News · Economics and Business of Sports
The legendary Formula One car of a late driver is set to be auctioned off at an astronomical price.
The 1991 Honda NSX once owned by Ayrton Senna will go up for auction in London on October 31.
A 1991 Honda NSX once owned by three-time Formula One champion Ayrton Senna is set to be auctioned at RM Sotheby’s in London on October 31, with an estimated value between £500,000 and £800,000, according to the specialized sports economics platform Sportseconomics.ir, citing Tasnim News Agency.
The car, chassis number T000233, is painted in "Formula Red" with a black roof and black leather interior. It was one of three NSX models Honda provided for the Brazilian driver’s personal use. Powered by a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine producing 271 horsepower, it accelerates from 0 to 96 km/h in 5.8 seconds and has a top speed of 265 km/h.
The NSX was registered by Honda Automóveis Portugal on March 22, 1991, under the license plate "SX-25-59." It was kept in Lisbon and made available to Senna whenever he visited Portugal. In 1991, Senna drove this car to the Portuguese Grand Prix in Estoril, where he finished third and ultimately secured second place.
The car also appeared in the 1992 documentary "Ayrton Senna: The Race Is in My Blood," featuring iconic images of Senna washing it with a hose, earning it the nickname "the hose car."
Senna played a key role in the development of the Honda NSX, describing the car’s chassis as "a bit fragile" during a prototype test at Suzuka Circuit. According to auction documents, his detailed feedback prompted Honda to increase the chassis’s strength by 50% and adjust the suspension settings.
After Senna’s death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, the car remained in Portugal for a period before being sold to Robert McFallagan and moved to England. McFallagan sold it in 2024, and the car returned to Japan, but it has now been brought back to England for the London auction. Portuguese ownership documents, a warranty booklet, and Honda’s confirmation of the car’s connection to Senna will also be included.
The RM Sotheby’s London auction on October 31 will feature other notable cars, including a 1988 Ferrari F40, a 2004 Porsche Carrera GT, and a 2023 Aston Martin Valkri Coupe.
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