Michael Schumacher’s Personal Ferrari F355 GTS Heads to AuctionThe ultimate bond: the driving legend and their chosen steed the relationship between a legend of the road and their personally owned vehicle gives us a truly unique insight into what lies behind the helmet of the man, out of his element, away from the sheer blistering speeds of the racetrack. Especially when that legend is a certain Mr. Michael Schumacher and that steed is something as iconic as a Ferrari. It is now, once in a blue moon for a fortunate enthusiast, the chance is available to not only become the custodian of one of the 1990s absolute greatest supercar but a genuine piece of motor-sporting history. That opportunity comes with this stunning 1996 Ferrari F355 GTS that was originally supplied new to the 7 times F1 world champion. It is not simply just an F355 though for both driver and manufacturer, this car is a statement of intent. The 90’s era was the pivotal point where the most talented Schumacher defected from his successful stints at Benetton with both of his titles, to kick start a whole new era of F1 dominence with the Maranello marque. It was also when Ferrari produced the stunning F355 which completely revolutionized the line up from the older and somewhat tired 348.1. The Ferrari F355 Was a Landmark Car The Ferrari F355 was one of those cars that simply blew the doors off the mid-engined sports car world. It required 1,300+ hours in the wind tunnel to shave its shape down for the perfect airflow. The F355 used a stiff steel monocoque frame with an all independent suspension set on a tubular subframe; combined with a 3.5L 40-valve V8 and a manual gearbox (yes, there’s a manual!), the F355 set the new standard for the mid-engine sports car class. F355 Engineering Highlights: Over 1,300 wind tunnel hours Steel monocoque with tubular subframe Five-valves-per-cylinder V8 engine 375 horsepower naturally aspirated Redline set at 8,500 rpm Underlying the car was a state of the art naturally aspirated 3.5 liter V8 which benefited from having five valves per cylinder. The result was an output of 375 horsepower, giving the F355 an unsurpassed best-in-class naturally aspirated engine horsepower to liter ratio. With an exhilarating redline of 8,500 rpm, the sound of the engine became as important and memorable as its performance.2. This F355 Was a Gift for Schumacher More on the story: Only F355 GTS ever purchased by Schumi this particular F355 GTS chassis 105416 was the very first Ferrari ever gifted to Schumacher following his move to Scuderia Ferrari! Just about the timing too; its delivery record, filed in its original service book states April 30, 1996, two days following Schumacher finishing the European Grand Prix at the Nrburgring in second place. Delivery and Ownership Facts: First Ferrari gifted to Schumacher Delivered April 30 1996 Two days after Nürburgring podium Kept at his Monaco residence Used as his personal car What a nice gift then for the driver that would initiate a golden period of domination at the Scuderia. Schumacher kept the F355 at his Monaco home and it was also his daily driver. The car that we are referring to is certainly no track rocket nor a marketing tool but a car that a legend actually decided to buy for his personal drive when he was far from the glare of Formula 1.Explore the luxury interior of a high-end sports car, featuring red leather seats and sleek design.3. Schumacher Chose a Stunning Personal Specification Naturally as appropriate as an iconic driver to his name; this car was fully loaded with the drivers desired specifications! Finished in a sensational & ultra rare Blu Le Mans color a deep, luscious and alluring hue, of which very few F355’s sport mated to a gorgeous & opulent Pelle Crema leather interior, to make a timeless & chic & classy color combination unlike almost any he drove every weekend to victory in Rosso Corsa guise. Schumacher's Personal Specification: Rare Blu Le Mans exterior paint Rich Pelle Crema leather interior Contrasted his red Ferrari racecars Reflects his personal style Visually distinct from all others The spec became a declaration of personal taste a view to a wildly contrasting aspect of the fiercely competitive racing driver. One that few in the public eye, actually encountered! It is certainly the visually unlike any other f355 you may find anywhere else today and goes a great deal toward accenting all its already exceptional charm and re affirming the unique historical context of what is ultimately a personal object directly linked to perhaps the finest of all sporting heroes.4. Schumacher Chose the Gated Manual Over the Paddle Shift What’s remarkable about Schumacher’s F355 is his own preference. This was when Ferrari was launching its revolutionary new F1-style semi-automated manual transmission system, operated by paddle shifters. Schumacher instead specifically asked for a classic six-speed gated manual gearbox. That in itself reveals something about a genuine purist and the extent to which driving the car was about more than simply raw data and mechanics to the champion driver. The Manual Gearbox Choice: Chose traditional gated six-speed Rejected Ferrari's new paddle shift A change of pace choice Offered analogue driving engagement Reflects a true driving purist Many feel this was an intended decision to change things up for Schumacher to give him some variety from his day-to-day job of actually operating sophisticated racing transmissions to focus on ultimate lap times, and to provide a far more tactile, old school, and analogue connection from a gated shifter that every proper driving purist will undoubtedly cherish.Explore the luxurious interior of a Ferrari sports car with sleek black leather seats and modern dashboard features.5. Schumacher Personally Signed the Driver's Seat Michael Schumacher’s signature adds an unforgettable personal chapter to an already unique car. The back of the driver’s seat features a signature, it’s a living testament to the legend who owned and raced the Ferrari. The car stops being merely a car he happened to own and become an intimately personal collector’s item with his personality imbued into its leather seats. The Autograph's Significance: Signed on the driver's seat Direct physical link to Schumacher Transforms car into personal artifact Elevates the car's allure immensely Present on every future drive That one little tidbit makes the car even more compelling than a normal example of a car with such spectacular origins. For its next owner, that feature will serve as a concrete reminder with each and every spin behind the wheel of the man who performed the feats. It becomes a far more present connection to the legendary car rather than just something listed in a certificate or photograph.Dealer discussing vehicle options with a client inside a modern car showroom.6. The Car Comes With Impeccable Documentation You cannot have a car with such a monumental history without unquestionable evidence, and this F355 not only passes the sniff test with flying colours, but documents its provenance quite comprehensively as well. Original owner’s manuals, complete with the first recorded servicing document in which you will see the car was delivered to Schumacher’s long-time agent Willi Weber’s own Weber Management GmbH. Documentation Included With the Car: Original owner's manuals present Service book confirms initial delivery Letter from Monaco Motors dealership Confirms Schumacher's personal ownership Photos of Schumacher driving it Additional evidence is provided by a letter from Monaco Motors, the Ferrari official dealer, which not only states that the car was bought by Schumacher but even confirms that they serviced it while in possession of the famous German pilot back in 1997. To round out the documentation there is a number of pictures depicting Michael Schumacher at the wheel of this beautiful blue Ferrari.7. A Motoring Journalist Became Its Passionate Next Owner However, Schumacher's story doesn’t begin and end with the 1996 F355. It was purchased in 2004, in an auction held to celebrate the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, and by a man, a motoring journalist by trade, a man who had a special affinity for the F355. He didn't keep it tucked away in a collection. Instead, he drove it all the way home to Belgium from Monaco. The Second Owner's Stewardship: Purchased at Monaco 2004 auction Owner is a motoring journalist Drove it from Monaco to Belgium Used regularly for driving pleasure Featured at various car events His tenure kicked off with an experience he would never forget, as has been the theme ever since then for the following 20 years! No pristine display vehicle that will be kept under glass, but a driving machine par excellence, frequently driven purely for the enjoyment and participating at all kinds of prestigious auto events thus gaining quite a bit of fame and becoming a well known face within the Belgian automotive hobbyist circle.A row of colorful stock cars lined up in a racing garage, ready for motorsport action.8. Schumacher Recalled the Car at the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix However, one of the most amazing events of the cars history in its post-Schumacher life took place at the Belgian GP in 2012. The owner had travelled to Spa in his role of working journalists and found himself in a unique position to go over and have words with a then Mercedes-AMG F1 driver Michael Schumacher! Showing him a photo of the blue F355, he asked if he remembered his old personal car from his early days at Ferrari in Monaco. The 2012 Encounter: Happened at 2012 Belgian Grand Prix Owner showed Schumacher a photo Schumacher's recognition was instant Recalled the car with fondness Happy it found a true enthusiast As a welcome and unsurprising treat for its owner, Schumacher was ecstatic at seeing the 52-time GP winner and was clearly happy to see the car come back to the fold where it undoubtedly belonged to a fan. This short interaction gave the Ferrari an epilogue that few cars get, a beautiful link from its gloried history and its now enriched second life.9. The Car Has Been Celebrated and Widely Recognized The car hasn't sat unused during its current ownership (over 20 years), as the odometer attests, climbing from some 21,000km upon its acquisition, to currently less than 47,500km. This is a F355 that has been driven across Europe with its phenomenal V8 working. Her impeccable provenance and beauty have resulted in this spectacular F355 to being a veritable celebrity in her own right at events around Europe. Recognition and Acclaim: Odometer now reads under 47,500 km Featured in Forza and Ferrari World Won Best of Show at Spa Italia 2017 Featured in Auto Trends Classic magazine Minichamps created a 1:43 scale model More than just a pretty F355 It had made appearances in magazines such as Forza, Ferrari World and Auto Trends Classic magazine. Formal acknowledgement came in 2017 when The Fabulous F355 such is it’s story and condition took Best of Show at Spa Italia in Belgium, a race, which I understand, was won by a certain Michael Schumacher, that gentleman being a one, only Michael. In fact it had gone so far it had its very own 1:43 scale Minichamps model of THIS EXACT car and this specific car had joined the general F’car Pantheon as a genuinely sought after and iconic object.A detailed view of hands working with documents and a pen on a desk, ideal for business themes.10. Ferrari Classiche Certification Confirms Its Authenticity The car's originality and significance in the automotive world are further recognized and now recorded for posterity in the form of Ferrari Classiche certification in 2020, as evidenced in its red book certification the car retains original chassis, gearbox and bodywork and remains in the same sublime Blu Le Mans over Pelle Crema colour combination in which it was originally supplied to Schumacher in April 1996. It is now being offered for sale by RM Sotheby's through private treaty, to the best bidder, and without reserve. Classiche Certification and Sale: Granted Ferrari Classiche Red Book 2020 Original chassis gearbox and bodywork confirmed Engine replaced before 2004 purchase Rumored to have been uprated originally Offered without reserve by RM Sotheby's One detail however mentioned by the Classiche report could fuel a spicy rumor; the original engine has been replaced by another one of correct type that was fitted at sometime before the consignor acquired the Ferrari back in 2004. Rumor states that Schumacher's F40 may have left the Maranello plant with an uprated version of its original mill. It is not clearly established, but another intriguing part of the almost indescribable history of this historically significant Ferrari adds to the legend.