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 3-10 March, with an estimate of €150,000-200,000 (£130,000-170,000).
The Porsche – one of 1,200 964 Carrera 2 Convertible Works Tubo 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-litre Carrera 2 engine, with top speed of 260 km/h – 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 180 km/h in the city centre.
See also: 10 Most Expensive Classic Cars Ever Sold at Auction
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 Majorca, who kept it for twenty 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 c. 120,000 kms since new.
Paul Darvill, Bonhams European Auctions Manager, said, “We are delighted to present this quintessential 90s Porsche with its very colourful and unique provenance, which will appeal to many football enthusiast collectors worldwide.”
More than sixty 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 twenty 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 28 February, with an estimate of €120,000-150,000 (£103,000-130,000).
