Trading a Ferrari
It's not all about the glamour and prestige – there is some serious money to be made from trading these beautiful cars
Ferrari set the world record for a car at auction recently.
A limited edition 1957 Testa Rossa 9TR sold
for a whopping $15.87 million (EUR 9.02 million) in May – the new
world record for the most expensive motor vehicle ever sold at auction.
The “pontoon fender” was sold at the Ferrari Factory in Maranello, Italy, smashing the record set at the same event in 2008.
The Ferrari Leggenda e Passione auction is at the heart of Ferrari’s operation and has become an annual event and a pilgrimage for Ferrari enthusiasts.
The 250 TR with chassis number 0714TR was one of only 22 of this prized car that were constructed by Ferrari. It was originally designed by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, with all models being built over the period 1957 and 1958.
Chassis 0714TR was a widely campaigned car, entering 19 international championships from 1958 through to 1961.
Its pedigree was excellent, with the car winning 10 of the races in which it was entered.
This car was the fourth 250 TR built by Ferrari and the second car built for a customer and not the factory racing team.
The 250 TR is powered by a 2,953 cc V12, single overhead-cam engine, developing about 300 bhp at 7,200 rpm.
Not bad for a car that was built in 1957.
The auction, conducted by prestige car
auctioneer RM Auctions was reportedly hotly contested, with collectors both in
the room and on the phone competing for the prize. The 250 TR was not the only
car to bring a big price, with no less than seven cars piercing the
$1 million threshold.
The previous record holding car – a 1961 California Spyder – was once owned by film great James Coburn, famous for his role in The Great Escape. Also sold though RM Auctions, that car achieved $13.45 million (USD$10.894 million). The Spyder’s sale price beat the auctioneer’s estimate of around USD $5 million, demonstrating the appetite of investors and collectors to secure a prize vehicle and piece of history.
