La casa de subastas Bonhams culminó hoy el remate del Porsche 911 Cabriolet (1992) que perteneciera originalmente a Diego Maradona, fallecido en noviembre pasado. La subasta online había sido anunciada el 17 de febrero y hoy se bajó el martillo virtual por un precio final que llegó al triple del valor esperado.
El ejemplar es un Carrera 2 Turbo Look, que el argentino usó mientras jugaba en el Club Sevilla, de España. La documentación indica que lo compró el 6 de noviembre de 1992. El auto se hizo famoso cuando Maradona fue multado por manejar a más de 180 km/h en el área urbana de Sevilla y por pasar un semáforo en rojo.
En 1993, cuando Maradona volvió a la Argentina, el auto pasó a manos de un coleccionista de Mallorca, que después lo vendió al propietario que ahora lo remató, residente en Francia.
La casa Bonhams asegura que el ejemplar se encuentra “en muy buen estado”, a pesar de tener recorridos más de 120 mil kilómetros.
Las estimaciones iniciales de Bonhams indicaban que el auto podía llegar a venderse por un valor de entre 150 mil y 200 mil euros. Sin embargo, en las últimas horas las ofertas superaron esas expectativas. Ayer martes la mejor oferta online había sido de 170 mil euros, pero esta mañana la puja se aceleró como un seis cilindros Bóxer.
El horario de cierre del remate fue postergado más de seis veces por una sucesión de ofertas que fueron aumentando el precio cada vez más. El valor final de venta fue de 483 mil euros. Es casi el triple del valor estimado originalmente y cuatro veces lo que cuesta en Europa un Porsche de similares características, aunque sin ese historial.
El nombre de Diego Armando Maradona encabezando la lista de propietarios es la única causa del aumento de precio.
Sin embargo, no se trata de una fórmula mágica. Ya hay casos donde ocurrió lo contrario con los ex autos del Diez. A comienzos de marzo se vendieron los BMW i8 y Rolls-Royce Ghost que Maradona usó en Dubai, por un valor inferior al pronosticado (ver nota).
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Comunicado de prensa de Bonhams Formerly the property of the late Diego Maradona
1992 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Type 964 'Works Turbo Look' Cabriolet
Chassis No. WP0ZZZ96ZNS452830
•Used by Maradona when he was playing for Seville FC in 1993
•One of only 1,200 Type 964 Carrera 2 'WTL' Cabriolets made
•Matching numbers
•Freshly serviced by Porsche Centre Bonn
Of the sporting greats of the late 20th century, only a handful have earned legendary status worldwide and adulation beyond the racetrack, the court, or the pitch, with football icon Diego Maradona lining up in this team of legends.
Off-pitch the maestro of 'the beautiful game' also appreciated beautiful and exotic motor cars such as this 1992 Porsche 911 Type 964 Carrera 2 'Works Turbo Look' Cabriolet, which was delivered new to 'El Diego' in November 1992 during his last season of European football.
Having led his team to UEFA Cup victories and famously a World Cup Victory in 1986, (the tournament featuring the player's 'Hand of God' goal against England in the quarter-finals), Maradona was secured by Seville's team manager and former Argentina coach Carlos Bilardo for a fee of 750 million pesetas (circa €5 million).
'El Diego' was given a hero's welcome when he came to Seville, with the team and fans hoping he would bring the Maradona Magic to the side, having helped Napoli win two Serie A titles and earning the adulation of the Italian fans, before the ignominy of being banned for 15-months from the game for failing a drugs test.
Appointed team captain, he rented the villa of Juan Antonio Ruiz Roman, Spain's most famous bullfighter, and took delivery on 6th November 1992 of the top-of-the-range Porsche. One of only 1,200 Type 964 Carrera 2 Cabriolet 'Works Turbo Look' variants produced in a two-year run, this soft-top supercar was powered by a 250bhp 3.6-litre engine giving it a top speed of 260km/h.
The Porsche was a regular sight on Maradona's drive to and from football training. It also proved that Maradona's right foot was as dominant in the car as his left was on the ball, as he was famously stopped by armed police for jumping a red light and speeding at 180km/h in the city centre (see press cuttings on file).
Despite starting well with an early 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich in a showpiece 'friendly', Maradona made more headlines with his off-pitch party lifestyle.
His recall to Argentina's national team marked the beginning of the end of his 'forgotten season' with Seville and Maradona left the club in June 1993.
A document on file shows that ownership of the Porsche was transferred to one Anjelica Bartel of Calvià, Majorca on 25th September 1993 at 7,500 kilometres. Invoices and other documents on file suggest that the next owner was Mr Bruno Hintze of Ville-d'Avray, France (circa 2000) followed by Mr Jacques Rouy of Jarny, France (circa 2001) and then Mr Guy Della Casa of Montbard, France. Mr Della Casa acquired the Porsche in January 2003 and kept it until 2016 when it was sold to the current vendor.
The original guarantee and maintenance booklet is in Maradona's name and has been stamped on six occasions, most recently by JB Racing in 2004 at circa 105,300 kilometres. An invoice on file shows that the Porsche was professionally repainted in its original colour during the winter of 2016/2017, the rubber seals being renewed at the same time. There are also sundry servicing invoices on file together with Contrôles Techniques showing the odometer reading increasing from 118,753 kilometres in 2011 to 121,493 kilometres in 2016. The current odometer reading is 122,762 kilometres. Freshly serviced by Porsche Centre Bonn and ready to use, this rare Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet, formerly owned by the greatest footballer of his generation, has to be the ultimate in sporting memorabilia.
Galería: Subastarán en Francia un Porsche que perteneció a Diego Maradona
