The Florida design was introduced in 1952, and over 1,100 examples were produced, including the longer 20ft Super models. This example was bought new by film director Roger Vadim from Monaco Boat Service in 1959. Vadim, who was married to Bardot until 1957, gave her the boat, which she kept at her St Tropez villa La Madrague and used regularly in the 1960s. Fully  restored, the boat is estimated to reach between €80,000 and €120,000.

Brigitte Bardot’s Riva Super Florida has been lovingly restored

Also for sale is the Riva Aquarama Special Shaheen, built in 1976, and sold new by the Riva yard in Sarnico to Sheikh Hamad-al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, and delivered directly to the al-Thani residence in Versoix on Lake Geneva (it still has its original Swiss registration documents). The boat is a series II Aquarama Special, featuring two V8 Riva 350 engines, while a ‘shaheen’ is a much-prized species of falcon. The current owner has spared no expense in maintaining the boat and it was extensively restored by RAM Sarnico in 2003-2005. The estimate is €350,000 to €500,000.

The Riva Aquarama Special Shaheen

The auction takes place on May 23 during the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Lake Como. For updates, call +44 (0)20 7851 7070 or visit www.rmauctions.com.

Twin V8s mean a very decent turn of speed