Keith Richards' Ferrari is expected to make up to £160,000 at auction.

Keith Richards

Keith Richards

The Rolling Stones guitarist is set to part with his 1983 Ferrari 400i, and the motor has been described as "exceptionally desirable" and "rare" after racking up just 2,254 miles on the clock in its 34-year history.

The listing on classic car auction company RM Sotheby's website says: "A Ferrari 400i offered from its original owner is a particularly rare and exceptionally desirable occurrence, even more so when the car remains in stunningly original condition after having only been driven 3,627 km from the day it was built, nearly 35 years ago!

"Add to that the intrigue of celebrity provenance and one is left with a truly unrepeatable opportunity. Such is the attraction of this breath-taking 400i, which we have the pleasure of offering directly from the collection of Mr Keith Richards, legendary guitarist, singer, songwriter and founding member of the Rolling Stones. (sic)"

Keith is the only person who has ever owned the impressive motor since Alan Dunn, then Rolling Stones' tour manager at the time, picked it up from a factory in 1983 with seven other Ferraris purchased by the band and their associates, including Sir Mick Jagger and Bill Wyman.

The guitarist used the vehicle to commute to recording sessions for their 1986 album 'Dirty Work' in Paris, France.

Keith was praised for his upkeep of the motor by a specialist at the auctioneers, who admitted it was the "most stunningly original" Ferrari 400i he had "ever seen".

The listing added: "An RM specialist unequivocally referred to it as the cleanest, most stunningly original 400i he had ever seen, with all the right indicators in place - from the engine bay to the exterior and interior, the car clearly exhibits superior condition throughout, as delivered by the factory, and has never warranted restoration, presenting as beautifully as it did on the days it was driven, undoubtedly at great speed, through the streets of Paris. (sic)"

Tagged in