Posted on December 17, 2018.
Report and pictures by Keith Bluemel
The Collection de Voitures de S.A.S. Le Prince de Monaco, in Fontvieille, Monaco, is hosting an exhibition of Ferraris between 03 December 2018 and 15 March 2019, which spans no less than 47 models produced over the years. The exhibition was inaugurated by Prince Albert II of Monaco, and guests in attendance for the opening ceremony included Ferrari Chairman John Elkann, ex-Ferrari F1 driver Jean Alesi and Ferrari F1 driver for the 2019 season Charles Leclerc.
The earliest example on display is a 1952 225 S Vignale Spider, together with another three ‘50s sports racing cars, all in differing hues of deep red, within the display, through to a F12 TdF and a LaFerrari Aperta. As Monaco is synonymous with F1 races it was unthinkable that there wouldn’t be an array of F1 cars bearing the Cavallino Rampante badge, and visitors won’t be disappointed. There are a total of eight examples within the exhibition, ranging from the last of the front engine era cars, the 246 F1, through to a 640 F1from 1989, plus a Dino 166 F2/246 Tasman. There is also a very nice selection of sports racing and GT race cars, which includes examples of the legendary 250 GTO, a 512 S in “Coda Lungo” (Long Tail) Le Mans configuration, a 312 P(B) which won the World Championship for Makes for Ferrari in 1972, and an example of Ferrari’s last sports racing car, the F333 SP.
Apart from the racing cars there is also an eclectic array of road and road/race cars on display, which span from a 1957 250 GT S1 PF Cabriolet through to the previously mentioned LaFerrari Aperta, with a 250 GT TdF Berlinetta, a pair of 250 GT SWB Berlinettas, a 250 LM, plus examples of all the limited production supercars, i.e. GTO (288), F40, F50 and Enzo along the way.
It is certainly an exhibition going out of the way for should you happen to be anywhere nearby, or even making a special trip to see, as it provides a broad overview of the company’s road and racing car output over the years in a very elegant setting.
Apart from the Ferrari exhibition, the Collection de Voitures de S.A.S. Le Prince de Monaco, is worth a visit on its own for any classic car enthusiast, with a wide variety of vehicles, from horse drawn coaches to an array of F1 cars. One final point, please don’t get too distressed by three cubes of “art metal” just inside the main entrance, but they are the remains of a trio of Ferraris, a pair of 250 GTEs and a 330 GT 2+2, but I’m sure that their vital organs live on elsewhere.
A listing of the Ferraris in the Exhibition is posted here.
Further details on opening times and admission prices can be found at www.mtcc.mc