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 Aston Martin
Chronology : 1962 1967
See also : Cars Cars 1960-61 Cars 1962-63 Cars 1964-65 Cars 1966-67 Ferrari California Spider Italy Aston Martin
Chronology : 1962 1967
Ferrari 260 GT California Spider
1
1961 ex Baillon
2015 SOLD for € 16.3M by Artcurial
The Ferrari 250 GT California Spider with chassis 2935GT was exhibited in October 1961 at the Paris Motor Show. It is very elegant with the new short wheel base SWB chassis, now systematic for this model, and the rare option of covered headlights. The actor Gérard Blain bought it one week after the Salon closed.
Its second owner is Alain Delon, who uses it in Monaco and Los Angeles and is pictured with it with lovely passengers : Jane Fonda, Shirley MacLaine, his wife Nathalie. Delon sold it in 1965 with 37,000 km on the clock.
After several intermediaries, the car is acquired in 1971 by Roger Baillon and his son Jacques, contractors in truck bodywork and transport. In 1950, more than ten years before the Schlumpf brothers, Roger had started to recover and restore automotive masterpieces, with a view to create a museum.
Baillon puts the Ferrari in the barn. He probably does not use it, although he paid for its tax disc until 1975. The Baillon collection is secret, in large part because of the bankruptcy of the company. Some elements of the collection were seized and sold at auction near Niort in 1979 and 1985. The others remained hidden.
Jacques Baillon died in 2013. The heirs opened the hangar for an expertise by Artcurial on September 30, 2014, thus creating the most sensational "barn find" of modern times.
The storage had not been homogeneous. Two cars had been preserved from mist during these four decades, the Ferrari and a Maserati A6G 2000 Gran Sport berlinetta. Under its layer of dust, the Ferrari is in matching numbers, with intact bodywork except for the hood distorted under stacks of magazines, and with its original upholstery and documentation.
Artcurial managed the auction in Paris on February 6, 2015, making a hype with the former belonging of the Ferrari to Delon. Connoisseurs are not mistaken : this car is an extremely rare untouched California Spider. Estimated at a daring € 9.5M, it was sold for € 16.3M, lot 59. The Maserati fetched € 1.96M. In a near collapse condition, an exceptional Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport by Saoutchik was sold for € 1.7M.
Its second owner is Alain Delon, who uses it in Monaco and Los Angeles and is pictured with it with lovely passengers : Jane Fonda, Shirley MacLaine, his wife Nathalie. Delon sold it in 1965 with 37,000 km on the clock.
After several intermediaries, the car is acquired in 1971 by Roger Baillon and his son Jacques, contractors in truck bodywork and transport. In 1950, more than ten years before the Schlumpf brothers, Roger had started to recover and restore automotive masterpieces, with a view to create a museum.
Baillon puts the Ferrari in the barn. He probably does not use it, although he paid for its tax disc until 1975. The Baillon collection is secret, in large part because of the bankruptcy of the company. Some elements of the collection were seized and sold at auction near Niort in 1979 and 1985. The others remained hidden.
Jacques Baillon died in 2013. The heirs opened the hangar for an expertise by Artcurial on September 30, 2014, thus creating the most sensational "barn find" of modern times.
The storage had not been homogeneous. Two cars had been preserved from mist during these four decades, the Ferrari and a Maserati A6G 2000 Gran Sport berlinetta. Under its layer of dust, the Ferrari is in matching numbers, with intact bodywork except for the hood distorted under stacks of magazines, and with its original upholstery and documentation.
Artcurial managed the auction in Paris on February 6, 2015, making a hype with the former belonging of the Ferrari to Delon. Connoisseurs are not mistaken : this car is an extremely rare untouched California Spider. Estimated at a daring € 9.5M, it was sold for € 16.3M, lot 59. The Maserati fetched € 1.96M. In a near collapse condition, an exceptional Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport by Saoutchik was sold for € 1.7M.
2
1962
2023 SOLD for $ 18M by Gooding
A late production California Spider SWB was prepared in a rare and spectacular Azzurro Metallizzato color by Ferrari to be exhibited by Chinetti at the 1962 New York International Auto Show. It has been fitted with some options including the covered headlights. All its subsequent story was in California.
Sheltered in 1971 by a specialist of wrecked cars after a high speed skidding, it was treasured afterwards in only two collections. Restored in its original color in 2004, it won a platinum award at the 2006 Pebble Beach concours d'elegance.
Still fitted with its original chassis, coachwork, engine, gearbox and rear axle, it was sold for $ 18M by Gooding on March 3, 2023, lot 164. It is illustrated in the pre sale press release. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
The 250 GT roadster known as California Spider was a success for Ferrari. The 106th and final example, completed in February 1963, is the 56th to use the Short Wheel Base chassis.
This 250 GT SWB California Spider keeps its original chassis, body, engine and gearbox. It was sold for $ 18M by Mecum on January 13, 2024, lot S195.3.
Ferrari was reluctant with the spiders, pushed by Chinetti for the American market. The next trial, in 1967, is a commission of 25 by Chinetti for a 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder, reduced to 10 units when marketing difficulties became obvious. There was no further follow.
Sheltered in 1971 by a specialist of wrecked cars after a high speed skidding, it was treasured afterwards in only two collections. Restored in its original color in 2004, it won a platinum award at the 2006 Pebble Beach concours d'elegance.
Still fitted with its original chassis, coachwork, engine, gearbox and rear axle, it was sold for $ 18M by Gooding on March 3, 2023, lot 164. It is illustrated in the pre sale press release. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
The 250 GT roadster known as California Spider was a success for Ferrari. The 106th and final example, completed in February 1963, is the 56th to use the Short Wheel Base chassis.
This 250 GT SWB California Spider keeps its original chassis, body, engine and gearbox. It was sold for $ 18M by Mecum on January 13, 2024, lot S195.3.
Ferrari was reluctant with the spiders, pushed by Chinetti for the American market. The next trial, in 1967, is a commission of 25 by Chinetti for a 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder, reduced to 10 units when marketing difficulties became obvious. There was no further follow.
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
Intro
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.
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.
1
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.
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.
2
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.
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.
3
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.
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.
1963 Aston Martin DP215
2018 SOLD for $ 21.5M by RM Sotheby's
Aston Martin was brilliant in competition in 1959 but failed in 1960. The owner, David Brown, does not take the risk of losing money. He terminates his competition team while maintaining his development abilities around manager John Wyer, chief engineer Ted Cutting and engine mechanic Tadek Marek.
Competition rules change frequently. The 1962 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is favorable to prototypes. Aston Martin is interested. The Design Project 212 is an evolution of the DB4 GT with a unique car incorporating a 4-liter 6-cylinder in-line engine and a lightened bodywork validated in the wind tunnel.
For 1963 Aston Martin prepares the DP214 for the GT class with two cars. This project, similar to the DP212, incorporates bodywork modifications to mitigate the risk of rear lifting.
John Wyer appreciates the motivation and skill of his teams. Under the reference DP215 he requests an additional car for the same competition, with other characteristics for the prototype class. Engineers have two months left to accomplish this feat, with an extremely limited budget.
DP215 has an engine of the same model as DP212 and the five-speed gearbox from the DBR1. The chassis is new, to receive a possible V8 engine. The engine position is lowered.
At the Le Mans practice, the DP215 driven by Phil Hill and Lucien Bianchi is the first car timed at more than 300 Km/h at Mulsanne. Both DP214 achieve a similar performance. None of the three cars finish the 24 hours : at the beginning of the third hour, the transmission of the DP215 is broken.
During its next race at Reims it becomes obvious that the gearbox is undersized for the engine power. After a demonstration run in the same year at Brands Hatch, DP215 abandons the competition. In November 1963 the Aston Martin Racing Department is closed. John Wyer had already left the company.
Its current owner commissioned a gearbox copying that of the DP212 and recovered its original engine that had been installed in the only DP214 survivor. The DP215 was restarted into a working condition close to the original configuration including the spare DP214/215 bodywork built in period by Aston Martin. It was sold for $ 21.5M by RM Sotheby's on August 23, 2018, lot 141.
Please watch the video prepared by the auction house. The image is shared by Wikimedia with attribution By Redsimon [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Competition rules change frequently. The 1962 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is favorable to prototypes. Aston Martin is interested. The Design Project 212 is an evolution of the DB4 GT with a unique car incorporating a 4-liter 6-cylinder in-line engine and a lightened bodywork validated in the wind tunnel.
For 1963 Aston Martin prepares the DP214 for the GT class with two cars. This project, similar to the DP212, incorporates bodywork modifications to mitigate the risk of rear lifting.
John Wyer appreciates the motivation and skill of his teams. Under the reference DP215 he requests an additional car for the same competition, with other characteristics for the prototype class. Engineers have two months left to accomplish this feat, with an extremely limited budget.
DP215 has an engine of the same model as DP212 and the five-speed gearbox from the DBR1. The chassis is new, to receive a possible V8 engine. The engine position is lowered.
At the Le Mans practice, the DP215 driven by Phil Hill and Lucien Bianchi is the first car timed at more than 300 Km/h at Mulsanne. Both DP214 achieve a similar performance. None of the three cars finish the 24 hours : at the beginning of the third hour, the transmission of the DP215 is broken.
During its next race at Reims it becomes obvious that the gearbox is undersized for the engine power. After a demonstration run in the same year at Brands Hatch, DP215 abandons the competition. In November 1963 the Aston Martin Racing Department is closed. John Wyer had already left the company.
Its current owner commissioned a gearbox copying that of the DP212 and recovered its original engine that had been installed in the only DP214 survivor. The DP215 was restarted into a working condition close to the original configuration including the spare DP214/215 bodywork built in period by Aston Martin. It was sold for $ 21.5M by RM Sotheby's on August 23, 2018, lot 141.
Please watch the video prepared by the auction house. The image is shared by Wikimedia with attribution By Redsimon [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
