Ferrari from 1962 sold at auction for almost 52 million dollars
A Ferrari from 1962 has been sold at an auction in the USA for around 51.7 million dollars (around 48.3 million euros). "Ciao, Bella", wrote the New York auction house Sotheby's on the platform X. "The most expensive Ferrari ever sold at auction" has found a new home. Sotheby's did not provide any information about the new owner.
Ciao, Bella. The sole factory-owned Series I GTO has found a new home for $51.7M, making it the most expensive Ferrari ever sold at auction at tonight's dedicated sale at #SothebysNewYork during Marquee sales of Modern and Contemporary Art. pic.twitter.com/HGagbaEF7l
— RM Sotheby's (@rmsothebys) November 13, 2023
The red sports car is a "unique" Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO from 1962, according to the Sotheby's advertisement. It had competed for Ferrari at the Nürburgring in May 1962, where it took second place in a 1000-kilometer race. After further races in France and Italy, it was sold to the USA in 1974.
According to the New York Times, only 36 examples of the 250 GTO still exist. The owners include fashion designer Ralph Lauren and Nick Mason, the drummer of Pink Floyd. The car now being auctioned was originally configured as a 330 LM, an even rarer car with a slightly larger engine.
It is an "extraordinary opportunity to acquire the Holy Grail of the sports car pantheon". It could be over quicker than "the tail of a shooting star or a flash of lightning", the auction house had announced the auction. Nevertheless, the bids fell short of expectations: according to the New York Times, Sotheby's had originally estimated the luxury car at 60 million dollars (around 56 million euros).
In 2022, car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz auctioned off one of only two examples of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé for 135 million euros, according to the company. According to Mercedes, the 1955 car named after engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut was the most expensive car to date.
This exceptional 1962 Ferrari 330 LM/250 GTO, previously auctioned at Sotheby's, is now expected to reappear at another motorsport auction, providing another opportunity for car enthusiasts to bid on the most expensive Ferrari ever sold at auction. The upcoming auction, held by RM Sotheby's, promises to attract bidders from around the world, aiming to surpass the record-breaking $51.7M price tag set in 2023.
Source: www.dpa.com
