Five incredible hypercars up for grabs in Sunday’s Bonhams Bonmont auction
What a garage… top of the range cars from Bugatti, Koenigsegg, McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin. Obviously the collection of a passionate, and very well heeled, enthusiast. There was just one problem: the cars were paid for using state funds.
The amazing collection of the world’s greatest hypercars was bought by one man, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, in a supercar-buying splurge epic in its scale. Mange is the vice-president of Equatorial Guinea in West Africa and son of that country’s president.
After a corruption investigation into the playboy politician’s lavish taste, the cars were confiscated in 2016 by the authorities in Switzerland where this ultimate supercar collection was stored. Mangue has since been convicted in France of misappropriation of state funds.
All of which left the Swiss authorities with a problem: what to do with all those lovely cars? The answer was to get Bonhams in to auction them on its behalf in a supercar sale of the century. Around 25 cars will go under the hammer at the Bonmont Golf & Country Club near Geneva on 29 September 2019. All are being offered at no reserve.
The 25 cars comprise hypercars, supercars and luxury limousines from most of the best makers. Bonhams estimates the sale will make in excess of €12m (£10 million), and it is reported the proceeds will fund social programmes to help people in Equatorial Guinea.
Here’s our top six cars from the sale. The least expensive car here is a Bugatti Veyron!
Lamborghini Veneno, €4.4-5m
The ultimate rare modern-day Lamborghini, the Veneno was produced to commemorate Lamborghini’s 50th anniversary in 2013, complete with Italian flag motifs. Just five coupes were built while the car up for grabs – which has covered 200 miles – is one of the nine roadsters produced.
La Ferrari, €2.3-2.5m
The famous Ferrari hybrid, with its F1-derived technology, has covered just 600 miles.
Koenigsegg One:1, €1.6-2.0m
The rarest car in the collection, only six One:1s were built by the Swedish manufacturer. Described at the time as the world’s first mega car, its name references its one megawatt (1341bhp) of power, exactly equalling its weight for the ideal power/weight ratio. Distance driven: 375 miles.
McLaren P1, €1.3-1.6m
Acclaimed British hybrid hypercar with 600 miles on the clock, in McLaren yellow. One of only 375 made.
Aston Martin One 77, €1.2-1.6m
Number 35 of 77. Aston Martin’s flagship carbon-fibre and aluminium hypercar was produced in a limited run between 2009 and 2012, featuring a 7.3-litre V12 engine for a 220mph top speed.
Bugatti Veyron 16.4, €600-800,000
Still right up there for top speed and acceleration (250mph-plus and 0-62 in 2.5 seconds), this example of the mighty Veyron is finished in Atlantic Blue and has covered 3000 miles.
Bonhams
Bonhams Bonmont
Lake Geneva
Switzerland
Lamborghini
Veneno
Ferrari
LaFerrari
Koenigsegg
One:1
McLaren
P1
Aston Martin
One 77
Bugatti
Veyron
auction
