Across more than seven decades only some 115 individuals in the history of Formula 1 have ever won a race. That’s right; the chances of going into space are roughly five times better for the average human than winning an F1 race. Who needs winning, though, when you can simply buy the F1 trophy that all the drivers are after?
No, we’re not talking about buying it through nefarious means. Nobody is ‘throwing’ a race here. Instead, one only needs a spirit willing to shell out car money for a hunk of metal that no doubt has some serious history behind it.
As we speak RM Sotheby’s is preparing to auction off not one, not two, not three, but five genuine first-place Grand Prix trophies. All come from the late 1950s or early 1960s and each has its own unique story to tell.
The most affordable (if that’s even a thing in this space) example is the 1960 US Grand Prix trophy initially won by none other than Sir (not at the time of winning mind you) Stirling Moss. In fact, he won all of these trophies we’re featuring here, but let’s focus on one at a time. He was far from the only famous racing driver vying to own this same trophy at the 1960 US GP though.
Two-time F1 champ Graham Hill was there as was Dan Gurney. Oh and don’t forget Jack Brabham and Bruce McLaren. On November 20, 1960, these legends of motorsport were all just trying to get the thing that you can now buy for what RM Sotheby’s suggests will be “$10,500 – $16,000 USD.” I recognize that as a not insignificant amount of cash but I’m blown away that it’s not a higher sum.
This was not some dinky race where nothing interesting happened either. According to Motorsport Magazine, Brabham led the race for a time before coming into the pit to diagnose an ongoing “explosion” issue. It turns out that fuel was leaking out of the tank, running onto the exhaust during hard acceleration, and “flashing off.” Moss gained the lead after that and never looked back.
Next, let’s take a look at the 1961 German Grand Prix trophy which, if I’m being brutally honest, looks like maybe the weakest effort at trophy design. Take one look and tell me that this wouldn’t look out of place in your grandma’s china cabinet. It’s basically a cup, which, I mean, it’s October so who doesn’t want to have one extra Oktoberfest carrying device I guess?
That’s okay though as it still carries with it tons of history and again, links up nicely to our 1960 US GP trophy as Stirling Moss won. In fact, RM Sotheby’s says that Moss considered this his “greatest drive in Formula 1.” It also happens to be the last F1 race he would ever win. On top of that, the race was held at the Nurburgring Nordschleife so it has that going for it.
Moss piloted a Lotus-Climax (I promise I’m not making that up) to what is described as a dominant victory. According to Motorsport Magazine, multiple drivers managed sub-9-minute times but they still couldn’t catch Moss.
“Von Trips did another lap in 8min 59.9sec and this brought him within 7sec of the blue Lotus, but seeing Moss is one thing and catching him is something quite different.”
All of that leads the auction house to a guidance of $26,000 – $39,500 USD. That same price is what RM Sotheby’s expects the 1958 Argentine GP First Place trophy to fetch. This is a unique piece because of how Moss achieved it.
First, this was the first time a privateer team won a Grand Prix race. Second, he did so on a single set of tires across the entire race. Finally, this was the first win for a rear-engined car in F1. Notably, this trophy actually bears Moss’ name on it which is a cool touch that isn’t true of the other lots available.
Next up is the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix trophy. That’s right, that Monaco. In this race, Moss managed to cross the checkered flag some 52 seconds ahead of the second-place car. At a venue like the Nordschleife, that kind of gap sort of makes sense. The short and tight course at Monaco doesn’t.
It wasn’t as though Moss was the only skilled driver there, either as Bruce McLaren was a part of that race. It was the first time Lotus picked up a pole position and an F1 World Championship GP win. Now, the trophy can be yours for the cost of a Ford F-150 Raptor. RM Sotheby’s expects it to bring $65,000 – $105,000 USD.
Finally, the 1961 Monaco GP trophy is also up for sale for an expected final bid of $90,000 – $130,000 USD. Moss won it in what is “regarded by many as Stirling Moss’s greatest Formula 1 victory, taking pole position, fastest lap, and the chequered flag in an outdated and underpowered Lotus 18.”
All of these go up for sale on November 2nd without a reserve as part of the Rob Walker collection. I might actually put down $200 on the 1960 US GP trophy as it seems like the one everybody could forget. If I win it I promise to show it off here. Please don’t outbid me, let’s just pool our funds.
If you win it, put it in your bathroom with a bottle of cheap champagne. Then when you invite friends over, they can stand in the shower with the trophy while they get sprayed and pretend they won the race.
Cool millionaire man cave stuff