Cars
See also : Cars II Cars 1930s Post war cars Cars 1954-55 Cars 1956-57 Cars of the 1960s Italy Ferrari Early Ferrari LWB to GTO Ferrari after 1962 British cars Aston Martin Mercedes-Benz Germany Germany II US cars Duesenberg
Chronology : 1935 1954 1955 1956 1957 1962 1967
Reference : all auction results over $ 4M in Wikipedia - Most expensive cars sold at auction. Classified by realized price, descending. Continuously updated.
Chronology : 1935 1954 1955 1956 1957 1962 1967
Reference : all auction results over $ 4M in Wikipedia - Most expensive cars sold at auction. Classified by realized price, descending. Continuously updated.
1935 Duesenberg with the Movie Stars
2018 SOLD for $ 22M including premium
In May 1935 the management of Duesenberg recognizes the commercial failure of their high-end chassis, the Model J released in 1928. EL Cord, boss of the group that owns Duesenberg, launches a project that could save the brand : create the best car in two units to be entrusted respectively to Gary Cooper and Clark Gable. This Duesenberg Special Speedster will be identified from 1951 with the reference SSJ.
The brand's chief designer, J. Herbert Newport, plans to use on a shortened chassis the powerful Duesenberg Special 400 hp eight-cylinder in-line engine under development. The stars give their opinion. An enthusiast about luxury cars, Gary Cooper is appealed by the unprecedented performance of the future model but prefers that this roadster looks like a classic Duesenberg. Newport gives up the idea of a modernist body.
The two cars are provided to the actors in December 1935 for a long-term loan. Cooper's wife, Sandra Shaw, immediately has sent their car back to the factory for changing the color.
Six months later the two stars receive a proposal to buy their car at one-third the price of an ordinary Model J. Cooper accepts. Gable is not interested : he already owns one of the ten units of the Duesenberg JN also produced in 1935.
Cooper and Gable did not make the spectacular use that Cord was waiting for. We do not know when Cooper sold his car. Cord could have anticipated that it is not so easy to use the capricious Hollywood celebrities as advertising agents for luxury cars. Already in 1934 Mae West had refused the project of a SJ Town Car designed especially for her by Duesenberg.
There will be no other SSJ. Its supercharged engine was only used on these two cars and temporarily on the one-off Special ordered by Ab Jenkins to race the land speed record in Bonneville.
Little used, Gary Cooper's SSJ has only 20,000 miles on the clock. It had only two owners since 1949, Briggs Cunningham and Miles Collier. Historian of automotive technology and tall ships, Collier wisely prefers to preserve the old cars rather than to restore them. This SSJ has kept intact its original chassis, engine and body and even has the canvas of its folding roof. It is estimated $ 10M for sale by Gooding at Pebble Beach on August 24, lot 35. Here is the link to the press release.
The car is driven and narrated by David Gooding in the videoshared by the auction house.
The brand's chief designer, J. Herbert Newport, plans to use on a shortened chassis the powerful Duesenberg Special 400 hp eight-cylinder in-line engine under development. The stars give their opinion. An enthusiast about luxury cars, Gary Cooper is appealed by the unprecedented performance of the future model but prefers that this roadster looks like a classic Duesenberg. Newport gives up the idea of a modernist body.
The two cars are provided to the actors in December 1935 for a long-term loan. Cooper's wife, Sandra Shaw, immediately has sent their car back to the factory for changing the color.
Six months later the two stars receive a proposal to buy their car at one-third the price of an ordinary Model J. Cooper accepts. Gable is not interested : he already owns one of the ten units of the Duesenberg JN also produced in 1935.
Cooper and Gable did not make the spectacular use that Cord was waiting for. We do not know when Cooper sold his car. Cord could have anticipated that it is not so easy to use the capricious Hollywood celebrities as advertising agents for luxury cars. Already in 1934 Mae West had refused the project of a SJ Town Car designed especially for her by Duesenberg.
There will be no other SSJ. Its supercharged engine was only used on these two cars and temporarily on the one-off Special ordered by Ab Jenkins to race the land speed record in Bonneville.
Little used, Gary Cooper's SSJ has only 20,000 miles on the clock. It had only two owners since 1949, Briggs Cunningham and Miles Collier. Historian of automotive technology and tall ships, Collier wisely prefers to preserve the old cars rather than to restore them. This SSJ has kept intact its original chassis, engine and body and even has the canvas of its folding roof. It is estimated $ 10M for sale by Gooding at Pebble Beach on August 24, lot 35. Here is the link to the press release.
The car is driven and narrated by David Gooding in the videoshared by the auction house.
1954 The Open-Wheeled Champion
2013 SOLD 19.6 M£ including premium
Everything goes very fast, in any meaning of the word, for Mercedes-Benz at the beginning of 1954. Technology is the best asset to win competitions. For coming back to racing, the German brand aligns the 300SL model for endurance and the W196 single-seater model for Formula 1.
They must win. Mercedes managed to take the best driver, Juan Manuel Fangio, world champion in 1951 with Alfa Romeo, who had just won the first two grand prix of the season on a Maserati.
For their first collaboration, Mercedes and Fangio win the Reims grand prix on a W196 with enclosed wheels. Surrounding the wheel by a piece of bodywork is a theoretical advantage because it limits the impact of air friction. The top speed exceeds 200 km / h.
At that time, the skill of the pilot is prevailing on theories. The next grand prix, at Silverstone, is sinuous. Powerless against Ferrari, Fangio requires the withdrawal of the enclosing to improve his freedom of action. This is the right decision.
Thus are born the chassis 005 and 006 of the W196. With the open wheeled 006, Fangio wins the next two grand prix, in Germany at the Nürburgring and in Switzerland at Bremgarten.
The 006 has no rival for the title of most prestigious single-seater car of all time, formerly driven by the most skilful driver of all time. It is for sale on July 12 by Bonhams at Goodwood.
POST SALE COMMENT
006 is not far from being the most prestigious car of all time in all categories. Its result at auction is the highest of all time: £ 19.6 million including premium.
An open wheeled W196 (perhaps the 006) is driven by Fangio himself during a demonstration at the Nürburgring in 1986. The image below is licensed under Creative Commons with attribution By Lothar Spurzem [CC-BY-SA-2.0-de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons.
They must win. Mercedes managed to take the best driver, Juan Manuel Fangio, world champion in 1951 with Alfa Romeo, who had just won the first two grand prix of the season on a Maserati.
For their first collaboration, Mercedes and Fangio win the Reims grand prix on a W196 with enclosed wheels. Surrounding the wheel by a piece of bodywork is a theoretical advantage because it limits the impact of air friction. The top speed exceeds 200 km / h.
At that time, the skill of the pilot is prevailing on theories. The next grand prix, at Silverstone, is sinuous. Powerless against Ferrari, Fangio requires the withdrawal of the enclosing to improve his freedom of action. This is the right decision.
Thus are born the chassis 005 and 006 of the W196. With the open wheeled 006, Fangio wins the next two grand prix, in Germany at the Nürburgring and in Switzerland at Bremgarten.
The 006 has no rival for the title of most prestigious single-seater car of all time, formerly driven by the most skilful driver of all time. It is for sale on July 12 by Bonhams at Goodwood.
POST SALE COMMENT
006 is not far from being the most prestigious car of all time in all categories. Its result at auction is the highest of all time: £ 19.6 million including premium.
An open wheeled W196 (perhaps the 006) is driven by Fangio himself during a demonstration at the Nürburgring in 1986. The image below is licensed under Creative Commons with attribution By Lothar Spurzem [CC-BY-SA-2.0-de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons.
1955 For Winning the Pan-Am
2014 SOLD for $ 23M including premium
In 1950, the Mexican government created the Carrera Panamericana. The difficulty of this endurance race over 3300 Km of roads stirs the lust of the best car brands.
In 1954, the Pan-Am was won by Umberto Maglioli for Scuderia Ferrari with a Ferrari 375 Plus. 375 Plus was the technological sensation of the year, designed for power and endurance with its huge engine of 4.9 liters.
In 1955, Ferrari wants to do even better. The model 410 Sport or 410 S CM is based on a volume of engine similar to the 375 Plus but the mechanical equipment around is highly changed. CM meaning Carrera Messicana clearly indicates that Ferrari relied on the Pan-Am for demonstrating their superiority.
It is required that the car is stable. A new chassis lowers the center of gravity and the wheelbase is slightly reduced to a new standard that will be used two years later for the 250 Testarossa.
The car must be independent over long distances. To avoid refueling, the 410 S is equipped with a vast reservoir of 195 liters and large pipes.
Four cars are built, the first two for private clients and the other two for the Scuderia.
The first is a spyder. It waits in vain for the Mexican race which is canceled after the accident at Le Mans for the great frustration of Enzo Ferrari. It has been little raced and has an incident free history.
It is offered in Monterey by Rick Cole in an auction that ends on August 17 without a floor session. It is illustrated on the article shared by Sports Car Digest.
The second car is the only of the four to have been coachworked as a berlinetta. It was sold for $ 8.25 million including premium by RM Auctions on August 17, 2012. The last two are spyders. One of them was sold for $ 3.8 million including premium by RM Auctions in August 2001, an outstanding price for that time.
POST SALE COMMENT
Reported as unsold with a maximum bid of $ 22.111M.
Sports Car Digest later caught the information that it was sold in post block sale for a final price of $ 23M.
In 1954, the Pan-Am was won by Umberto Maglioli for Scuderia Ferrari with a Ferrari 375 Plus. 375 Plus was the technological sensation of the year, designed for power and endurance with its huge engine of 4.9 liters.
In 1955, Ferrari wants to do even better. The model 410 Sport or 410 S CM is based on a volume of engine similar to the 375 Plus but the mechanical equipment around is highly changed. CM meaning Carrera Messicana clearly indicates that Ferrari relied on the Pan-Am for demonstrating their superiority.
It is required that the car is stable. A new chassis lowers the center of gravity and the wheelbase is slightly reduced to a new standard that will be used two years later for the 250 Testarossa.
The car must be independent over long distances. To avoid refueling, the 410 S is equipped with a vast reservoir of 195 liters and large pipes.
Four cars are built, the first two for private clients and the other two for the Scuderia.
The first is a spyder. It waits in vain for the Mexican race which is canceled after the accident at Le Mans for the great frustration of Enzo Ferrari. It has been little raced and has an incident free history.
It is offered in Monterey by Rick Cole in an auction that ends on August 17 without a floor session. It is illustrated on the article shared by Sports Car Digest.
The second car is the only of the four to have been coachworked as a berlinetta. It was sold for $ 8.25 million including premium by RM Auctions on August 17, 2012. The last two are spyders. One of them was sold for $ 3.8 million including premium by RM Auctions in August 2001, an outstanding price for that time.
POST SALE COMMENT
Reported as unsold with a maximum bid of $ 22.111M.
Sports Car Digest later caught the information that it was sold in post block sale for a final price of $ 23M.
1956 A Ferrari for the Use of Fangio
2015 SOLD for $ 28M including premium
Mercedes-Benz stopped its involvement in competition at the end of the 1955 season. Ferrari watched around the corner and managed to sign a contract with Juan Manuel Fangio. Aged 45 in 1956, the Argentine champion felt that his future was unassured due to the fall of Peron and could not any more consider to retire.
The World Sportscar Championship arouses a similar interest as Formula 1. Faced with the formidable challenge from the Maserati 300S, Ferrari prepares the 290 MM, certainly with some recommendations by its new driver. As usual for Ferrari at that time, the race for which the model is specifically prepared is indicated in the description: MM means Mille Miglia. Four cars are built.
The 1956 Mille Miglia are disturbed by heavy rain that causes no less than three fatalities. The competition is won by a 290 MM driven by Castellotti. Fangio is fourth with his car of the same model.
That 290 MM will not be reused later by Fangio but will have a significant history with other top drivers from the Scuderia Ferrari such as Portago, Phil Hill and Gendebien. Sold to a US private owner in the middle of the 1957 season, it is raced until 1964 without any crash.
This car has retained all its original features: chassis, engine, gearbox and its body by Scaglietti. It is for sale by RM Sotheby's in New York on December 10, lot 221.
Fangio failed to cooperate permanently with Enzo Ferrari and came back to Maserati just after his one-year contract. The Ferrari cars driven in competition by this champion are indeed extremely rare and the example for sale has an amazing authenticity. It is estimated $ 28M.
The World Sportscar Championship arouses a similar interest as Formula 1. Faced with the formidable challenge from the Maserati 300S, Ferrari prepares the 290 MM, certainly with some recommendations by its new driver. As usual for Ferrari at that time, the race for which the model is specifically prepared is indicated in the description: MM means Mille Miglia. Four cars are built.
The 1956 Mille Miglia are disturbed by heavy rain that causes no less than three fatalities. The competition is won by a 290 MM driven by Castellotti. Fangio is fourth with his car of the same model.
That 290 MM will not be reused later by Fangio but will have a significant history with other top drivers from the Scuderia Ferrari such as Portago, Phil Hill and Gendebien. Sold to a US private owner in the middle of the 1957 season, it is raced until 1964 without any crash.
This car has retained all its original features: chassis, engine, gearbox and its body by Scaglietti. It is for sale by RM Sotheby's in New York on December 10, lot 221.
Fangio failed to cooperate permanently with Enzo Ferrari and came back to Maserati just after his one-year contract. The Ferrari cars driven in competition by this champion are indeed extremely rare and the example for sale has an amazing authenticity. It is estimated $ 28M.
1956 Aston Martin targets Le Mans
2017 SOLD for $ 22.6M including premium
When David Brown buys Aston Martin and Lagonda in 1947, his ambition is to lead Aston Martin to win at the 24 hours of Le Mans by relying on the innovative achievements of both brands. Twelve years of stubborn efforts will follow.
The valiant DB3S manages to sneak into the podiums of the endurance competitions but is not powerful enough against Ferrari, Jaguar and Maserati. The changes in Le Mans regulation for limiting the volume in the prototype category are favorable to Ferrari and Aston Martin. The two brands launch ambitious developments : the 250 TR in 1957 for Ferrari and the DBR1 (David Brown Racing 1) in 1956 for Aston Martin.
The first DBR1 car (DBR1/1) is assembled in 1956 with a 3-liter engine sometimes replaced until 1958 by a 2.5-liter engine to comply with the new regulations of some competitions. In 1957 a second DBR1 is made, along with two DBR2 equipped with a larger engine that will be upgraded in two phases to 4.2 liters. Three additional DBR1 will follow.
This model is perfect for the 1000 Km Nürburgring won in 1957 by DBR1/2, in 1958 by DBR1/3, and in 1959 by DBR1/1 with Stirling Moss and Jack Fairman. Taking advantage of Ferrari's misfortune, DBR1/2 realizes at last its boss's dream by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959. After a final DBR1/2 victory at Goodwood, Aston Martin stops the competition probably due to financial difficulties and the cars continue their careers with private teams.
Painstakingly maintained as close as possible to its 1959 configuration with the cooperation of the former chief designer of the DBR project, DBR1/1 will be sold by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 18, lot 148. It is equipped with a replica engine of the correct configuration and accompanied by its 3-liter engine of 1959. The press release of June 23 expects a price in excess of $ 20M.
Wikipedia and several sources on the web since 2013 indicate that DBR2/1 was sold for £ 9.2M in a private sale.
Please watch in the RM tweet the very short video shared by the auction house.
Wikimedia shares an image of DBR1/1 driven by Carroll Shelby at Sebring in 1958. Attribution : By C5813 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The valiant DB3S manages to sneak into the podiums of the endurance competitions but is not powerful enough against Ferrari, Jaguar and Maserati. The changes in Le Mans regulation for limiting the volume in the prototype category are favorable to Ferrari and Aston Martin. The two brands launch ambitious developments : the 250 TR in 1957 for Ferrari and the DBR1 (David Brown Racing 1) in 1956 for Aston Martin.
The first DBR1 car (DBR1/1) is assembled in 1956 with a 3-liter engine sometimes replaced until 1958 by a 2.5-liter engine to comply with the new regulations of some competitions. In 1957 a second DBR1 is made, along with two DBR2 equipped with a larger engine that will be upgraded in two phases to 4.2 liters. Three additional DBR1 will follow.
This model is perfect for the 1000 Km Nürburgring won in 1957 by DBR1/2, in 1958 by DBR1/3, and in 1959 by DBR1/1 with Stirling Moss and Jack Fairman. Taking advantage of Ferrari's misfortune, DBR1/2 realizes at last its boss's dream by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959. After a final DBR1/2 victory at Goodwood, Aston Martin stops the competition probably due to financial difficulties and the cars continue their careers with private teams.
Painstakingly maintained as close as possible to its 1959 configuration with the cooperation of the former chief designer of the DBR project, DBR1/1 will be sold by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 18, lot 148. It is equipped with a replica engine of the correct configuration and accompanied by its 3-liter engine of 1959. The press release of June 23 expects a price in excess of $ 20M.
Wikipedia and several sources on the web since 2013 indicate that DBR2/1 was sold for £ 9.2M in a private sale.
Please watch in the RM tweet the very short video shared by the auction house.
Wikimedia shares an image of DBR1/1 driven by Carroll Shelby at Sebring in 1958. Attribution : By C5813 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
1957 Prototipi for the Mille Miglia
2016 SOLD for € 32M including premium
The Prototipi class in endurance racing enables Ferrari to develop in the mid-1950s a range of powerful and spectacular vehicles made in very small quantities. The top goal is to win the Mille Miglia.
In 1956, Ferrari's efforts were rewarded by a return to victory with a 290 MM driven by Castellotti. Another 290 MM driven by Fangio went fourth. This latter car was sold for $ 28M including premium by RM Sotheby's on 10 December 2015.
In 1957 the 315 S with a 3.8-liter engine and the 335 S with a 4-liter engine appear as the successors to the 290 MM. A 315 S driven by Taruffi won the race ahead of another 315 S driven by Von Trips. Unfortunately the most prestigious Italian endurance competition is forbidden by the Italian government following the accident of the 335 S of De Portago.
Other competitions continue and the cars are subject to the improvements necessary to maintain their competitiveness. The Ferrari 315 S which had been used by Von Trips receives a 4-liter engine, becoming a 335 S. It is also equipped with the fender pontoon front intended to reduce the overheating, which makes the glory in the same year of the 250 Testarossa .
After a very good competition history, the 315 S / 335 S enters the collection of Pierre Bardinon who restores it in its spider configuration while separately keeping the pontoon fender that still accompanies the car today. It is estimated € 28M for sale by Artcurial in Paris on February 5, lot 170. Here is the link to the press release.
In 1956, Ferrari's efforts were rewarded by a return to victory with a 290 MM driven by Castellotti. Another 290 MM driven by Fangio went fourth. This latter car was sold for $ 28M including premium by RM Sotheby's on 10 December 2015.
In 1957 the 315 S with a 3.8-liter engine and the 335 S with a 4-liter engine appear as the successors to the 290 MM. A 315 S driven by Taruffi won the race ahead of another 315 S driven by Von Trips. Unfortunately the most prestigious Italian endurance competition is forbidden by the Italian government following the accident of the 335 S of De Portago.
Other competitions continue and the cars are subject to the improvements necessary to maintain their competitiveness. The Ferrari 315 S which had been used by Von Trips receives a 4-liter engine, becoming a 335 S. It is also equipped with the fender pontoon front intended to reduce the overheating, which makes the glory in the same year of the 250 Testarossa .
After a very good competition history, the 315 S / 335 S enters the collection of Pierre Bardinon who restores it in its spider configuration while separately keeping the pontoon fender that still accompanies the car today. It is estimated € 28M for sale by Artcurial in Paris on February 5, lot 170. Here is the link to the press release.
1962 The Two Series of the 250 GTO
2018 SOLD for $ 48M including premium
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 Ferrari250 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 at the beginning of 1962. 33 cars are built according to this model. They immediately dominate endurance and hill competitions. However Bizzarrini had left the company after a disagreement with Enzo Ferrari.
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 is estimated $ 45M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 25, lot 247. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
This car was 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.
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 at the beginning of 1962. 33 cars are built according to this model. They immediately dominate endurance and hill competitions. However Bizzarrini had left the company after a disagreement with Enzo Ferrari.
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 is estimated $ 45M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 25, lot 247. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
This car was 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.
1962 Opening the Club of the 250 GTO Owners
2014 SOLD 38 M$ including premium
The Ferrari 250 GTO (Gran Turismo Omologato) is the skilled union of the 250GT SWB chassis and of the 250TR engine, designed to win endurance and hill climbing competitions. It was coachworked as a berlinetta by Scaglietti. Its perfect geometry has also been improved after wind tunnel tests.
39 cars were manufactured between 1962 and 1964, which is a high figure for a commercial upscale Ferrari. Some have been modified. 28 units remain with the 3-litre engine from its original design.
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.
For this reason, the history of the 250 GTO at auction is null. Sports Car Digest retrieved two events: a car unpaid after it was sold by Sotheby's in Monaco in 1990 and another one unsold by Brooks at Gstaad in 2000.
The sale by Bonhams at Quail Lodge on August 14 of a 250 GTO is a great event in the history of automobile auctions. Coming from a deceased estate, it had not changed hands for nearly half a century and is offered without reserve, lot 3.
This car has accumulated an interesting competition record after a bad start. Made in 1962, it was much damaged at Montlhéry on 7 October 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.
POST SALE COMMENT
Such an event was expected for many years: a Ferrari 250 GTO sold at auction! The result, $ 38 million including premium, enters the price range expected by Bonhams.
39 cars were manufactured between 1962 and 1964, which is a high figure for a commercial upscale Ferrari. Some have been modified. 28 units remain with the 3-litre engine from its original design.
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.
For this reason, the history of the 250 GTO at auction is null. Sports Car Digest retrieved two events: a car unpaid after it was sold by Sotheby's in Monaco in 1990 and another one unsold by Brooks at Gstaad in 2000.
The sale by Bonhams at Quail Lodge on August 14 of a 250 GTO is a great event in the history of automobile auctions. Coming from a deceased estate, it had not changed hands for nearly half a century and is offered without reserve, lot 3.
This car has accumulated an interesting competition record after a bad start. Made in 1962, it was much damaged at Montlhéry on 7 October 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.
POST SALE COMMENT
Such an event was expected for many years: a Ferrari 250 GTO sold at auction! The result, $ 38 million including premium, enters the price range expected by Bonhams.
1964 The Race against the Regulations
2014 SOLD 26.4 M$ including premium
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. Remind that the failed negotiations between Ford and Ferrari 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 competition prototypes identified as 275 GTB/C Speciale with a bodywork by Scaglietti.
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 the third place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1965 behind two Ferrari 250 LM.
The 275 GTB/C Speciale is extremely rare on the market. The first of the three is for sale by RM Auctions at Monterey on August 16, lot 239.
This is undoubtedly one of the most important cars in the history of automobile auctions. It paved the way for the limited series of the 275 GTB/C (without the word Speciale) of which a unit made in 1966 was sold for € 5.7 million including premium by RM Auctions on May 10, 2014.
I invite you to play the video shared on YouTube by RM Auctions.
POST SALE COMMENT
The special series of 275 GTB are confirmed as the most prestigious Ferrari cars after the 250 GTO. This 275 was sold for $ 24M before fees, 26.4M including premium.
It achieves a similar price as the 275 GTB / 4 NART that was sold for $ 27,5M including premium by RM Auctions on August 17, 2013.
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. Remind that the failed negotiations between Ford and Ferrari 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 competition prototypes identified as 275 GTB/C Speciale with a bodywork by Scaglietti.
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 the third place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1965 behind two Ferrari 250 LM.
The 275 GTB/C Speciale is extremely rare on the market. The first of the three is for sale by RM Auctions at Monterey on August 16, lot 239.
This is undoubtedly one of the most important cars in the history of automobile auctions. It paved the way for the limited series of the 275 GTB/C (without the word Speciale) of which a unit made in 1966 was sold for € 5.7 million including premium by RM Auctions on May 10, 2014.
I invite you to play the video shared on YouTube by RM Auctions.
POST SALE COMMENT
The special series of 275 GTB are confirmed as the most prestigious Ferrari cars after the 250 GTO. This 275 was sold for $ 24M before fees, 26.4M including premium.
It achieves a similar price as the 275 GTB / 4 NART that was sold for $ 27,5M including premium by RM Auctions on August 17, 2013.
1967 The North American Ferrari
2013 SOLD 27.5 M$ including premium
Ferrari has always endeavoured 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 got 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 275GTB chassis.
Ten Ferrari 275GTB / 4 NART Spider cars were produced, a quantity certainly lesser than Chinetti's demand. Times are tough for Ferrari, who had to put an end to the 250GTO and escaped very narrowly an acquisition by Ford.
This rare NART Spider appears as an outstanding post-GTO model fitted to arouse passions. This small convertible is very efficient and highly elegant, and would later be imitated. Some owners of 275GTB in more standard variants will even wish to rebuild their car as a NART Spider.
One of the ten original 275GTB / 4 NART Spider cars remained in the family of the original owner who adored it. It is sold for the benefit of charities by RM Auctions in Monterey on 16 and 17 August.
I invite you to play the video shared on YouTube by Petrolicious for RM Auctions.
POST SALE COMMENT
This Ferrari was sold for $ 25M before fees. It is in very good condition and was sold to benefit charities, but this price is especially recognizing one of the best models that followed the 250 GTO.
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 got 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 275GTB chassis.
Ten Ferrari 275GTB / 4 NART Spider cars were produced, a quantity certainly lesser than Chinetti's demand. Times are tough for Ferrari, who had to put an end to the 250GTO and escaped very narrowly an acquisition by Ford.
This rare NART Spider appears as an outstanding post-GTO model fitted to arouse passions. This small convertible is very efficient and highly elegant, and would later be imitated. Some owners of 275GTB in more standard variants will even wish to rebuild their car as a NART Spider.
One of the ten original 275GTB / 4 NART Spider cars remained in the family of the original owner who adored it. It is sold for the benefit of charities by RM Auctions in Monterey on 16 and 17 August.
I invite you to play the video shared on YouTube by Petrolicious for RM Auctions.
POST SALE COMMENT
This Ferrari was sold for $ 25M before fees. It is in very good condition and was sold to benefit charities, but this price is especially recognizing one of the best models that followed the 250 GTO.
