Mansell selling classic F1 collection

It’s not every day the chance comes up to buy a genuine piece of Formula 1 history, but news that Nigel Mansell has decided to part with his car collection actually brings about two shots at owning a grand prix icon.

Mansell has consigned several of his own cars for auction with RM Sotheby’s in Monaco on May 14, and there’s some real gems to be had for those with deep enough pockets.

Perhaps the most iconic is the Williams FW14 that Mansell took to five victories during 1991, giving him the momentum for his title charge the following season. But even beyond that, this is the actual ‘Taxi for Senna’ car, which handed the Brazilian legend a lift during the British Grand Prix. Sans its Renault V10 engine, it’s estimated to fetch between £1.8m-£2.5m.

Then there’s the 1989 Ferrari 640, with its V12 engine and revolutionary semi-automatic gearbox. After being the final grand prix driver personally selected by Enzo Ferrari himself, Mansell repaid that faith by winning on his debut in Brazil. Entirely complete, the Ferrari is expected to be the most costly, with an estimate of £2m-£4m.

Other cars include the bizarrely cool 1990 iC Modulo M89 three-wheeler that Mansell was given as a gift after he drove it around the paddock at the 1992 Italian GP. There’s a Birkin 7 kit car and even a V8-powered Reynard Champ Car.