Cars of the 1960s

Except otherwise stated, all results below include the premium.
​See also : Cars  Cars 1960-61  Cars 1962-63  Cars 1964-65  Cars 1966-67  Ferrari   California Spider  Italy  Ford and Shelby
Chronology :  1962  1967

​1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider SWB Competizione
2025 SOLD for $ 25.3M by Gooding Christie's

When Ferrari upgraded the California Spider to SWB, they did not maintain a concern for using that model in competition. Only two examples were built in a full Competizione specification, with an alloy body and the quick release external fuel filler. A third alloy car missed the improved filler.

The two cars were indeed the most effective California Spiders with 40 hp more than the basic spider.

The 6th SWB was built in June 1960 on the SWB chassis Tipo 539 with a 3 liter V-12 type 168B engine including high compression cylinder heads and larger valves. Its first outing at Le Mans 24 in that year, was disappointing : entered by NART, it retired while in 11th position.

The second ultimate SWB is the 14th according to its page in barchetta.cc. It was assembled in 1961 with a 168 engine without the 168B improvements. It has a removable aluminum hardtop and the covered headlights.

Sold new to a German privateer, it was entered in local competitions. Its rear was damaged in a road accident in 1964. Retaining its original chassis, body, engine, gearbox and differential, it was sold for $ 25.3M from an estimate in excess of $ 20M by Gooding Christie's on August 15, 2025, lot 26. It is illustrated in the release and in the video shared by the auction house.

​Response by Grok :

Quote
Gooding Christie's @goodingandco Aug 16 0:27
One of only two alloy-bodied, competition-spec examples, this 1961 #Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione is a collector’s dream. Held in three major Ferrari collections, the star is exiting the block for a record-breaking $25,305,000! #SOLD #PebbleBeachAuctions

  • The X post from Gooding Christie's auction house highlights the sale of a rare 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione, one of only two alloy-bodied, competition-spec examples ever built, which fetched a record-breaking $25,305,000 at the Pebble Beach Auctions on August 16, 2025. This sale underscores the car's significance as a collector's dream, having been held in three major Ferrari collections before being auctioned.
  • The Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione is notable for its historical and engineering value; it features a competition-specification Tipo 168 engine, covered headlights, and a factory removable hardtop, making it one of the most sought-after models due to its performance and rarity. The auction's success reflects the enduring appeal and high market value of such iconic vehicles, with the sale price exceeding the initial estimate of over $20,000,000.
  • The event at Pebble Beach, a prestigious venue since 1950, continues to be a focal point for collector car enthusiasts, with Gooding Christie's maintaining its reputation for selling some of the world's most valuable cars. This particular auction's outcome aligns with trends in the collector car market, where rare and historically significant vehicles often command prices well above their estimates, driven by demand from wealthy collectors and investors.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO

It is not enough to be the prettiest berlinetta of its time to win Grand Touring competitions, especially when Jaguar, Aston Martin and Shelby apply ambitious development programs. The Ferrari 250 GT SWB is no longer competitive with its oblique front that lifts at 250 km/h.

A team around Giotto Bizzarrini designs a low body with a tapered front hood. To facilitate the homologation, the new chassis has the same size as the SWB. The studies are validated in wind tunnel. The lowered engine remains a 3-liter Colombo V12 while incorporating several improvements from the 250 TR.

Thus was born the 250 GTO (Gran Turismo Omologato) at the beginning of 1962, coachworked as a berlinetta by Scaglietti. Its perfect geometry has also been improved after wind tunnel tests.. 33 cars are built in 1962 and 1963 according to this first model, which is a high figure for a commercial upscale Ferrari. They immediately dominate endurance and hill competitions. However Bizzarrini had left the company after a disagreement with Enzo Ferrari.

Extremely competitive without being exceptionally rare, the 250 GTO is the preferred model of the auto enthusiasts from the high society, functioning as an informal club with media covered exclusive meetings. Cars are transmitted like a talisman by each owner to his handpicked successor.  28 units remain with the 3-litre engine from its original design.

​Ferrari 250 GTO : Significance of the model in the history of the brand.
The Ferrari 250 GTO (Gran Turismo Omologato), produced from 1962 to 1964, is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and significant models in Ferrari's history. It represents the pinnacle of the legendary 250 series and embodies Enzo Ferrari's philosophy of building road-legal cars that excelled in competition.
Racing Dominance
​Ferrari designed the 250 GTO specifically for homologation in the FIA's Group 3 Grand Touring category, where it competed against rivals like the Shelby Cobra and Jaguar E-Type. It secured three consecutive International Championships for GT Manufacturers (1962–1964), a feat that solidified Ferrari's reputation in endurance racing during a golden era of motorsport.
Its track record includes:
  • Class wins at prestigious events like the Tour de France Automobile (overall victories in 1963 and 1964)
  • Targa Florio
  • 24 Hours of Le Mans (with second and third overall in 1962)
Often described as the last true dual-purpose road/race car, it combined blistering performance from its 3.0-liter Colombo V12 engine (around 300 hp) with elegant, aerodynamic bodywork penned by Giotto Bizzarrini and refined by Sergio Scaglietti.
Rarity and Cultural Impact
Only 36 examples were built (plus a few Series II variants in 1964), with each car handcrafted and often unique due to modifications during their racing lives. Buyers were personally vetted by Enzo Ferrari, adding to its exclusivity.
​Today, it holds records as the most valuable car ever sold, with prices exceeding $70 million in private sales, reflecting its status as a "rolling work of art" and investment pinnacle.
Legacy for the Brand
Publications like Motor Trend Classic and Sports Car International have named it the greatest Ferrari of all time or the top sports car ever. It symbolizes Ferrari's racing DNA, blending beauty, performance, and success in a way few models have matched, influencing the brand's identity as a maker of uncompromising grand tourers and helping cement its dominance in the 1960s before the shift to mid-engined designs. The 250 GTO remains the ultimate expression of Ferrari's early ethos: cars born to race, yet drivable on the road.

Series I
2014 SOLD for $ 38M by Bonhams

Coming from a deceased estate, a 250 GTO which had not changed hands for nearly half a century was sold by Bonhams on August 14, 2014 for $ 38M, lot 3.

This car has accumulated an interesting competition record after a bad start. Made in 1962, it was much damaged at Montlhéry on October 7 of the same year, killing one of its co-owners the ski champion Henri Oreiller. Repaired in 1963 at a time when the production chain of the 250 GTO was in full operation, it is an authentic unit.

​Series I Bianco Speciale
2026 SOLD for $ 38.5M by Mecum

The one off 250 GTO released by the factory as a Bianco Speciale was sold for $ 38.5M by Mecum on January 17, 2026, lot S204.

Compare with chassis 3851GT, sold by Bonhams on August 14, 2014, lot 3.
Ferrari 250 GTO Comparison: Chassis 3729GT vs. 3851GT
The Ferrari 250 GTO (1962–1964) is one of the most iconic and valuable cars ever built, with only 36 examples produced. Both chassis here are highly authentic Series I cars from 1962, featuring the classic Scaglietti bodywork, 3.0L Colombo V12 engine (~300 hp), and proven racing pedigree. They share core traits like Ferrari Classiche certification eligibility, continuous history, and unmatched desirability. Key differences lie in originality, color, configuration, racing history, and market context.
Build Date
3729GT: July 1962
3851GT:  September 1962
Original Color
3729GT: Bianco Speciale (white) – the only factory white GTO
3851GT: Rosso Corsa (red) – standard Ferrari racing color
Drive Configuration
3729GT: Right-hand drive (one of ~8 RHD GTOs)
3851GT: Left-hand drive
Original Owner
3729GT: John Coombs (UK privateer)
3851GT: Jo Schlesser (French privateer)
Racing History
3729GT: Extensive UK events: Debut 2nd at Brands Hatch (Roy Salvadori); 2nd RAC Tourist Trophy Goodwood (Graham Hill); victories with Jack Sears; later historic events (GTO Tours, Goodwood, etc.). Contributed to Ferrari's 1962 GT championship.
3851GT: Highlight: 2nd overall 1962 Tour de France (Schlesser/Oreiller); successful Italian hill climbs (Colombo, Prinoth); extensively raced into modern historic era. One of the most-raced GTOs.
Condition & Authenticity
3729GT: Maintained/refinished but never fully restored; original character preserved; includes spare "hot rod" GTO-spec engine; Ferrari Classiche certified.
3851GT: Matching-numbers (original engine); heavily used/maintained over decades (unrestored but race-worn); longest single-family ownership (49 years, Fabrizio Violati/Maranello Rosso Collection).
Notable Provenance
3729GT: Drivers: Graham Hill, Mike Parkes, Roy Salvadori, Jack Sears. Long ownership by Jack Sears and Jon Shirley (ex-Microsoft). Eligible for top historic events and GTO reunions.
3851GT:  Drivers: Jo Schlesser, Henri Oreiller, Paolo Colombo, Ernesto Prinoth. 49-year ownership by Violati family; centerpiece of Maranello Rosso museum.
Sale Price
3729GT: Upcoming auction (no estimate published); expected $60–80M+ given uniqueness and market growth (private GTO sales have exceeded $70M).
3851GT:  $38,115,000 (world auction record at the time).
Uniqueness Factor
3729GT: Highest: One-of-one factory white; standout visual distinction among all GTOs.
3851GT:  Strong racing provenance but more "standard" in appearance/spec.

Both are pinnacle collector cars, but 3729GT's one-of-one white color and pristine-yet-used condition make it arguably more distinctive today, potentially commanding a premium over 3851GT's 2014 record in the current market.

upgraded in 1964 to Series II
​2018 SOLD for $ 48M by RM Sotheby's

The technological challenge goes on. The approval of the 250 LM will be refused. While waiting for better days, Ferrari requires Mauro Forghieri and his team to modify the 250 GTO according to the aerodynamic improvement of the LM. Three 250 GTO Series II are built in 1964.

Four Series I cars are upgraded in 1964 to the Series II specifications. One of them was sold for $ 48M by RM Sotheby's on August 25, 2018, lot 247. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.

This car had been in 1962 the third GTO produced. Tested in May by Phil Hill at the Targa Florio, it is sold by Ferrari a few days later to a friend of Enzo Ferrari, Edoardo Lualdi-Gabardi, who gets excellent results in hill climbing with this car. In April 1964 Corrado Ferlaino leads it to First In Class in the Targa Florio, thus brilliantly validating the transitory concept of the Series II.

The price of a Ferrari 250 GTO depends on its results in period and on its crash history. The car for sale was not damaged. For reasons of preservation, the original engine was removed a few years ago. It is sold with the car.

In May 2018 a price of $ 70M in a private transaction was reported for a 250 GTO with a better race history including the victory at the 1964 Tour de France.

​Grok thought :

Quote
RM Sotheby's @rmsothebys Jun 20, 2018
#NEWS: We're absolutely thrilled to announce the most valuable car ever offered at auction: the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO chassis no. 3413GT! A wonderfully original example with impeccable provenance, this #Ferrari's next stop is #RMMonterey! http://bit.ly/250GTO18
  • This 2018 RM Sotheby's post announces the consignment of chassis 3413GT, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO with Targa Florio class-winning history and original patina, as the priciest car ever auctioned at that point, destined for their Monterey sale.
  • The car sold for $48.4 million in August 2018, shattering records as the "holy grail" of Ferraris due to its racing pedigree and scarcity—only 36 GTOs were built—though a 2023 sale later topped it.
  • The post's image captures the car's sleek red Berlinetta profile with number 23, parked on a forested track, highlighting its preserved authenticity and evoking 1960s endurance racing allure.

330 LM
2023 SOLD for $ 52M by Sotheby's and RM Sotheby's

While Ferrari was developing the 250 GTO with a 3 liter engine, the FIA once again changed some rules for the 1962 season, introducing the new International Championship of Manufacturers exclusively applicable to GT production car racing classes. Larger displacement prototype race cars would be allowed to participate in some events, but not for points.

Ferrari was certainly not appealed as they built a single 4 liter example in 1962, to be used as a works car. Assembled with the 250 GTO chassis and body, this car is referred as the 330 LM or sometimes the 330 GTO.

It was raced twice in 1962 by the Scuderia Ferrari, finishing second overall and first in class at the 1000 km Nürburgring and not finishing at the 24 hours of Le Mans. It was sold in 1962 to a privateer who changed the engine to a 250 P in the next year. Finished in rosso cina, it was sold for $ 52M in a single lot auction by Sotheby's and RM Sotheby's on November 13, 2023. It had won the Best of Show of the 2012 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

A similar GTO was made in 1963, in parallel to a series of four 330 LMB with a body similar to the 250 Lusso. It was rebuilt in 1965 after a heavy road accident.

​Grok thought :

Quote
RM Sotheby's @rmsothebys Oct 19, 2023
One of one. This 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO is the answer for those seeking the most rare and precious of cars. Offered for the first time in 38 years, this one-of-a-kind GTO comes with a remarkably storied history. For more of its illustrious saga: https://bit.ly/3KHhYVm
  • This post promotes the 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO (chassis 3765), the sole factory-raced example of its kind by Scuderia Ferrari, which secured a class victory and second overall at the 1962 Nürburgring 1000 KM driven by Mike Parkes and Lorenzo Bandini.
  • The accompanying video showcases the car's elegant curves, V12 engine, and period racing livery while driving scenic roads, building hype for its first public auction in 38 years with the tagline "One Lifetime. One Car. One Chance."
  • Auctioned by RM Sotheby's on November 13, 2023, in New York, it fetched $51.7 million, shattering the prior Ferrari auction record by over $3 million and highlighting the GTO series' unmatched desirability among collectors.
​

​​1963-1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe
2026 SOLD for $ 43M by Gooding Christie's

Carroll Shelby sought to create an American car capable of defeating Ferrari’s 250 GTO in the FIA International Championship for GT Manufacturers. The open Cobra roadster had power and acceleration but suffered from high aerodynamic drag on long straights such as the Mulsanne at Le Mans. Shelby needed a closed coupe that retained the Cobra’s mechanical strengths while adding high-speed stability and efficiency. The goal was straightforward and audacious: beat Ferrari on the world stage with a small California team of “hot rodders.”
Only six original Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes were built (1964–1965) by Shelby American to challenge Ferrari’s 250 GTO in FIA GT racing. They helped secure the 1965 FIA International Championship for GT Manufacturers (over 2.0-liter class), the first such title for an American manufacturer. Public auction appearances of genuine originals are extremely rare.
Confirmed Public Auction Sales of Originals
  • CSX2601 (1965, the “Championship Car”): Clinched the 1965 title at Reims with Bob Bondurant. Offered at Mecum’s Indianapolis Spring Classic in May 2009 (high bid around $6.8–7.5 million, did not meet reserve). Sold at Mecum Monterey on August 15, 2009, for $7.25 million (reports vary slightly to ~$7.685 million including buyer’s premium). This set a then-record for an American car at public auction. It is associated with the Perez Companc family.
  • CSX2300 (1964, the third built): Raced in 1964–1965 (including Tour de France, Daytona, Sebring, Nürburgring, Reims) and continued privately in Japan (wins at Suzuka and Fuji in 1966; street use in Tokyo). The only original later owned personally by Carroll Shelby (1975–1998). Sold at Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach Auctions (Monterey Car Week) on August 14, 2026, for $42,905,000 (hammer price ~$39 million; pre-sale estimate “in excess of $25 million”). This established multiple records: most expensive American car ever at public auction (surpassing the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ’s $22 million from 2018), most expensive Shelby, and most expensive Daytona Coupe.
These are the only two original Daytona Coupes known to have sold at public auction. The 17-year gap between them underscores their rarity and the sharp rise in values for top-tier American racing cars.
Other Originals and Notable Private TransactionsThe remaining originals (commonly referenced chassis numbers include CSX2286/2287 prototype, CSX2299, and CSX2602) have primarily changed hands privately and are held in major collections or museums. Key examples:
  • CSX2287 (prototype, the only one fully built in the U.S.): Set multiple speed records at Bonneville in 1965. Passed through private owners (including Phil Spector), was stored for decades, and was acquired privately by Frederick Simeone around the early 2000s (reportedly near $4 million). It resides in the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum and has not appeared at public auction.
  • CSX2300 private sales (pre-2026 auction): Acquired by Shelby in 1975; left his ownership around 1998; purchased by Larry Bowman for $4.4 million in 2000 (followed by restoration); later sold to the owner who consigned it in 2026.
Other chassis (e.g., CSX2299, linked to historian Michael Shoen and the Larry H. Miller Collection/Shelby American Collection) have stable long-term private ownership with limited public sale data.
Context and Market Notes
  • Originals rarely surface; most sales are private. Values are driven by racing provenance, originality, and ownership history (especially Shelby’s personal connection for CSX2300).
  • Hagerty and other guides reflect multi-tens-of-millions valuations for top examples, with the 2026 result resetting the benchmark.
  • Replicas, continuations (e.g., Shelby CSX9000 series), and conversions sell far lower—typically in the tens to low hundreds of thousands of dollars (or up to ~$1–2 million for high-quality period-style builds), and are distinct from the six factory originals.
In short, the documented public auction history consists of just two sales: ~$7.25–7.7 million for CSX2601 in 2009 and a record $42.9 million for CSX2300 in 2026.

Focus on CSX2300 (Gooding & Company / Christie’s Pebble Beach Auctions, Lot 39, 14 August 2026) featured in a pre sale press release.
Estimate: In excess of $25,000,000. Sold $ 42,905,000
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Grandsport. 
CSX2300 was the third Daytona Coupe completed, in late 1963. It is titled 1964.
​Specific racing career
It debuted at the 1964 Tour de France Automobile (Bondurant/Neerpasch, No. 187), winning early stages before retiring. In 1965 it contested Daytona (Leslie/Grant: 6th overall, 3rd in class), Sebring (Leslie/Grant: 13th overall, 3rd in class after early contact damage; Grant set a GT lap record), Nürburgring 1000 km (Schlesser/Simon in unique Ford of France white/blue/red livery: 12th overall, 3rd in class), and Reims 12 Hours (Sears/Whitmore: 9th overall, 2nd in class after an improvised engine repair). These results contributed directly to the 1965 championship. After the factory program, it uniquely continued racing in Japan (1966–1968) under owners including Tadashi Sakai and Kazuo Myouchin, scoring overall wins at All Japan Suzuka and Diamond Trophy Fuji in 1966 plus further appearances at Fuji and the Japan Grand Prix.
Ownership
Shelby American retained it through 1965. It then passed to Oscar Koveleski (1966), Don Nichols (1966), a series of Japanese owners (Sakai, Myouchin, Yoshikawa, Kawanabe, Murakami, Rodem Corporation), and returned to the United States in 1975 when Michael Shoen arranged its sale to Carroll Shelby—the only Daytona Coupe ever personally owned by its creator (1975–1998). Subsequent owners included Prova International, Jim Spiro, Larry Bowman (2000), and the current consignor (from 2005).
​Originality and condition
After its Japanese period (which included temporary use of a milder road engine), Shelby commissioned a restoration to 1965 specification by Mike McCluskey. Larry Bowman oversaw a further meticulous restoration around 2000–2003 that preserved competition scars (including Sebring rear-quarter damage) and Japanese-era markings rather than erasing them. Under current long-term ownership it has been conscientiously maintained and regularly exercised at events including the Monterey Historics, Goodwood Revival, Tour Auto, Modena Cento Ore, and Goodwood Festival of Speed. It is described as a dual-purpose car eligible for major concours and vintage racing, remaining rewarding to drive.

​1964 Ferrari 250 LM
​2025 SOLD for € 35M by RM Sotheby's

The extraordinary domination of the Ferrari 250 from 1955 had been supported by an excellent adaptation to competition regulations. The 250 GTO, produced mostly in 1962 and 1963, is registered in the Grand Touring class. 

The next model is the Ferrari 250 LM unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in November 1963. It is a berlinetta version of the open car prototype 250 P, the first trial by Ferrari of a centrally mounted V12 engine. LM means Le Mans.

The 250 GTO had been narrowly GT homologated. The O letter in GTO, which means Omologato, reflects the problems met by Ferrari to maintain their competitiveness while respecting all the rules. Ferrari's argument that it is a variant of the 250 GT SWB berlinetta is technically difficult to counter.

Ferrari indeed improves his models, but the high end is too elitist. Race regulating organisms harden against him the rules of Grand Touring, which must be based on a commercial production exceeding 100 units. Unqualified cars enter the Prototype category with more powerful competitors.

Ferrari fails to obtain the GT homologation for the LM. Officials have not been duped. It is not really a GT because it is derived from the 250 P prototypes. The LM should also not be a 250 because its 3.3-liter engine is better ranked in the new Ferrari 275 class opened at the same time.

32 Ferrari 250 LM are built, most of them in 1964. The body is made by Scaglietti on a design by Pininfarina. They are not intended for road use.

The sixth 250 LM was built in 1964 and titled 1965. In the ownership of Luigi Chinetti, it was fitted by Piero Drogo with a long nose improving the aerodynamics for the use of  Chinetti's North American Racing Team (NART) team.

Its racing history is limited to Le Mans and Daytona endurance racing. In its first outing it finished 1st overall of the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt ahead of a 250 LM entered by another privateer. The more powerful prototypes by Ferrari and Ford did not finish due to various technical issues. A NART backup driver stated later having unofficially piloted the winning car at some time during the night.

Under the banner of NART-Harrah racing, it had accidents in 1968 in both Daytona and Le Mans and finished 9th overall of 1969 Le Mans. It was sold in 1970 from Chinetti to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway museum.

From that collection, it was sold for € 35M from an estimate in excess of € 25M by RM Sotheby's on February 5, 2025, lot 262. Its engine is in matching numbers.

​Its image well displaying the long nose at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is shared by Wikimedia, with attribution Prova MO, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.

The next win of a Ferrari at Le Mans 24 will be in 2023.

​Grok thought :

Quote
RM Sotheby's @rmsothebys Feb 6
Sold! The 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, outright winner of Le Mans in 1965, has sold for a total of €34,880,000 EUR ($36,344,960 USD) at RM Sotheby’s Paris auction. #RMParis #RMSothebys #Auction #Ferrari #250LM #LeMans
  • The post announces the €34.88 million sale of the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM— the outright 1965 Le Mans winner from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway collection—at RM Sotheby's Paris auction during Retromobile 2025.
  • Accompanying video footage depicts the live bidding escalating from €14 million to a €31 million hammer price, with the total including buyer's premium, capturing the auction's high-stakes drama.
  • This transaction sets a record as the most expensive Le Mans-winning race car sold at auction and ranks sixth overall for collector cars, driven by the model's rarity and Enzo-era racing pedigree.

1964 Ferrari 250 LM

1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Le Mans Speciale
2014 SOLD for $ 26.4M by RM Auctions

For automobiles, it often happens that history is not repeated. The extraordinary domination of the Ferrari 250 in all categories from 1955 was reinforced by an excellent adaptation to competition regulations.

The 250 GTO, produced mostly in 1962 and 1963, is registered in the Grand Touring class. In retrospect, it is clear that the O letter in GTO, which means Omologato, reveals the problems met by Ferrari to maintain their competitiveness while respecting all the rules.

The new models, the 250 LM in prototype class in 1963 and the 275 GTB in GT class in 1964, are technically formidable cars that can not maintain the wide success of the GTO. The competition is fierce. The failed negotiations between Ford and Ferrari had happened in 1963 and the release of the GT40 in 1964.

The ambition in competition of the 275 equipped with a new 3.3-liter engine is embodied in three grand touring works prototypes identified as 275 GTB/C Le Mans Speciale with a bodywork by Scaglietti. They were the first Ferrari model with an independent rear suspension and a transaxle gearbox. All three were entirely hand built.

The super-light aluminum body, different from the road specification in the catalog, does not please the officials of the Gran Turismo. Yet one of the three cars managed to reach in the hands of Ecurie Francorchamps the third place overall in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1965 behind two Ferrari 250 LM competing as Prototypes.

Completed in November 1964, the first car has a similar body as a standard 275 GTB, less stylish than its two later siblings. It has no competition history in period. It was restored and painted gun metal grey with a light grey stripe after an accident in the 1997 Tour de France. The vents necessary for cooling the engine in front side are not factory original.

Keeping its matching number engine, it was sold for $ 26.4M by RM Auctions on August 16, 2014, lot 239. Please watch the video shared by the auction house. Repainted in red soon afterward, it passed at Mecum on January 13, 2024, lot S195.2. ​

1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spider
2013 SOLD for $ 27.5M by RM Auctions​

The special series produced by Ferrari in the mid-1960s include the prettiest cars of all time, designed alternately by Pininfarina and Scaglietti. They also mark the end of a golden age. The rapid increase in production costs pushes to standardization and an industrial make is now unavoidable.

The models 275, 330 and 365 have replaced the 250. The latest Speciale are using these chassis. Alongside prototypes and concept cars, some of them have a target to try new ideas that can then be used in volume production.

Ferrari has always endeavored to flatter its American customers. The designations America, Superamerica and California attributed to high end variants are a convincing evidence of that fact.

Former winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Luigi Chinetti was a skilled agent of Ferrari in the United States. In 1958, he created the North American Racing Team (NART) that achieved very good results, in Europe also.

For his network of passionate customers, Chinetti negotiated in 1967 with Ferrari a special order for a new sports model to be built by Scaglietti on the 275 GTB chassis. This project was somehow a remake of the successful 250 GT California Spider created almost ten years earlier. Techniques have changed in the mean time. Unfortunately, production costs have risen. Times are hard for Ferrari, which had to put an end to the 250 GTO and escaped very narrowly an acquisition by Ford.

This rare 275 GTB/4 NART Spider (also spelled Spyder) appears as an outstanding post-GTO model fitted to arouse passions.  Completed in January 1967 and repainted in dark metallic burgundy, the first car is driven in the same year by Faye Dunaway in The Thomas Crown Affair and admired without limit by one of Ferrari's most knowledgeable fans, Steve McQueen.

The price tag was $ 14,400 compared to the 9,200 for a standard 275 GTB. The American market did not meet the expectations of Chinetti who had hoped to order 25 units. Not only this series was limited to 10 cars but the last of them did not even join the North American NART whatever the reason. Released from factory in 1968, it was sold to a Spanish customer. Please watch the video shared by RM Auctions before it passed at auction on May 14, 2016, lot 254.

The original owner of the eighth 275 GTB/4 NART Spider enjoyed it so much that he refused to sell it to anybody including Steve McQueen despairing to replace the damaged sixth example. It remained in his family until it was sold for $ 27.5M for the benefit of charities by RM Auctions on August 16/17, 2013. Please watch the video shared by Petrolicious for the auction house.

Ferrari does not so much like the spiders and gives no further action after the delivery of that custom order which may be considered as a Speciale. Nevertheless this small convertible model is very efficient and highly elegant, and would later be imitated. Some owners of 275 GTB in more standard variants will even wish to rebuild their car like a NART Spider. 

In the opposite, the 330 GTC Speciale coupe designed by Pininfarina is exhibited by Ferrari at the Brussels Motor Show in 1967. Only four cars are ordered by customers and hand built by Pininfarina. This highly rare car is a transitional model with a sloping nose that elongates the silhouette and an increased comfort including curved windows and air conditioning. The third 330 GTC Speciale was sold for $ 3.4M by Gooding on January 30, 2016, lot 145.

​1967 Ferrari 412P
2023 SOLD for $ 30M by Bonhams

The FIA introduced a Prototype class for the 1964 season, while the Grand Touring class got new rules requiring that the entering cars are based on a commercial production exceeding 100 units.

These changes disqualified the 250 GTO. Ferrari made a questionable decision by trying to cover both classes by the same development. The new 250 LM berlinetta was in due course rejected by the FIA as it was indeed not based on the 250 GT SWB. It was raced as a prototype in competition beside its sister model with an open cockpit, the 250 P.

The P series of mid engined rear wheel drive prototypes was operated by Ferrari with various models, all of them in very limited quantities. Many cars including the four 250 Ps were converted to upgraded models.

The 330 P3 with a 4 liter V-12 engine was raced in 1966. It was made in 3 units. In 1967 the 412 was its carbureted version. 330, referring to the individual volume of a cylinder, and 412, meaning 4 liter and 12 cylindres, are technically matching in the dual system of Ferrari nomenclatures.

The 412 P population is 4 including 2 upgraded 330 P3. The other 330 P3, unsuccessful in all its races in its original configuration, had been converted as the unique transitional P3/P4 after the 1966 Le Mans 24 and destroyed in 1968.

The 412 Ps were not retained for the works team. They were respectively supplied to NART and Filipinetti for the upgraded 330s, and to Ecurie Francorchamps and Maranello Concessionaires for the original 412s. The top speed of the model was 310 km/h.

The Maranello Concessionaires example is coached as a berlinetta by Fantuzzi. A painstaking 9 year restoration included the refurbishment of its original bodywork and livery to its earliest racing configuration. It is road legal and has been regularly used.

Despite an active racing history in period when it contributed to Ferrari's 1967 World's Constructors Championship short win against Porsche, it retains in matching numbers its 4 liter V-12 engine, the chassis and the gearbox. It was sold for $ 30M by Bonhams on August 18, 2023, lot 67.

A new change by the FIA in 1968 limited to 3 liters the capacity in the Prototype class. The Ferrari 4 liter P range was replaced by the 3 liter 312 P and Maranello Concessionaires terminated their racing team. 312 is equivalent to 250 in terms of Ferrari references.