Ferrari has set a new world record for a car sold at auction with a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testarossa fetching €9 million at the weekend (17 May 2009) in an auction of Italian supercars organized by RM Auctions at Ferrari’s Maranello home in Italy.
The previous world record for a car sold at auction was just last year and was
also set by a Ferrari, when UK radio host Chris Evans paid €7 million for a
black 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California previously owned by James Coburn. Both
cars were sold at the “Ferrari Leggenda e Passione”, an annual auction of the
finest Ferrari and Maserati supercars organized by RM Auctions and held at
Ferrari’s test track, Fiorano, in Maranello.
The 1957 Ferrari 250 Testarossa, one of just 22 similar models built at
Maranello, boasts an important race history in North and South America. It
debuted in the Buenos Aires 1,000km in 1958 and came 4th overall before being
sold to a U.S. client who raced it extensively in the SCCA championship.
"It's rare to see one offered for sale, and it is a guarantee that a massive sum
of money will exchange hands when one comes on the market. Those high-end car
collectors who remain unaffected by economic woes will have the chance to part
with such funds this coming May when a 1957 Ferrari 250 TR, chassis #0714TR,
crosses the block at RM Auctions' Ferrari Leggenda E Passione sale in Maranello.
This particular example was campaigned extensively from 1958 to 1963 and is
painted in its period-correct black paint with a red nose. RM expects the 250 TR
to set a new world record for a car sold at auction, potentially exceeding the
$10.89 million dollar sale of a 1961 Ferrari California Spyder last year."
Considered one of the most alluring, competitive and iconic of all Ferrari
racing cars, the beautiful and immediately recognizable Scaglietti-designed,
'pontoon-fender' 250 TR was produced from 1957 to 1958 during which only 22 were
constructed. The Ferrari 250 TRs entered 19 international championship races
from 1958 through 1961 emerging with 10 victories and earning them legendary
status among discerning collectors, as well as the honor of being one of the
most desirable and competitive racing Ferraris ever built.
Unlike last year, this year’s top bidder was not at the auction, remaining
anonymous and bidding over the telephone while competing against three other
bidders.
Although its bids reached a level higher than last year’s record setter at
€7.25 million, a rare Ferrari 330 P4 was passed in at the event.
