteras in the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans
1937 Maserati 4CM Monoposto, chassis 1128, estimate €1,100,000 – 1,400,000. Delivered new in 1937 to Johnny Lurani, one of the founder members of Scuderia Ambrosiana, this car was one of the very last Tipo 4CMs produced by Maserati. Lurani enjoyed success with this Monoposto throughout the 1937 and 1938 seasons. The car took part in the 2021 and 2022 Monaco Grand Prix Historique and is eligible for the Goodwood Revival Meeting.
1963 Ford Galaxie 500 Lightweight Competition Saloon, estimate €300,000 – 400,000. One of only three lightweight Ford Galaxies prepared by NASCAR’S Holman & Moody for the British Saloon Car Championship, this car dominated the 1963 season in the hands of Jack Sears, winning its class and breaking Jaguar’s dominance. Other drivers who took the wheel included Graham Hill, who finished second at Oulton Park nine years before his victory in the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans, with which he became the only driver to date to have won motorsport’s triple crown: F1 World Championship, Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The 14th Bonhams Grandes Marques à Paris Sale, which takes place in the Grand Palais Ephémère on 1 – 2 February, is the largest edition of the sale yet, offering 150 collector cars and motorcycles and celebrating more than a century of automotive excellence and innovation. To view the sale: bonhams.com
Smith Greenfield is an independent insurance broker specialising in insurance for collectors of valuable objects including: vintage car insurance, memorabilia insurance, antiques insurance, art insurance, fine wine insurance and more. To discuss specialist insurance for your collection, please contact our Premier Client Adviser, Imran Moideen, via email imran.moideen@smithgreenfield.co.uk or telephone 020 8603 3730.
Image: The Ex-Michael Schumacher DEBUT/Andrea de Cesaris/Alessandro Zanardi 1991 Jordan-Ford 191 Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater © Bonhams