Gilles Villeneuve Signed 1980 Ferrari 312 T5 Formula 1 Test Suit and Gloves
Item Details
- Seller: WORLD_OF_AUTOMOBILIA
- Location: Bologna, Italy 48100
- Lot #: M-0017157
Available for auction is an authentic racing suit and gloves used by the legendary "Wild" Gilles Villeneuve. This racing suit and gloves were worn by Villeneuve during the famous Paul Ricard Formula 1 test of the Ferrari 312 T5 on October 14th, 1980. The suit and gloves are the same that are shown in many photos of the time and also in the magazine that that is included with the sale. The palm of the gloves is signed by Villeneuve. The seller states this set was acquired in 1996 from racer Gaetan Saint-Louis in Montreal and comes with the paper of the time and some original pics. 
Gilles Villeneuve was a legendary Canadian racing driver, who spent six years in Grand Prix motor racing with Ferrari. Villeneuve developed his love for cars and fast driving at an early age, starting his racing career with snowmobiles in his native province of Quebec. He later moved into single-seaters, winning the US and Canadian Formula Atlantic championships in 1976, before being offered a drive in Formula One with the McLaren team at the 1977 British Grand Prix. Villeneuve finished 11th in his first race, a position that did not sit well with McLaren. He was dropped after only one race. As a free agent, Ferrari took an interest in Villeneuve towards the end of the ‘77 season, flying him to the Fiorano test track in August. Villeneuve found himself behind the wheel of the Ferrari in the last two races of the 1977 season. A familiar position he’d be in up until his death in 1982.
Villeneuve’s career was not one without controversy. At the Japanese Grand Prix of 1977, Villeneuve’s vehicle struck a rival driver sending the Ferrari airborne, crashing into a corner marshal and photographer, unfortunately killing them both. During the qualifying session for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix, Villeneuve’s Ferrari collided with the March Engineering car of Jochen Mass at speeds of nearly 140mph. The collision launched the Ferrari over 300 feet, ejecting Villeneuve. It was determined that he fractured his neck and would later succumb to his injuries.
At the time of his death, Villeneuve was extremely popular with fans and has since become an iconic figure in the history of the sport with the icon Montreal circuit being named after him. His son, Jacques Villeneuve, became Formula One world champion in 1997 and, to date, the only Canadian to win the Formula One World Championship.
The buyer is responsible for shipping, handling, and fees.
Auction Results
- Highest Bid: $7,500
- Auction End: Mar 18, 2022 08:50:00PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 6
Comments (8)
Bid in the amount of $7,500
Bid in the amount of $2,000
Bid in the amount of $260
@RJ80 The suit definitely appears to match the testing photos that are on the white background, not the image from the magazine.
Why doesn't the suit match the one in the photos? Looks like a signed glove is the only thing of value here, but there's no determining from these auction photos that Villeneuve ever wore any of this gear.
Bid in the amount of $250
Bid in the amount of $50
Bid in the amount of $25