Despite the widespread belief that all 36 of the 250 GTOs are still in existence today, it was just the third 250 GTO to ever roll off the Maranello assembly line.
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Italian 250 GTO
Gran Turismo Omologato, which translates to “Grand Touring Homologated” in Italian, stands for the displacement in cubic centimeters of each of its cylinders. The number “250” in the name signifies this.
Of the 250 GTOs, only 36 were produced between 1962 and 1964. This contains three 1964 Series II cars and 33 Series I vehicles with bodywork resembling the Ferrari 250 LM from the years 1962 to 1963. In 1964, four earlier Series I vehicles from the years 1962 to 1963 were upgraded with Series II bodywork.
The 250 GTO originally cost $18,000 in the United States, and Enzo Ferrari and his dealer in North America, Luigi Chinetti, personally authorized customers. [ref] Since then, this model has grown in popularity among auto enthusiasts, and sales have frequently shattered sales records. In June 2018, the 1963 250 GTO (chassis 4153GT) that now holds the record for the most expensive Ferrari was sold in a private transaction for $70 million.
The 250 GTO was recognized as the best sports vehicle of all time by Sports Car International in 2004 and ranked ninth on a list of the Top Sports Cars of the 1960s. The 250 GTO was also ranked first on a list of the “Greatest Ferraris of All Time” by Motor Trend Classic, and it was dubbed the “Hottest Car of All Time” by Popular Mechanics.
A Quick History of the Ferrari 250 GTO in the World of Luxury
Every time a Ferrari 250 GTO is put up for sale, a big event occurs. It is not only one of the most sought-after sports vehicles in history, but it is also one of the most uncommon. Only 36 were made, all between 1962 and 1964, yet, astonishingly, collectors can identify every single one of them. Ralph Lauren and computer tycoon Craig McCaw each possess one. In August 2014, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO broke the auction record when it sold for $38.1 million. Another 1962 GTO, the third one ever constructed, will be put up for auction at RM Sotheby’s on August 24. With a presale estimate of $45 million, this Ferrari is likely to smash the auction record in addition to having an illustrious racing history.
The 250 GTO, the last edition of Ferrari’s 250 model, was designed for racing but also served as a road vehicle. GTO stands for Gran Turismo Omologato, meaning Grand Touring Homologated. The body, which was effectively a 250 Testa Rossa, was powered by a 300 horsepower, 3-liter V12 engine. Each owner of such a beauty received the personal endorsement of Enzo Ferrari, who set the price for such a beauty at $18,000 (about $150,000 today).
1962 250 GTO was a steal at $5,400 when it was sold privately, decades before it was deemed a classic.
The Greatest Barn Find: Chassis 3987 spent 15 years decaying in a field before it was repaired and brought back to life. In 1986, [+] was sold for $1 million.
A 1962 250 GTO that had rusted in a field for 15 years before being repaired was purchased by collector Frank Gallogly for a then-record $1 million a year after Ralph Lauren paid $650,000 for chassis 3987 and Ferrari fever was in full swing. He sold it for $4.2 million two years later.
Cellphone pioneer Craig McCaw purchased a 1962 250 GTO that had formerly belonged to racing icon Stirling Moss in a $35 million private deal.
Record Holder, Part 1: Will the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO’s auction sale price be surpassed in… August [+]?
A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO earned a record price at Bonhams’ annual Quail Lodge auction when it sold to Carlos Monteverde, the son of billionaire Brazilian philanthropist Lily Safra, for $38.1 million.
Record Holder, Part 2: The CEO of WeatherTech reportedly paid $70 million for this 1963 Ferrari.
David MacNeil, the founder and CEO of WeatherTech, purchased a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO privately for an estimated $70 million (the equivalent of about a million car mats).
The New Prize: Will this 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO surpass all previous auction records for a vehicle?
After a successful racing career, Gianni Bulgari purchased the 1962 250 GTO chassis 3413 in 1963. The Ferrari was bought by billionaire Sir Anthony Bamford six years (and a few owners) later, and after a few more owners, Greg Whitten, a former Microsoft chief software architect, bought it in 2000 for $7 million. The car is currently being offered for sale at RM Sotheby’s, where it is anticipated to break auction records. Whitten justifies his choice to sell by saying, “I’ve had the GTO for a long time.” “I want to buy additional cars as well.”
History Of The Ferrari 250 GTO Production
Given how few were produced by the Italian company, the Ferrari 250 GTO is so pricey. During a brief production cycle from 1962 to 1964, only 36 were produced.
These sports vehicles were created for on-track competition in the FIA’s Group 3 class. The Ferrari 250 GTO had an exceptional track record during its prime because to such design. It became an icon after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Tour de France Automobile, and several Grands Prix.
The 250 GTO was a force to be reckoned with as soon as it reached the circuit. The performance of the vintage Ferrari exceeded all expectations, and it quickly rose to collectible status.
It’s virtually impossible to get a genuine 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO because so few of them were ever made. Anyone who owns one wants to keep it, and anyone who wants to purchase one needs to have a lot of extra money.
Concerning the Ferrari 250 GTO
Since the 250 GTO is the Ferrari that has received the greatest praise, it is worthwhile to learn more about its background. There are only 36 copies, and each one has a fascinating past. Racing in the 1960s was not about preservation; some vehicles had long since lost their original engines and aluminum bodywork, making the few correct vehicles even more desirable.
Despite the prevalence of fakes, “all 36 examples of the real object are accounted for, none having ever been lost, and all have proven lineage”2 Several excellent books have been produced on the subject, one of which details the rescue of chassis 3589GT from a field.
There are how many 1962 Ferrari 250 GTOs in existence?
To be homologated for Group 3 Grand Touring Car racing in 1962, a car had to be produced in at least one hundred examples, according to FIA standards. Ferrari only produced 36 250 GTOs (33 of the 1962-design Series I cars and three 1964-design Series II cars, with revised bodywork). The three more “330 GTO” vehicles with the four-liter 330 engine—identified by the noticeable hump on the bonnet—are occasionally added to the total production number, bringing it to 39. It became a common misconception that Enzo Ferrari moved the same automobiles between different places to give the appearance that all 100 cars were there when FIA inspectors arrived to verify that 100 examples had been produced. Actually, no deception was necessary because the older 250 GT Berlinetta SWB model’s homologation paid the cost of the construction of the 250 GTO. These homologation papers were issued in 1960, but between 1961 and 1964, extensions were often requested and approved, enabling Ferrari to make additions not covered by the initial specification, such as alterations to the engine, transmission, and suspension. Additionally, because more than 100 bodies had been constructed in accordance with the previous 250 GT SWB specification, FIA rules permitted the design of a new body, which resulted in the creation of the new 250 GTO body style. Similar procedures were employed to homologate the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato and the Jaguar E-Type Lightweight, so this form of homologation was not exclusive to Ferrari.
How many Ferrari 250 GTO models are there today?
A 1963 silver Ferrari GTO was sold privately for $70 million in June 2018, which is said to be the most money ever spent on a vehicle.
A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO in red went for $48.4 million at auction in August of that year.
And in October 2017, British historic vehicle dealer and former race driver Gregor Fisken purchased the blue 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO owned by Washington, D.C.-based attorney Bernard Carl for $44 million.
The car’s gearbox is currently the subject of a $500,000 legal dispute between Carl and Fisken.
According to The Telegraph, Fisken claims he purchased the Ferrari with the knowledge that it lacked the original gearbox, a component of the transmission, but with the agreement that Carl would eventually provide it to him.
Fisken sued Carl for contract breach and demanded that Carl deliver the original gearbox right now. Carl then filed a lawsuit against Fisken, alleging that Fisken failed to locate the part because neither he nor Carl would pay a $25,000 fee to the American auto dealer that Carl claims is in possession of it. In addition, Carl is requesting from Fisken $500,000 to pay the expense of his search for the original gearbox.
Both men no longer actually own the car, but the matter is still pending. According to The Telegraph, Fisken sold the Ferrari to a “rich unnamed collector” in 2017 for an unknown sum.
The racing heritage of Ferrari GTOs contributes to their popularity. The GTO at the focus of the legal dispute competed in a number of notable races in the 1960s, including two in particular.
Famous endurance racers Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien drove this Ferrari in the “12 Hours of Sebring” in 1962, finishing second.
The most renowned endurance race, the “24 Hours of Le Mans,” was won by Hill and Gendebien in the Ferrari that same year.
Its components were frequently taken out and changed as a race car to increase the likelihood of success on the track. Forbes claims that this is the reason the vehicle’s original gearbox was taken out and not replaced.
Ferrari claims that the 3-liter V12 engine used in the 250 GTO produces 300 horsepower at 7,400 rpm. It is left- or right-hand drive and features a cable-operated handbrake on the rear wheels.
A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO is owned by who?
Two 250 GTOs are currently held by three people: Wal-Rob Mart’s Walton, hedge fund owners Tony and Lulu Wang (who are unrelated to owner Brandon Wang in the United Kingdom), and British industrialist Sir Anthony Bamford, who had briefly owned the chassis that just sold.
What is the value of a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO?
The most ardent Ferrari collectors will go to any lengths to acquire a vintage model. The absurd sums that affluent aficionados have paid to add vintage Ferraris to their collections serve as evidence for this. In 2018, a record price was paid at auction for a classic car, and the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO is no exception.
At a Sotheby’s auction in California, one fortunate investor won the renowned Ferrari with a price of $48.4 million. It was anticipated that the red 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO would sell for between $45 million and $60 million at auction.
The winning price of $48.4 million is substantial, but it falls short of expectations given what was anticipated of the Ferrari. Even more amazingly, a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO was also sold in 2018 for $80 million, albeit privately. The hand-built nature of every Ferrari 250 GTO that left the factory only serves to enhance the attraction of this legendary GT.
What makes the Ferrari 250 GTO unique?
The Ferrari 250 GTO was able to reach an extraordinary top speed of 170 miles per hour because to its fantastic V12 engine and aerodynamic body design. One of the most storied engine combinations in a car is this one because it has larger valves and dry-sump lubrication.
Additionally, the engine had a twin overhead camshaft, six twin-choke Weber carburetors, and wet cast-iron cylinder liners. A five-speed all-synchronized transmission was also added to the Ferrari. When you put it all together, you get a 2,953cc masterpiece that had 300 horsepower.
The Ferrari 250 GTO won the GT World Championships in 1962, 1963, and 1964 using this engine and architecture. It also won the Targa Florio, Sebring 12-hour, Le Mans, and Spa 1000km.
The Ferrari won more than 300 races across the world when it was on the track, taking first place in its class. These accomplishments rank among the best wins for a road car, or any car for that matter. Legendary statistics back this up.
Only three 4.0L with 3967cc engine GTOs were produced in 1964. At 7500 rpm, the engine was producing 390 horsepower.
This was in fact Ferrari’s last excellent front-engine GT car to be produced.