Not all sporting greats reach legendary status, but football icon Diego Maradona certainly did – and off the pitch, he was known to appreciate iconic and exotic motorcars. One such example was his 1992 Porsche 911 Type 964 Carrera 2 Convertible Works Turbo Looks, which is going to auction at Bonhams in Paris from March 3-10, with an estimate of €150,000-200,000 ($180,000-240,000).
The Porsche – one of 1,200 964 Carrera 2 Convertible Works Turbo Look variants produced in a two-year run – was delivered new to ‘El Diego’ in Seville in November 1992, during his last season of European football (this was after he was secured by Seville’s team manager and former Argentina Coach Carlos Bilardo for a fee of c. €5 million). This is the first time it is heading to auction.
The Porsche – powered by a 250bhp 3.6-liter Carrera 2 engine, with top speed of 155 mph – was a regular sight to fans on Maradona’s drive to and from football training. He was once famously stopped in it by armed police when he drove through a red light at a speed of 111 mph in the city center.
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Maradona left the Seville club in June 1993, when he was recalled to Argentina’s national team. The Porsche was sold to a private owner on the island of Mallorca, who kept it for 20 years before it passed through the hands of several French collectors.
It has been owned by the present vendor since 2016 and is offered in well-preserved condition, having covered 75,000 miles since new.
Paul Darvill, Bonhams European Auctions Manager, said, “We are delighted to present this quintessential 90s Porsche with its very colorful and unique provenance, which will appeal to many football enthusiast collectors worldwide.”
More than 60 collectors' cars have been consigned to Bonhams’ digital ‘Motor Cars’ March auction, including a 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series II with an estimate of €450,000-600,000, and a 1938 Peugeot 402 DES Darl'mat Special Sport, one of 20 remaining roadsters, estimated at €350,000-550,000.
Maradona and car fans will also appreciate the 2016 Rolls-Royce Ghost, once owned by the footballer which is also available for bidding. This model is to be sold at RM Sotheby's online on February 28, with an estimate of €120,000-150,000 ($145,000-180,000).
