Inside the world’s greatest car collection – meet the racing fan with TWO £58million Ferraris

WHEN you watch the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival next week, the horses will thunder past the line at more than 30mph.

But for the man who’s put his name to the race, that won’t quite meet his need for speed.

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Lord Bamford – who is said to have the world’s greatest car collection – and Lady Bamford sponsor the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival[/caption]

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The breathtaking and eye-wateringly expensive 250 GTO is one of two £58million Ferraris Lord Bamford owns[/caption]

Meet billionaire JCB digger tycoon Lord Bamford, the man regarded as having the world’s greatest car collection.

The exact number and value of the business titan’s colossal collection is hard to pinpoint.

But, according to numerous reports, he is the only man in the world to have ever owned TWO Ferrari 250 GTOs.

Only 39 of these cars – dubbed by some as the most beautiful ever – were made during production between 1962-1964, report CNN.

One of the models was sold for around £58.6million in 2018 – the most expensive car in the world at the time, and possibly still to this day.

Each of the 250 GTOs is differentiated by its chassis number.

Lord Bamford, 77, who has a net worth of £4.32billion according to the Sunday Times, is believed to own a distinct green 250 GTO with chassis no 3767 GT which he is said to have bought in 1974.

He is also known to have splashed out on chassis no 4399 GT in the traditional Ferrari red.

Well-respected car photographer Ted Gushue explained just how lucrative owning one of these cars is.

He told CNN: “Having a crown jewel like this takes him to the next level.

All the details on Cheltenham Festival 2023 from tickets to cost of a pint

“And buying it also gets you entry into one of the most exclusive events on the planet, the by-invitation, owners-only 250 GTO Tour held in various chic locales across Europe.

“You’re immediately part of this sort of secret society that includes some of the world’s most interesting men.”

Those two gems are just the icing on the cake.

Also said to be included in his collection is an incredible Rolls-Royce pick-up truck.

According to Exclusive Car Registry, a simply mesmerising silver Ferrari 275 GTB/4, Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupe and Ferrari 275 GTS all sit together on his driveway.

There are several Aston Martins – a DBR2, DBS and DB4 to name but a few – as well as a Pagani Huayra, named ‘hypercar of the year’ by Top Gear in 2012.

That motor has a 238mph top speed and takes just 2.8 seconds to 0-60mph.

Lord Bamford’s son George has inherited his love of fast cars.

But the outlier among the Ferraris and Porsches is a bonkers Land Rover 101 Forward Control.

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Model and driver Jodie Kidd offered an insight into the Bamford family’s jaw-dropping car collection when she posed beside this Ferrari 275 GTB[/caption]

Made for the British Army, George said of it: “I bought that to take all my mates to the pub without them needing to worry about leaving their cars parked overnight, or how they are getting home.

“I’m not a big drinker, so I tend to be the designated driver and everyone else can drink as much as they like.

“On the way home, I often take the bumpy route across the fields for a bit of fun.”

Against this backdrop, it’s easy to understand why horses might not quite do it for Lord Bamford.

But there’s no doubt racing is grateful for his significant sponsorship – and for his wife’s love of the sport.

The couple could celebrate a Grand National winner next month.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Mister Coffey is owned by Lady Bamford and looks to be being aimed for the Aintree special.

The eight-year-old might take a bit longer to cover four miles than one of his cars.

But hopefully a win in the world’s most famous race would give him just as much joy.

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