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.
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Why is the Ferrari 250 GTO so costly?
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.
There are how many Ferrari GTO 250s?
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.
What is the value of a Ferrari 250 SWB?
You have every right to be dubious. The RML 250 Short Wheelbase, which you can see here, is an odd hybrid of the Ferrari 550 Maranello and the gorgeous 1959 250 GT Berlinetta Short Wheelbase, or 250 SWB as it is more popularly known. It costs $1.6 million and was constructed by the Northamptonshire, England-based business RML. RML will only produce 30 instances, and there’s a fair probability that you’ll think that this is a pastiche intended to rip off the rich and foolish for millions of dollars. Or at least those that have the idiotic impulse to always distinguish from their wealthy friends, regardless of the expense or idea. The RML 250 SWB, which is based on a Ferrari, is undoubtedly unique, but why is it ever made?
Is the Ferrari 250 GTO the priciest car in the entire world?
In the world of collectable cars, the Ferrari 250 GTO is recognized as the Holy Grail. It is one of the rarest Ferraris in existence and one of the most successful racing cars of its era, which only increases the value of this historical artifact. Only 36 units were produced between 1962 and 1964.
There is no such thing as a cheap Ferrari 250 GTO, but this specific model from 1963 with the serial number 4153 GT currently holds the record for the most expensive vehicle ever sold at auction for a staggering $70,00,000. This front-engined GT car was capable of reaching 174 mph, which was unheard of at the time, and ran the quarter-mile in just 13.1 seconds thanks to its 302 horsepower Tipo Comp. 3-liter V-12 and 5-speed gearbox with Porsche-style synchromesh. One of the main factors in this record-breaking example’s high price is the fact that it even won the Tour de France in 1964. If and when the anonymous owner of this legendary piece of automotive history decides to sell it, the same example is predicted to bring over $100 million.
A Ferrari 250 GT California is owned by whom?
According to a press statement, a record-breaking $18.5 million was paid for a very rare 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder at an Artcurial auction in Paris on Friday. Only a handful of these cars were ever produced. The car is notable not only for its rarity but also for its odd provenance.
It was found with 60 other extinct antique cars on a farm in western France and previously belonged to actor Alain Delon. The collection, which features well-known brands like Maserati and Bugatti, is said to have been lost for fifty years.
The discovery was compared by Artcurial’s managing director Matthieu Lamoure to discovering Tutankhamun’s tomb in the context of automobiles.
Following a tip about the farm, Lamoure and expert Pierre Novikoff went there and discovered a number of sizable improvised shelters housing the cars, many of which were rotting and had little to no protection from the elements. Novikoff described it as “something between a museum and a steel graveyard.”
The collection belongs to Roger Baillon, an auto enthusiast who bought the farm in the 1950s with the goal of turning it into a museum. Unfortunately, he had to sell off some of the collection as his business struggled in the 1970s, thus the museum was never established.
Delon was photographed in the vehicle with Shirley MacLaine and Jane Fonda during his two-year ownership of it. It was thought to be lost forever by historians.
Delon attacked the auction house for inflating the price of the automobile by using his name, according to ArtDaily, and said that “anything that has been indicated, referenced, or published regarding the sale of this car has been done without my authorization.”
How many more 250 GTOs are there?
Although it’s popularly believed 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.
What is the most affordable Ferrari?
The brand of supercars that is perhaps best known worldwide is Ferrari. This Italian carmaker has gained notoriety for its outstanding performance and domination in motorsports. In order to make their sports vehicles even more thrilling, Ferrari has started using turbocharging and electricity.
The Portofino is the least costly Ferrari currently on the market, yet no Ferrari can be classified as entry-level. The base price of this classy roadster is around $215,000 before options, and like any Ferrari, extras are available in abundance.
Most Expensive: The SF90 Stradale is a display of Ferrari’s performance prowess. Its hybridized twin-turbo V-8 produces close to 1,000 horsepower. The SF90 is considerably over $1 million in price, but you can’t just go into a dealer’s lot and purchase one. To add an SF90 to your collection of Prancing Horses, you must receive a personal invitation from Ferrari.
The most entertaining Ferrari to drive is impossible to choose, just as the preferred pizza variety. Nevertheless, we were in awe of the 812 Superfast. We won’t soon forget the 812 “Stoopidfast’s” V-12 song since emissions regulations cast doubt on the future of 12-cylinder engines.
As soon as a car is released, we want to test and rank as many of them as we can. We’ll rank new models as we periodically update our rankings and we might even change the scores for some models. Vehicles with insufficient testing data, however, are not scored.
Ferris Bueller’s Ferrari cost how much?
Ferris, the youthful protagonist of the iconic 1980s film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, suggests purchasing a Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder because “It is so choice”—if you have the money, of course. Bueller was correct on this one point, even though you would not want to rely on the advise of a Ferrari-stealing, joyriding truant for much else. A genuine 250 GT California is a priceless vintage car that is worth millions of dollars. This 1985 Modena Spyder California, better known to the world as one of the three Ferrari replicas used in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, is almost as good as the real deal and sold for a more manageable $396,000 on Saturday at the 2020 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction.
According to popular belief, John Hughes intended for his next film to have a Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder as its lead vehicle. The only issue was that even then, a true Ferrari was too pricey. It’s simple to understand why a duplicate was utilized in place of the original vehicle given the rough treatment it would undergo in the movie, including jumps and being thrown backwards out of a suburban Chicago home and into a ravine.
Hughes came across Modena Design, a business established in 1980s California with the goal of creating reproductions of the legendary vehicle (basically a drop-top 250 GT “Tour de France,” one of which we tested). For the movie, three automobiles in various stages of completion were ordered. Only one of them was brought back to Modena Design, where the car’s movie damage was fixed and it was sold several more times, most recently to an American at a Bonhams auction in England in 2010 for over $100,000. That vehicle is currently on the National Historic Vehicle Registry’s list. But that isn’t the vehicle that sold at Barrett-Jackson.
This is really one of the two chassis that had more enigmatic lives after Ferris Bueller finished filming. This car, chassis 001, has recently undergone a full restoration by Modena Design co-founder Neil Glassmoyer, unlike the third car, chassis 003, which went unsold at Mecum’s 2019 Monterey auction with a high bid of $225,000. The car’s exterior was changed and its mechanical parts were upgraded to bring it to this state. We assume that despite being equipped with a coil-over suspension, chrome 16-inch wire spoke wheels, and a 7.0-liter Chevy V-8 engine, this non-Italian Ferrari is still a lot of fun to drive. Along with the car, other memorabilia was offered for sale, including a signed certificate of authenticity from Modena Design.
At Barrett-Jackson, competitive bidding led to a final price that included the buyer’s premium of $396,000. There is no disputing that chassis 001, a pricey cinematic symbol, will go down in history, even though it is unknown exactly which sequences it appeared in for the movie.
What Ferrari model is the rarest?
We’ve found the only Ferrari 328 Convertible ever produced, which is for sale. Wait until you read the story of how the car was created if you think that’s the cool part.
Have you heard about the Pininfarina Sergio, based on the Ferrari 458? Given that just six were produced, probably not. How about the well-known 250 GTO? 36 of those were present. Even the Ferrari F40 is incredibly widespread, with 1,311 units being produced.
The only other one is this 1984 Ferrari 328 Convertible (serial number 49543), making it the most uncommon of them. It’s also up for sale.
The car is still located in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, close to its home town of Maranello near Modena, and is painted Giallo Modena (yellow) over a black leather interior with a black soft top.
A standard Ferrari 328 costs roughly EUR1.1 million (A$1.7 million) less than the ask, which is a hefty EUR1,200,000 (A$1.85 million). Why then the outrageous price?
The Ferrari 328, which had a 200kW 3.2-liter V8 and a five-speed manual transmission, evolved from the Ferrari 308, which was only available as a coupe (GTB) or targa (GTS).
The 328, which was constructed between 1984 and 1988, shared a production line with the 2+2 Mondial, V12 Testarossa, grand-touring 412, and the 288 GTO and F40 supercars.
According to the records, chassis 49543 was not only the convertible prototype but also the first 328 series development prototype.
Pininfarina created the design, while Ferrari’s Carrozzeria Scaglietti in Modena constructed the vehicle as a production-ready soft-top. After that, it underwent certification and road registration to evaluate the new 3.2-liter V8’s performance and the revised chassis’ dynamic capabilities.
The Mondial was Ferrari’s mid-engine V8 convertible, but management believed that the 328 would hurt sales of the 2+2 (a total of 2456 Mondial coupes were made between 1983 and 1993, compared to 3693 Mondial coupes), thus the 328 retained the same GTS and GTB options as the 308.
The yellow cabrio was sold to a private buyer and let loose, in contrast to many “not for production” prototypes that are typically destroyed.
Over the course of its four-year production run, 7,412 Ferrari 328 vehicles were made, 82% of which were GTS Targa models. It was one of the final automobiles that Enzo Ferrari oversaw before his passing in 1988.
The convertible’s chances of success Probably, but the truth will only ever be known by one fortunate buyer.