3 AGNELLI CLASSIC UP FOR AUCTION
A stunning custom-built powerboat that belonged to the late Italian billionaire and Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli was the star of last month’s R M Sotheby’s auction of rare boats and car. A true thoroughbred, G Cinquanta sports a deep-vee wood-epoxy hull designed by the legendary Sonny Levi and and a cockpit and interior by Sergio Pininfarina of Ferrari design fame. It was built at Cantiere Delta in Anzio, near Rome, in 1968.
An Italian journalist commented at the time that she was the perfect boat from which to watch offshore powerboat racing, in that she could not only be there at the start but also get to the finish line in time to watch the winners arrive!
The name is a composite of G for Gianni and Cinquanta (Italian for 50) for her original top speed in knots. It is now said to be good for almost 55 knots thanks to a recent re-engining with four new and slightly more powerful BPM Vulcano V8s delivering more than 1,400hp.
The engines are located in two separate engine bays, one in front of the driver’s cockpit and the other behind, and are hooked up to straight shafts and three-blade props. There are two cockpits. The aft one is all about the driver – just a single bolster seat, steering wheel and an old-school instrument console bristling with analogue dials and no fewer than eight levers – four gear selectors and four throttles. The forward cockpit is for the passengers. Beneath the teak foredeck there’s also a vee-berth, basin and shower, as well as a head-locker.
Other than the replacement engines, it is in totally original condition and was put up for auction by only her second owner, who was gifted the boat by Agnelli around 45 years ago. RM Sotheby’s, a classic car auction specialist, is not prepared to reveal the reserve on
G Cinquanta, but it achieved a top bid of €450,000 in the online only auction, which closed on July 22.
SEE A VIDEO OF THE BOAT IN ACTION AT WWW.MBY.COM/AGNELLI