20 years ago this week Gianni Agnelli passed following a battle with prostate cancer in Turin.
In the preceding 81 years, the famed Italian industrialist known as L'Avvocato (The Lawyer) was one of the most distinctive and distinguished characters of Italian history, so much so that at one point he was responsible for 4.4% of Italy's GDP.
From wearing his wristwatch over his cuff to wearing hiking boots with his suits to bespoke one-off cars, his story is worth reading. For now, here are 5 Agnelli family cars that have sold at auction:
1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo I Martini 6
Owned by Gianni Agnelli himself, this vehicle in particular has a series of unique finishes to distinguish it from others in the 310 strong Martini 6 production line. The primary of which are a blue-printed engine, competition suspension, electric rear wing and full length brake vents on the front wings.
Sale Price: £92,960
Sale Date: 12th March 2016
Auction House: Historics
1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II by Pinin Farina
This Series II was delivered new to Umberto Agnelli, Gianni's youngest brother and Chairman of Fiat from 1980 - 1990. As with almost all of the Agnelli cars a series of special features are at play, a 250 GTE-style ‘frenched’ headlamps, a special 400 Superamerica Cabriolet-style interior, with bespoke upholstery and a unique dashboard configuration. The car stayed with Agnelli until later in the 60s before travelling the world with various owners in Florida, New York, Hong Kong and England.
Sale Price: £1,260,776
Sale Date: 9th September 2017
Auction House: RM Sotheby's
1993 Panda 4x4 Trekking
It's the mid 90s, you've more money than whole Italian regions combined - how do you relax? Easy. Skiing in St Moritz with your Panda 4x4.
That's the route Gianni Agnelli chose after having this Panda delivered new to him in 1993, it was his St Moritz runaround until 2001. The vehicle has further Agnelli connections having been customised at Garage Italia Milano - Garage Italia was owned by Lapo Elkann, Gianni's grandson.
Sale Price: £27,520
Sale Date: 15th November 2019
Auction House: Aste Bolaffi
1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spider Valeo
Perhaps the most famed of all Agnelli's cars - the Testarossa Spider. A number of wealthy collectors commissions coachbuilders to craft a Spider for themselves - the Sultan of Brunei - being one such collector.
However, Ferrari themselves never crafted one.
That was until they needed a gift to mark the anniversary of Gianni Agnelli taking over the multinational company FIAT S.p.A. Built by Ferrari in under four months in 1986, Agnelli owned the car until 1991 where he sold it to a family friend. Story goes the purchaser regularly played poker with Gianni and whilst on his way to a party with Agnelli, the purchaser saw the Spider and a deal was done.
Sale Price: £930,914
Sale Date: 5th February 2016
Auction House: Artcurial
1956 Fiat Eden Roc
Now we're talking. The Eden Roc was an intended one-off vehicle produced for Gianni Agnelli himself. Pininfarina took a 600 Multipla, widened it to create the Eden Roc. Powered by 50 horses from a 962cc motor it's delightful.
Showcased for the first time at the 1956 Paris Motor Show as Agnelli's personal car it took the fancy of an American oil man who decided he'd rather like one too and commissioned another example - this is the vehicle sold today - not Agnelli's.
Selling for £422,4000 back in 2015, Agnelli's personal car is likely to be well over half a million today.
Sale Price: £422,400
Sale Date: 16th August 2015
Auction House: Gooding & Co
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