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Ultra-rare, poster-worthy supercars from the world’s most prestigious brands are seriously hot property right now. Know how we know that? Because we’ve just sold both a 1996 Ferrari F50 and a 1994 Bugatti EB110GT. We asked Max for the inside line… 

With just two Italian owners from new and a meticulous 100,000-euro refresh under its belt, the 1996 Ferrari F50 we recently sold was the best example we’d ever encountered. From sharp snout to tall tail, every inch of the car was flawless.  The 1994 Bugatti EB110 was special in that it was a road-biased GT model fitted from new with several features from the track-focused Super Sport version, including the lightweight wheels and carbon-fibre front splitter. Just 115 of these technological tours de force left the magnificent Bugatti factory in Campogalliano between 1991 and ’95, until the marque collapsed in spectacular fashion.

But on a more general level, why have these rare and exotic 1990s supercars become so much more desirable in the last five years and just who are the collectors snapping them up? “Not only are these modern-era supercars dramatic to look at, relatively easy to drive and genuinely useable, but compared to the most sought-after ‘traditional’ classics from the 1950s and ’60s, they can be considered good value,” Max explains. “There are some 300 Ferrari 275 GTB/4s and just 349 F50s. They’re similarly rare cars, yet the latter is currently worth almost half as much. That’s a difference I expect to balance in the future.” Max also points out that neither the F50 nor the EB110 have ever been dirt cheap to the point of being almost abandoned – a fate suffered by many great old Ferraris, from GTOs to 850 Monzas. “These have always been very valuable cars and we shouldn’t think that their demand has risen from the ashes.” 

“When we refer to younger collectors, everybody thinks we’re talking about age, but we’re also talking about experience.”

In terms of market demographic, Max is confident in saying it’s younger collectors who’re getting excited about these supercars. But younger not only in years. “When we refer to younger collectors, everybody thinks we’re talking about age, but we’re also talking about experience. “Of course, younger buyers are becoming old and wealthy enough to buy the cars that were on their bedroom walls. But for people who are beginning to collect cars, an F50 or an EB110 is more approachable buy. Especially if they already have a Chiron or a LaFerrari – a 1990s predecessor, which comes from a clear lineage that’s recognised by its manufacturer today and is poised to continue tomorrow, is a more logical place to start than, say, a Type 35 or a 750 Monza.” 

Incidentally, this lineage adds another dimension to these 1990s supercars’ desirability. The modern-era VW-owned Bugatti, for example, has finally recognised the EB110. Centodieci, anyone? And Ferrari’s sequence of ‘halo’ supercars will no doubt continue. And when it does, the Prancing Horse will no doubt harp on about its new flagship’s predecessors. This only casts further light on these cars from the not-so-distant past and educates more collectors about their role in their makers’ stories. Above all, the Ferrari F50 and Bugatti EB110 are both truly great cars – as unforgettable to drive as they are to look at. It’s for these reasons that they will always hold a reserved space in our dream garages. And we know we’re not the only ones! There’s a bright future ahead. Photos: Pietro Bianchi for Girardo & Co. Click here to find out more about the Ferrari F50 we’ve just sold and click here for more on the Bugatti EB110GT. Alternatively, browse our current available cars by clicking here.