RM Auctions to offer the historic Ferrari-Powered Hydroplane "ARNO XI" in Monaco auction
With the combining dynamics of aeronautic vehicles, and the vessels of the sea, one is left to wonder exactly how these diverse facets of engineering combine together on a common platform. Well, Ferrari had done it in the 1950’s, and that very creation from the Italian carmaker’s factory, is set to go on auction at the Monaco Auction in May this year. The 1953 Ferrari Hydroplane ARNO XI is now on the auction block, along with other such rare specimens of automotive genius. The Hydroplane ARNO XI which combined the designing expertise of Achille Castoldi, and the engineering genius of the Ferrari Company into this piece of automotive genius. The auction event is being undertaken by RM Auctions.
The history of this machine dates back to the early 1950’s when Achille Castoldi had approached Ferrari through his close friends Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi, who were the famous driving pair for the Italian car brand at the Grand Prix races. Jointly they convinced, Enzo Ferrari to lend their automotive expertise to this design, which ultimately resulted in the Hydroplane ARNO XI, which then achieved what it was meant to; a speed record in the waters, when it touched 241.7 km/ph at the Lake Iseo in North Italy, which still happens to be a record.Apart from the aerodynamics, the boat had an engine which was at par with most of the powerful Ferrari car models, in this case more specifically with the Type 375 Grand Prix, which also gave Jose Froilan Gonzalez a victory at the Grand Prix World Championships in 1951. This meant that a 12-cylinder 4,500 cc engine was generating most of the power, apart from the additional 502 BHP superchargers, meant to lend that extra thrust to the vessel.
But this wasn’t the end of the journey for the boat. Nando dell’Orto purchased this vessel, and won several races with it, and recorded many further laps, the records for many of which stand to this day. However, by 1960 the sports career for the Hydroplane drew to an end, with accolades at multiple European races. It finally landed within the hands of the current owner who has invested in it over the years, to keep it virtually in top-notch condition, more precisely Concours de Elegance class. With the auction event in May, the future owner can hope for some additional memorabilia as well, which documents the entire journey since purchase till date. So much has been the attraction already, that experts are estimating the winning bids to be between €1 million- €1.5 million ($1.32 million- $2 million). Let’s see what the event brings in, finally!
Via: Live Auction/ Rushlane
