In a whirl of bids, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sped off the auction block in New York for a whopping $51.7 million, claiming the title of the second most expensive car ever sold at auction, according to Sotheby's.
For nearly four decades, this vibrant red roadster belonged to an American collector before igniting a bidding war that fell short of the anticipated $60 million mark set by RM Sotheby's, the luxury car wing of the auction house.
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Sporting chassis 3765 and a robust four-litre engine pumping out 390 horsepower, this legendary Scuderia machine had a thrilling racing history, clinching second place in the German Nurburgring endurance race and making a spirited run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans before engine troubles forced its withdrawal.
After its European racing tenure, the car journeyed to the US in the late '60s, passing through various American owners before landing in the possession of an Ohio collector in 1985, who just recently passed it on.
Sotheby's highlighted the car's potential for future vintage races, tours, or showcasing at prestigious gatherings, underscoring its allure as a prized possession for the fortunate new owner.
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The 250 GTO's price tag fell shy of the record set by a Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which fetched a staggering 135 million euros in 2022. This Mercedes, one of only two in existence, earned the distinction of being the most expensive car ever sold publicly or privately, divulged an RM Sotheby's representative to AFP.
Despite global uncertainties, the art sales at New York auction houses Sotheby's and Christie's have remained robust, with hundreds of millions pouring in. Sotheby's noted a steadfast market, propelled largely by collectors from China and Asia.
Reflecting on the Ferrari's sale, Michael Caimano of RM Sotheby's likened it to a touchable, audible work of art, emphasizing its timeless appeal as a collector's treasure amid financial flux.
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