A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO by Scaglietti is expected to fetch a record amount at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction in August 2018.
Billed as the “holy grail” of classic cars, this iconic Ferrari is valued at $45-million (that’s around R605-million at the current exchange rate), with the auction house describing it as “the most valuable motor car ever offered for public sale”.
The record to beat? Well, a 1963 model was sold for $38,1-million at auction in 2014 (a second 1963 model apparently went for $70-million earlier in 2018, but this was a private transaction rather than a public auction).
The 250 GTO now on offer, chassis number 3413 GT, is the third of only 36 examples built by the Italian marque. Still in its original condition, this Scaglietti-designed 250 GTO retains its original engine, gearbox and rear axle, as well as its factory Series II body.
The 250 GTOs, with their naturally aspirated V12 engines, were some of the most successful road/racing cars the Maranello-based brand ever produced, being victorious in nearly 300 races worldwide.
This particular GTO contested 20 races (with RM Sotheby’s claiming that it was “never involved in an accident” and that it never failed to finish a race), winning the Italian National GT championship in 1962 and the Targa Florio in the two years thereafter.
The current owner of this car is Dr. Greg Whitten, chairman of Numerix and former chief software architect at Microsoft.
Author: Marius Boonzaier
