The F1 car, driven by Michael Schumacher in his first full season, is selling for £800,000.
The Benetton B191 was raced by the seven-time world champion in 1992.
He drove the 218mph car to fourth place at that year’s South African Grand Prix.
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Schumacher’s finish earned him three points toward that year’s Drivers’ Championship and three points for Benetton-Ford toward the Constructors’ Championship.
At the start of the 1992 season, the Benetton-Ford team did not have their new cars ready, forcing them to use 1991 cars for the first three races of the season.
The cars were powered by a 600bhp, naturally aspirated, 3,498cc Ford HBA5 V-8, longitudinally mounted and backed by a Benetton transverse six-speed manual gearbox.
It featured a carbon fibre monocoque and front and rear double wishbone pushrod suspension.
For 1992, minor upgrades were made to the suspension and bodywork, and the Pirelli tyres used in 1991 were replaced with Goodyear.
The 1991 cars, including chassis number B191-08, were retired when the B192 was ready for the 1992 Spanish Grand Prix as reported by Luxury Auto News.
Its sale listing states: “After chassis B191-08 was retired from racing it was purchased by a Mr Mortlock directly from Benetton around the time Renault purchased the team.
“The car was subsequently sold in December 2000 to a US-based private collector. In April of 2001 under the supervision of F1 expert Fred Goddard, the car was run at Donington Park in England.
“The car was subsequently flown from England to South Florida.
“It then made what would be its final track appearance in July at the Brian Redman Vintage Racing Weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
“Once again, the car was supervised by Goddard.
“It would partake in practice but the owner decided to withdraw the car prior to the race, not wanting to risk things on a race day which had inclement weather.
“In June 2005 the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum purchased chassis B191-08.
“It has since been proudly on display at the Museum leaving Speedway, Indiana, only for a limited number of special occasions.
“In 2017, it was part of a Grand Prix car display at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto and it was also exhibited at the Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance at Ault Park.
“The car was further displayed in the summer of 2024 at the Savoy Auto Museum in Cartersville, Georgia.
“Today chassis B191-08 is offered in a livery similar to that of the 1993 Benetton team.
“The appearance updates were not limited to the livery, as the car’s side pods were also updated to what appears to be the 1993 style.
“Just below the sideview mirrors are listed the 1993 Benetton team driver’s names, Schumacher and Patrese, and the front nose cone prominently features #6, which was Patrese’s number for the 1993 season.
“This car was never used in race events for the 1993 season and it is unknown when these changes were made; however, it may have been done for team marketing purposes in period, as prior-year cars were sometimes kept by the team and re-liveried to appear like the current year’s cars for promotion or display.
“Currently the car rides on OZ Racing wheels with Avon Tires.
“The cockpit features Sabelt seat belts, a MOMO steering wheel, and a Pi System 2 dash unit.
“An engine and a manual gearbox are still fitted in the car, which, after a recommissioning, would allow the next owner to enjoy the visceral experience that was 1990s F1.
“It is accompanied by a scanned photocopy of a Benetton certificate of authenticity confirming Schumacher’s use and a copy of the F1 book Autocourse 1992 outlining this car’s use in the first three races of the 1992 season.
“The car is accompanied by a selection of spares.
“With a Formula One resume that includes 68 pole positions, 77 fastest laps, 155 podium finishes, and seven Drivers’ Championships—including back-to-back with Benetton in the mid-1990s and later the sport’s only five-peat with Ferrari in the 2000s—Michael Schumacher goes down in history as, simply, one of the best drivers ever.
“Opportunities do not frequently arise to acquire a car from early in his career.
“This Benetton B191, driven by Schumacher during his first full season in Formula One competition, would make a wonderful and significant addition to any collection.”
It is on sale with RM Sotheby’s in Miami, Florida, US on 28 February.
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