Now that the auction is over, we can honestly state that this might have been a big thing. For this extremely rare 250 GTO, the ultimate hammer price of $47 million is far less than the initial forecasts of $60 million. Fees included, the sale price rises to $51.7 million, the highest amount ever for a Ferrari sold at auction.
An identical 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold by RM Sotheby’s held the previous record. That vehicle, one of four that Scaglietti improved, brought in $48.4 million in total fees.
Read our original article below to find out more about the unique qualities that set this specific GTO apart.
A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO might break the previous record for the most expensive car to ever sell at auction today at 5:00 PM EST. In order to reach that target, it has to surpass the incredible $143 million that a Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe brought in at a private auction in 2022. Here at Motor1, you can watch all the action unfold live.
Although all 250 GTOs are remarkable, this one is more noteworthy since it was the only Tipo 1962 that the factory racing team raced. At the 1962 Nürburgring 1,000 Kilometres, the machine even finished first in its class. Unfortunately, overheating problems prevented it from finishing the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year.
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Auction
This Ferrari was the only GTO raced by the Scuderia to be equipped with a 4.0-liter V12 engine at launch. However, the factory replaced it with a regular 3.0-liter unit after Le Mans. In 1963, a privateer purchased the modified vehicle to compete in races.
This 250 GTO eventually made it to the US, where it was purchased by its current owner in 1985. He drove the vehicle in vintage races and at upscale car shows, winning Best of Show at the 2011 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
Included in the sale are the factory-performed 250 GTO conversion and the original build sheets used to get the car ready for racing at Le Mans and the Nürburgring. This thorough paperwork demonstrates to prospective purchasers the car’s historical pedigree and may raise the vehicle’s value.
Check back here after the auction to find out how much this very special 250 GTO brings when it crosses the block. If it doesn’t dethrone the Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, it could still set a record for the most expensive Ferrari sold at auction. That title is currently held by – you guessed it – another GTO that sold for $48.4 million in 2018.
