Now is the time to see all the astounding machines Bernie Ecclestone has in his collection
Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is a well known figure but has recently made headlines by selling his legendary 69-car collection to Red Bull heir Mark Mateschitz for an unfathomable number. While many of us can only dream of owning any one of these cars, there may be some good news ahead with the new buyer.
In late 2024, the 94 year old Ecclestone announced that he would be selling his prized collection. The fleet includes some of the most iconic cars in Formula 1 history, such as Ferraris raced by world champions Niki Lauda, Mike Hawthorn and Michael Schumacher, Brabhams driven by Carlos Pace, Lauda and Nelson Piquet and a unique Brabham-Alfa Romeo raced only once.
Moreover, despite significant interest from sovereign wealth funds, the collection was sold to Mark Mateschitz, the billionaire son of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz. After his father’s passing in October 2022, Mateschitz inherited his father’s 49 percent stake in Red Bull and states that he is committed to making the collection accessible to the public.
If this is true, enthusiasts worldwide are likely squealing with glee. While the exact price of the sale was not revealed, Tom Hartley Jr., who brokered the deal, told BBC Sport that it was “the largest single transaction ever concluded in the car collecting world and by several multiples.” The collection has been valued at approximately £500 million (about RM2.2 million).
Ecclestone expressed his satisfaction with the sale, emphasizing that the cars had gone to a “good home.” In an interview with Reuters, he stated, “They’ll present them somewhere, into a museum so people can have a look at them for a change, which has never happened before.”
On top of that, he added that he was happy with the outcome, as he did not want to leave the collection for his wife, Fabiana, to manage after his death. Ecclestone noted that he was glad the cars would be displayed in a museum, ensuring they would be preserved for future generations to appreciate.
Mark Mateschitz echoed Ecclestone’s sentiment in a statement to the Daily Mail, saying, “I am very pleased that Bernie has placed his trust in me to take care of this historically significant collection. It will be carefully preserved, expanded over the years, and in the near future, it will be made accessible to the public at an appropriate location.”
We got all this from MSN and their full article is linked here. Thank you MSN for the information and images.
