Evaluation: This 1993 Benneton-Ford F1 car is represented as one of only two of these B193B cars currently running anywhere in the world and contested five of that year’s Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix races. Race driven by Ricardo Patrese and used in qualifying by Michael Schumacher this original chassis has wonderful provenance. Detuned and passively set up for useable demonstration driving.
Very good paint, no chips at all. The driver’s seat and controls are in good order. The harnesses looked aged and probably require replacement. The suspension, wings and what you can see of the engine all look in good order but the tires look older and dimpled. As always with older F1 cars thorough commissioning is needed before the full power can be unleashed.
Bottom Line: It is a big selling point that this is a modern F1 car in running driving condition and not just garage candy with provenance. It was run as recently as the Goodwood Members’ Meeting only a few months ago. Modern F1 cars are showing up to auction with more regularity lately, most recently two ex-Nigel Mansell cars in Monaco and an ex-Alain Prost Renault at the Le Mans Classic.
Value for such things is very much down to history, so the Benetton’s usability is very appealing but its Schumacher history is minimal and Ricardo Patrese may be a six-time Grand Prix winner, but he doesn’t have the same cachet with collectors. That’s why Mansell’s cars sold big (€3,605,000/$3,752,805 for his 1989 Ferrari 640 and €4,055,000/$4,220,255 for his 1991 Williams FW14) even if they weren’t running. The reported high bid here could have been taken if there was money close to it.
