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.
In This Article...
Find out why a Ferrari 250 GTO sold for $52 million and how it came to be that price.
The Ferrari 250 GTO is extremely rare and sought-after because just 36 of them were ever produced.
Feast your eyes on the Ferrari 250 GTO if you’ve ever wondered what the most expensive car in the world looks like. It was just sold for $52 million, making it the priciest automobile ever.
It goes without saying that purchasing a classic car is not inexpensive. A increasing number of collectors are very interested in vintage cars and will pay very high prices for them. But even the most liberal funds won’t cover the Ferrari 250 GTO.
The Ferrari 250 GTO has had a 500,000% increase in value when it first cost PS6,000. There are few important reasons why:
- It is quite valuable because Jean Guichet drove it to victory in the 1963 Tour de France.
- Only 36 GTOs were ever produced, making it one of the most coveted classic automobiles in the world.
- It boasts a strong V12 engine that allows it to reach a top speed of 174 mph.
When it originally debuted, the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO cost far less.
So, from where did this amazing car originate? According to legend, Enzo Ferrari was searching for a rival to the Jaguar E-Type. That, according to Digital Trends, is the reason the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO exudes style and charm. However, this car is primarily intended for racing.
Gran Turismo Omologato, or “Race Homologation Special,” is what “GTO” stands for. Since then, the GTO moniker has come to mean high performance, quickness, and racing prowess. The original 250 GTO won the 1963 Tour de France after a strong start.
The 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO was always a somewhat costly vehicle, looking back. The original price of the production model was around $18,000, or $153,000 in today’s money. Enzo himself had to assess and approve buyers as part of the procedure.
There is substantial debate over how many of these vintage Prancing Horses were made; estimates range from 36 to 39, according to Road & Track. Ferrari, however, affirms that it ultimately produced and sold 39 vehicles.
As they changed hands over time, different Ferrari 250 GTO models had varying prices. A 250 GTO actually cost $5,400 when it was sold privately in 1962, before all the fanfare. A restored GTO owned by Ralph Lauren sold for $4.2 million 20 years later. The price of the Ferrari 250 GTO has only risen in more recent years; a 1962 example was sold privately in 2012 for $35 million. Another 250 GTO also set an auction record in August 2014 when it sold for $38.1 million, according to Forbes.
Undoubtedly, a vehicle’s value might soar to new heights due to limited manufacture. But why is the price of the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO so outrageous? And how does this storied collector automobile stack up against other pricey vehicles out there? Apparently, there is a lot more to learn about the Ferrari 250 GTO.
History
Even though there were only 36 of the 250 GTO’s built, it has grown to be one of the iconic models in Ferrari history. It was certainly a race car through and through, but it was also created to be a personal vehicle for highway travel, which is what made it so distinctive. The 250 GTO sped off in the 12 Hours of Sebring for its very first race. The 250 GTO, driven by Phil Hill and Oliver Gendebien, came in first place overall and second only to a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa in its class.
The 250 GTO’s V12 engine produced 300 horsepower and reached a top speed of 174 mph. With an open gate gear-change tower in the cockpit, the 5-speed gearbox was connected to the V12 engine. The 250 GTO prototype was given the nickname “Il Mostro” (The Monster) for its peculiar appearance because of its distinctive design (a tale with a mystery all of its own). The legend of the most expensive car ever sold, however, began with this design, which ended up giving the car faster speeds than a conventional body ever would have.
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.
What is the value of a Ferrari GTO?
($52 million and $70 million) 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO Given that the four most expensive Ferraris ever sold are all variations of the same model, even minor variations can result in significant changes in value. Two 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO cars cost about $20 million apart, largely because of the condition of the first.
How uncommon are Ferrari GTOs?
This one is for you if you consider yourself to be a car enthusiast or if you enjoy classic vehicles. Every few years, a Ferrari 250 GTO is put up for auction, and it always appears to be a big deal. It is not just the most sought-after and perhaps even most revered sports car in history, but its scarcity is amazing as well.
Less than 40 were created between 1962 and 1964. Additionally, all of these few examples can be attributed to collectors. Stay tuned if you’ve ever wondered how much a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO may sell for in the current market. This rare of a gem commands a hefty price.
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.
The Ferrari 250 GTOs are 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.
Who purchased the $70 million Ferrari?
You can get an idea of how much it actually costs to join this extravagant club by looking at some of the prior sales of GTOs during the past ten years. Chris Evans, a boisterous and animated British DJ and TV host, paid $17.7 million for a 250 GTO at RM Auctions in 2010.
One was purchased for $31.7 million by an unnamed buyer from a UK real estate agent in 2012. Craig McCaw, an American Telecoms typhoon, also bought one privately that year for $25 million to add to his collection of more than 400 vehicles. The following year, a GTO changed hands for a cool $52 million in another private transaction.
Then, in 2014, one of these incredibly sought-after vehicles was sold at auction by Bonhams for a second time, this time for $52 million. Three years later, former race car driver and antique car dealer Gregor Fisken paid $44 million to become a member of the exclusive GTO club.
If some of the above stats already have you gasping for air, then you’ll be even more startled by the events that took place in 2018. Because in same year a guy by the name of David MacNeil from Chicago, USA, the creator of the automobile accessory company WeatherTech, paid an eye-popping $70 million for a silver 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO (chassis number #4293GT). the most money ever spent on an automobile.
Let’s quickly review some of the items you could buy with $70 million (not including charity gifting or using the money to make the world a better place). You could purchase a 3,000-acre island in the South Pacific (close to Fiji) if you want some peace and quiet to unwind on and top off your tan. You could also purchase Richard Branson’s Caribbean Mansion on the gorgeous Necker Island if you’re interested in real estate. If you want to make some extra money, you can rent it out for $42,000 per night.
Or, if you’re a fan of football and would like to build your own stadium, you could design the seating yourself to ensure that you get the greatest seat in the house at every game. The immaculate 60ct Pink Star diamond, which comes from a South African mine, is also an option if you enjoy wearing jewelry. It would make a great addition to your home. You can also opt to direct and produce your own Hollywood hit if you enjoy watching movies. You could give yourself the lead role and the headlines, and you could even pick your co-star. What a wonderful idea that is!
In all honesty, it appears that the value of historic cars has increased significantly in the last few decades. First, there were significant increases in the 1980s, which were followed by significant decreases in the 1990s. A 250 GTO sold for only $2.7 million in 1994, and prices didn’t start to rise again until the late 1990s. They are still increasing today, and they are rising so quickly.
When will it end, is the obvious question. Or is it more conceivable that one of these expensive, rare Italian automobiles will soon be sold (Grimace) for $100 million?
What is it about this ancient, no-frills Italian race car that appeals to people so much?