'57 Ferrari Sells for $12 Million, Sets New World Record
#1
05-18-2009, 08:11 AM
'57 Ferrari Sells for $12 Million, Sets New World Record The ultra-rare 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (which my colleague Noah Joseph wrote about back in February) just set a new world record for the most expensive motor car ever to be sold at auction, achieving a final price of €9,020,000 or about $12.2 million at RM Auctions' annual Leggenda e Passione event in Italy. The beautiful Scaglietti-designed "pontoon-fender" 250 TR was one of only 22 made. One of the most instantly recognizable cars in Ferrari's history, it's highly coveted by collectors - Ralph Lauren owns two of them.
"The historical significance of this car attracted a bidding war as collectors from around the world - both in the room and on the telephone – competed to secure one of the most alluring and iconic of all Ferrari racing cars," said Max Girardo, Managing Director of RM Europe. "The eyes of the world were watching today's sale as cars of this quality are so rarely offered to the market. The quality and the provenance of the Testa Rossa speaks for itself and the price we achieved today is testament to that."
"The historical significance of this car attracted a bidding war as collectors from around the world - both in the room and on the telephone – competed to secure one of the most alluring and iconic of all Ferrari racing cars," said Max Girardo, Managing Director of RM Europe. "The eyes of the world were watching today's sale as cars of this quality are so rarely offered to the market. The quality and the provenance of the Testa Rossa speaks for itself and the price we achieved today is testament to that."
#4
05-18-2009, 10:10 AM
RM Auctions have a nice site also where you can see what cars that was sold and to what price during their events. 
RM AUCTIONS
RM AUCTIONS
Last edited by EVO; 05-18-2009 at 10:15 AM.
#7
05-18-2009, 11:27 AM
This is one very rare bird.
Often mistaken for the 500 TR - but with a much longer wheel base and protruding bonnet - the car housed a 2953.21 cc V12 engine generating 300 hp at 7000 RPM. It is one of the few Ferraris to have a V12 under 3 liters. In fact, its engine is a derivative of the 250 GT from the same year. In 1958, motor racing regulations required all V12 engines in the sporting catetory to be over 3 liters. So Ferrari never made a V12 under that size again.
Piloted by racing legend Phil Hill, the 250 Testa Rossa ran its first race in May of 1957 at the Nurburgring and would become one of the most successful cars in Ferrari racing history. The car won an amazing series of races for Ferrari including the 1960 24-hours of Le Mans, both Sebring and Pescara races in 1961 and finally both Sebring and Le Mans in 1962.
The car helped Ferrari wrestle away racing dominance from an up and coming Brittish team named Aston-Martin.
Lots of history in this one.
Often mistaken for the 500 TR - but with a much longer wheel base and protruding bonnet - the car housed a 2953.21 cc V12 engine generating 300 hp at 7000 RPM. It is one of the few Ferraris to have a V12 under 3 liters. In fact, its engine is a derivative of the 250 GT from the same year. In 1958, motor racing regulations required all V12 engines in the sporting catetory to be over 3 liters. So Ferrari never made a V12 under that size again.
Piloted by racing legend Phil Hill, the 250 Testa Rossa ran its first race in May of 1957 at the Nurburgring and would become one of the most successful cars in Ferrari racing history. The car won an amazing series of races for Ferrari including the 1960 24-hours of Le Mans, both Sebring and Pescara races in 1961 and finally both Sebring and Le Mans in 1962.
The car helped Ferrari wrestle away racing dominance from an up and coming Brittish team named Aston-Martin.
Lots of history in this one.
