Vintage Ferrari sells for auction record US$38.1 mln
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail CNTV, August 18, 2014
In Northern California's Carmel Valley, classic cars are around every corner. Six days of festivities and high-priced auctions, which last year raked in a record $312-million dollars.
This year, expectations are even higher.
"With all the beautiful and prestigious vintage cars at the show, there is still one that rises above them all. This is the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta. The red two-seat coupe is vying to fetch the highest car auction price in history. "
It is the benchmark, it is the yardstick. It's the most important collector car in the world. They very rarely come on to the open market. This car has been in long time ownership for almost 50 years, which is almost unheard of So when a car is freed up from 50 years with one owner it creates an enormous amount of excitement," Bonhams Head of Motors Department Mark Osborne said.
 |
|
The car was owned by an Italian family that had a close friendship to Ferrari founder, Enzo Ferrari. |
The car was owned by an Italian family that had a close friendship to Ferrari founder, Enzo Ferrari. It's one of only 39 Ferrari GTO's ever made and even came in 2nd at the 1962 Tour de France.
Some race cars you buy, might not be that civilized on the street, but I can tell you I know a guy that's had his car since the 1970's and in fact he used to drive his daughter's to school in the car, that will give you an idea of how useable they are. But besides that he could go out on any weekend and be on the front of the grid with a potential win as a I say at any historic race meeting. So eminently usable," Mark Osborne said.
The goal is to surpass Bonham's auction last year, where this 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 F1 Racer sold for a world record $29-point-6-5 million dollars.
Ferrari rolls comes onto stage, engine roars. 10 Auctioneer says "One of the best known and most raced of all GTO's, here it is ladies and gentlemen."
The bidding kicked off fast and furiously.
14 million, 15 million, 16 million 20 million.
And soon the numbers entered record-breaking territory, fueling a showdown between a buyer in the crowd and an overseas buyer on the phone who eventually won out.
"Last Chance. Pounds gavel. 34-650 you own the car," Auctioneer said.
$34 million 650 thousand dollars, plus a buyer's premium, which brings the sale to record breaking total of $38 million, 115-thousand dollars.
Even at that huge sum, many felt it was actually a bargain fueling speculation that it won't be long before another vintage vehicle races past this record.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)