WilliamsF1 has recently announced that a hand-picked selection of more than 20 of the WilliamsF1’s Reserve Collection of Formula One cars and memorabilia, spanning the company’s entire 28-year history, will be sold at its factory headquarters in Grove, England, on December 14, 2005, by auction house Bonhams.
WilliamsF1’s headquarters in Oxfordshire is home to one of the world’s foremost private collections of Formula One cars, tracing the seminal moments in the team’s history over a quarter of a century. Exhibited in a purpose-built interactive museum opened in 2002, the Williams Grand Prix Collection is a commitment to preserve and maintain a detailed account of the company’s illustrious past.
The company’s inventory has grown relentlessly, with every season of competition adding a number of chassis, which have been retained by the company. Over the past two years, plans have been developed to consolidate the museum displays, and it is the WilliamsF1 Reserve Collection which is now to be offered for sale by Bonhams.
Star lots to be offered will include the Williams Honda FW10B in which Nigel Mansell won his inaugural Grand Prix at Brands Hatch in 1985, Mansell’s FW14B in which he won six Grands Prix en route to his World Championship title in 1992, Damon Hill’s FW18 from his World Championship season in 1996, as well as cars with Grand Prix-winning history in the hands of such drivers as Riccardo Patrese, Alain Prost, Jacques Villeneuve, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher.
WilliamsF1’s Team Principal, Frank Williams, commented: “I am delighted our long-standing policy of retaining our racecars allows us to both maintain a world-class museum collection and release some racecars with impeccable provenance from our Reserve Collection to private collectors. In addition to the 20 racecars, there are some interesting additional items such as Renault Clio Williams chassis no. 0001 and around 100 other items which I hope will make the sale of great interest.” For more information contact James Knight (+44) (0)207 447 7440 or visit www.bonhams.com.
