The Collection of Bernard Fornas, Former President and CEO of Cartier International, to be Offered Across Bonhams|Cars Global Sales

1964 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible offered at The Zoute Sale,
estimated at €1,150,000 – 1,400,000. Credit Bonhams|Cars.  

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LONDON, ENGLAND – June 24, 2025 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Bonhams|Cars will offer the impressive car collection from one of the most esteemed executives in the luxury business, Bernard Fornas, the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Cartier International and co-CEO of the Richemont Group for two decades. The collection offers a diverse mix of high-performance ‘ultimate edition’ modern sportscars, bold and futuristic designs from the golden age of America car manufacture, classic European luxury, and iconic sports cars, spanning multiple eras from the 1950s to modern-day and includes some of the most sought-after and collectible vehicles in the world. Highlights include a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso, a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible, and a 2010 Ferrari 599 GTO.    

The collection, comprised of 15 cars, will be offered across three international Bonhams|Cars sales, beginning with The Bonmont Sale in Switzerland held on June 29, followed by The Quail Auction during Monterey Car Week on August 15, and ending with The Zoute Sale in Belgium on October 12. All of the cars in Mr. Fornas’ collection are presented in fantastic condition, ready to be showcased on the Concours lawns or driven as initially intended.  

1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso, offered in The Zoute Sale, estimated at €1,250,000 – 1,500,000. 

“We are honored to present Bernard Fornas motorcar collection and to feature it at our three important global sales this year,” commented Mark Osborne, Bonhams|Cars Global Director of Motorsport. “Monsieur Fornas possesses an innate sense of style, beauty, elegance, and detail, particularly evident in his passion for classic motorcars. His collection reflects a profound appreciation for automotive history, engineering, and design. We eagerly anticipate showcasing these exceptional vehicles and granting them the global recognition they deserve.” 

Milan, Italy Bernard Fornas and Monica Bellucci attend the Cartier flagship store re-opening.
Getty images. 

With a lifelong career in the luxury world, Mr. Fornas is known for his keen eye for beauty and his focus on the exceptional and refined – qualities that naturally extended into his passion for collecting. His love for classic cars began in childhood, growing up in Morocco, and driving around with his father in Alfa Romeos and American cars. In 1984, when classic cars did not possess the recognition they have today, he purchased his first collector car, a Jaguar XK150 Coupé, marking the start of a personal collection that has grown over the decades. Today, it includes a wide range of vehicles from what he considers the golden era of automobiles – spanning the late 1950s, the cars of his childhood, to the mid-1980s – with standout examples from Ferrari, Aston Martin, Maserati, Porsche, and classic American marques.

2010 Ferrari 599 GTO, offered in The Bonmont Sale, estimated at CHF 800,000 – 900,000.  

Two exceptional Ferraris from Mr. Fornas’ collection will be offered during The Bonmont Sale on June 29, including a standout Classiche Certified 2010 Ferrari 599 GTO, estimated at CHF800,000 – 900,000. This car, chassis number ‘174943’, was delivered new in Switzerland in October 2010 via the local Ferrari importer, Garage Zenith in Lausanne. This limited-edition Ferrari is renowned for its versatility, excelling both on the racetrack and the road – and is likely to become a future blue chip collector’s car. Also being offered is a 170kms from new 2022 Ferrari 812 GTS Hardtop, estimated between CHF450,000 – 550,000. This is the open version of the 812 Superfast and is often referred to as the fastest two door front engine convertible in the world with only 500 examples produced. It is part of the rare V12 front-engine convertibles offered by Ferrari such as the limited series 550, 575, and 599.    

The two major highlights offered in The Zoute Sale on October 12 are the pinnacle of Grand Tourer elegance from the 1960s. The 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible is one of only 39 produced originally in left-hand drive. This car was delivered new to the USA and has benefitted from a complete restoration some years ago by Baccheli and Villa and finished in a striking triple black configuration and estimated at EU€1,150,000 – 1,400,000. The 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso is presented in a beautiful shade of Griggio with a black interior having recently been awarded the coveted Red Book certification by Ferrari Classiche, estimated at EU€1,250,000 – 1,500,000.    

A selection of four American classics, all of them presented in 100 points Concours condition, will be offered in the upcoming Quail Auction on August 15. Highlights include a pair of stunning Thunderbirds, both have been restored by marque expert Amos Minter, based in Dallas, Texas, at the request of Mr. Fornas himself: the 1956 Ford Thunderbird, resplendent in its Torch Red paintwork, is estimated at US$100,000 – 140,000; and the 1957 Ford Thunderbird F-Code, one of 196 factory supercharged T-Birds and one of only 56 examples in Raven Black is estimated at US$200,000 – 300,000. Other highlights include a pair of Chevrolet Corvettes, representing the golden age of American sports cars, that are also beautifully presented, fresh from a nut and bolt restoration. The 1960 Chevrolet Corvette Concours restored by Dutch marque expert Roger Reijngoud and estimated at US$110,000 – 160,000; and the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe, estimated at US$175,000 – 225,000.     

The remainder of the collection will be offered at The Zoute Sale on October 12 with many of the cars offered at no reserve. Highlights include:    

• 1969 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2, estimate: EU€200,000 – 220,000. 

• 1971 Maserati Ghibli SS, estimate: EU€165,000 – 210,000. 

• 1980 Ferrari 308 GTS, estimate: EU€85,000 – 110,000, no reserve. 

• 1990 Jaguar XJS Convertible, with only 7,000 kms from new, estimate: EU€45,000 – 65,000, no reserve.  

• 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2, estimate: EU€90,000 – 110,000, no reserve. 

• 1953 Buick Roadmaster Woodie, estimate: EU€40,000 – 60,000, no reserve. 

• The ex-Alain Delon, 1975 Range Rover 3.5-litre, estimate: EU€100,000 – 130,000, no reserve. 

About Bonhams|Cars

Bonhams|Cars uniquely offers a choice of live, online and private platforms for buying and selling collector cars—platforms characterized by levels of trust, reliability, and transparency born of over three decades of experience as the premier automotive auction house. Through prestigious live auctions around the world, 24/7 online auctions, and our Private Sales service, Bonhams|Cars makes it simple for buyers and sellers to find the platform that best meets their needs.  

Bonhams|Cars hosts 17 live auctions annually, participates in all the significant concours around the world, and presents unique selling opportunities at international events such as the FORMULA 1® CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX, Goodwood Motorsport Events in the UK, The Quail on the Monterey Peninsula in California, and The Zoute Concours d’Elégance in Belgium. At Bonhams|Cars Online, we provide our clients with fast, expert, accurate and agile single-car auctions, 24/7. With dedicated motoring departments in London, Paris, Los Angeles, New York, Brussels and beyond, Bonhams|Cars has a world-class team with expertise in all divisions, from vintage cars to racing motorsport and automobilia to motorcycles.  

For more information, please visit BonhamsCars.com. 

Source: Bonhams|Cars

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