Eddie Van Halen’s customized 2000 Ferrari 550 is set to be sold at auction for around $250K… six weeks after he died at the age of 65
A wide variety of memorabilia related to the late Eddie Van Halen – who died in early October at the age of 65 – has recently been placed up for auction, including his 2000 Ferrari 500 racing car.
The car is reportedly in good condition, having recently been serviced by a top mechanic and was only driven for 28,000 miles, according to TMZ.
The catalog is set to start being auctioned off on Wednesday and is expected to run to early December; the Ferrari is expected to fetch anywhere from $250,000 to $350,000.
Revving up! A 2000 Ferrari 500 owned by Eddie Van Halen is set to be auctioned off; the late guitarist is seen performing in 2015
The late songwriter customized the vehicle with a set of racing seats, which were installed for high-speed driving sessions with his brother.
The purchase also comes with a valid registration and renewal, both in Van Halen’s name.
Also being auctioned off are a number of concert posters, used guitar picks, and a handwritten note from the Eruption guitarist himself, among other items.
Customized: The car was outfitted with racing seats so the guitarist could compete against his friends at various racetracks
Worth every cent: The Ferrari is estimated to command anywhere between $250,000 to $300,000
In a 2016 interview with Car and Driver, the musician spoke about his love for fast cars, and how he saw similarities between racing and performing on stage.
‘The adrenaline rush is similar. You’re always pushing the edge, on stage live and driving on a track. But improvising at the drop of a hat is the biggest thing. There are no do-overs.’
He also spoke about how the lessons that he learned from one of his disciplines actually ended up carrying into another.
‘If you mess up live, you smile your way through it or improvise quick, just like if there’s an accident in front of you or somebody’s trying to pass you.’
Wide selection: The auction will also feature other items related to the guitarist, including a signed CD and record sleeve; he is seen performing in 2015
The Panama songwriter passed away on October 6 after a lengthy battle with throat cancer, among other ailments.
Van Halen was honored at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, where a number of artists including Jack White, Dierks Bentley, and G.E Smith, gave speeches in remembrance of the guitarist.
That same evening, the musician’s son Wolfgang shared a number of photos depicting moments he shared with his father, and hosted a Q&A for fans of the songwriter.
The Pasadena Library, located in Van Halen’s California hometown, recently opened their archives of recordings and images of the guitarist, which were made available to the public.
Looking back: The guitarist’s son Wolfgang recently shared a number of photos depicting the time he shared with his father
The good old days: The musician is seen performing alongside longtime Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony in 1984