Mansell memorabilia auction brings in over £2 million

A vast array of motorsport items from Nigel Mansell’s personnel memorabilia collection was auctioned off this week by RM Sotheby’s for over £2 million, or nearly $2.5 million.

For years, the 1994 F1 World Champion housed in his museum on the island of Jersey hundreds of artefacts spanning his entire motorsport career.

From race-worn helmets, race suits, gloves, boots, trophies and steering wheels, etc... the massive collection of 326 lots that constituted the Nigel Mansell Legacy Collection went under the hammer, offering fans and F1 collectors a unique opportunity to acquire a piece of history of the F1 and IndyCar legend.

It’s unclear why Mansell opted to part with his personal collection which was offered to potential acquirers without reserve.

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Last year, the 31-time Grand Prix winner, who endeared himself to fans across the world with his combative and flamboyant style, parted ways at an RM Sotheby’s sale in Monaco with his 1989 race winning Ferrari 640 and with his 1991 British GP winning Williams FW14, with the pair reaching a total amount of £6.6 million ($8 million).

Topping the auction as the most expensive item was Mansell’s race-worn helmet from the 1985 European Grand Prix, his maiden F1 triumph. The historic lid was sold for £68,400.

The second most valuable item from the collection was an Arai helmet from Mansell’s 1992 title-winning campaign that sold for £61,200.

There were overall nine race-worn helmets among the ten most expensive lots with the outlier being Mansell’s ‘5 NM’ UK registration plate.

Mansell’s 1992 San Marino Grand Prix winner’s trophy sold for £28,800 as the most expensive reward at the auction.

Further down the list, Mansell’s 1992 Canon Williams Renault Sparco race suit with boots and gloves reached £21,600 as a single lot.

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