Count Volpi finds key to secret barn: prototypes for sale

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Rétromobile is always in for a surprise, and the 2019 edition will be no different. The themes (100 years of Citroen, 60 years of the Mini, 45 years of the PRV engine) may seem rather tame but we are confident the organizers will be able to surprise.And its not just the exhibition. With auctions becoming more and more important these days, Retromobile is now fiercely linked up with Artcurial for some fireworks in the sales department. How about a threesome of Serenissimas, which has not been seen in public for decades? As somebody put it: “It seems that Count Volpi finally found the key to his secret barn”, as these cars have not moved from their garage since Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata’s racing stable Scuderia Serenissima went under in 1970.

They are the 1966 Serenissima Spyder with coachwork by Fantuzzi ans 3.5-litre V8 engine designed by Alberto Massimino. The car is also known as the Serenissima Torpedo Competizione or Serenissima Jungla GT Spyder and it was entered in that year’s Le Mans 24-hours race, joining your editor’s own little project car.

Next is the 1967 Serenissima Agena (also known as the GT Strada), which was originally designed as a Grand Tourer with a mid-engined layout using a nearly similar 3.5-litre V8 design. This one has hardly seen any use and is said to be highly original coming with all of its documentation and photos detailing its history.

Last in line is the 1968 1968 Serenissima Ghia GT (also nown as the Serenissima Aghema – why do all these cars have so many names?), which is a coupé, designed Tom Tjaarda and now equipped with a V8 engine using three valves per cylinder, as developed by A. Francis. This car used a Detomaso chassis and was exhibited on the Ghia stand at the motor shows in Turin, Geneva and New York. It was Serenissima’s last attempt to rival Ferrari’s road cars. The ex-Le Mans Fantuzzi Spyder is estimated to make a price between 1.3- and 1.8 million Euros, while the other two are judged to sell somewhere in between the 400- and 600,000 Euros mark. Certainly not cheap, but a chance like this will hardly come by again?

(Words editor, pictures Rétromobile)

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