If you are a Ferrari collector and were not in Maranello on May 20, 2007, well, too bad for you. On that single day, seven new world auction records were set, 32 of the 33 factory certified road and racing Ferraris from the last 60 years were snapped up and $46 million worth of sales was conducted.
Branded Leggenda E Passione, the auction was hosted by Canada-based RM Auctions in association with Sotheby’s and was held at the Fiorano race track. Other than these 10 cars that went under the hammer, Massa’s 2006 F1 car was picked up for $2.2 million, a 1:2 scale model of an F2004 GP car used for wind tunnel testing sold for $66,800 and a steering wheel used by Schumacher in 2005 drew a bid for $85,387. Feel sorry for yourself? Serves you right. Here then are just 10 of the 33 superb Ferraris that got sold.
1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta Competizione
340 bhp, 4494cc SOHC V12, 4-speed manual transmission
Sold for $5.8 million
Why?
Beneath the flawless skin is a gem of a V12, a motor that provided awesome performance without skipping a beat. The 340/375 MM started earning its points immediately after its construction, beginning with Le Mans, and then across various races throughout 1953, culminating in the Carrera Panamericana where it won fourth overall. It is because of this
car that Ferrari won the Constructor’s Championship that year.
1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM Testa Rossa
390 bhp, 3967cc SOHC V12, 5-speed manual transmission
Sold for $9.4 million
Why?
With the Testa Rossa, Ferrari managed to create their ultimate Le Mans conquering weapon. And this machine was the culmination of four years of racing their thoroughbreds. The 330 TRI/LM is the only Testa Rossa with a 4-litre engine, the last Testa Rossa and the last front-engined racing car built by Ferrari. Driven by Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien, it fulfilled its purpose by taking top honours at Le Mans. Developing 50 bhp more than the earlier Testa Rossas, this legendary Ferrari is also the last front-engined car to capture overall victory at the famous 24-hour race.
1970 Ferrari 512 S
550 bhp, 4496cc DOHC V12, 5-speed manual transmission
Sold for $3.6 million
Why?
A veteran Ferrari racer, this 512 S has seen major action in various races, beginning with the Daytona 24 hours in 1970, where it first duelled with Porsche’s invincible 917s. After participating at Sebring and at various Can-Am races, it met the 917s again in 1971 at Le Mans. Though the Porsches remained unmatched, the 512 series of Ferraris were the only few ones to put up a real fight. This 512 is one of the few, original examples left in existence.
1966 Ferrari Dino 206 SP
218 bhp, 1986cc DOHC V6, 5-speed manual transmission
Sold for $3.3 million
Why?
When Ferrari was challenged by Ford in the mid-1960s, their response was a series of gorgeous and fast Sports Prototypes (SP). One of them was the Dino 206 S, which was then called the SP, as there were not enough of them to qualify for Group 4. The Dino SP took overall second place at the 1000 km of Nurburgring and has been driven by some of the greatest drivers of that era in various events.
1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
240 bhp, 2953cc SOHC V12, 4-speed
manual transmission
Sold for $2.5 million
Why?
It was the ultimate dual purpose machine – excellent on the track and a fine long distance touring machine. The 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, an output of marvellous proportions by Pininfarina and Scaglietti, won in the GT category at Le Mans in 1960 and 1961 as well as in the Tour de France in 1960, 1961 and 1962. They are called the short wheelbase cars as Ferrari initially built them on a 2,600 mm wheelbase before shortening it by 200 mm, which allowed for better responsiveness while cornering.
1953 Ferrari 340 MM Competition Spyder
300 bhp, 4101cc SOHC V12, 4-speed manual transmission
Sold for $3.1 million
Why?
The amazing V12, designed by Lampredi, in a new chassis specifically built to take those levels of output led to the legendary 340. The 340 Mille Miglia was the ultimate expression of the 340 evolution – the most powerful road car built by Ferrari at that time. It was not only successful as a factory team car, but also won the 1953 Mille in private hands. Not just the engine, but the gorgeous and lightweight Superleggera construction by Touring makes it a prized possession. Of the 10 340 MMs that were built, this is the only one surviving.
1971 Ferrari 365 GTS4 (Daytona Spyder)
352 bhp, 4380cc DOHC V12, 5-speed manual transmission
Sold for $1.4 million
Why?
Along with the 365 GTB/4 Berlinetta, Ferrari also produced – what is now considered highly desirable – the Spyder versions. A successor to the previous 275 GTB/4, they began to be called Daytonas after Ferrari’s one-two-three wins at the 24-hour race in 1967. The first Daytona Spyder was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1969. One of 121 cars built was acquired by a certain Mr Edsel Ford II of Dearborn, Michigan. It is this one.
1992 Ferrari F40
471 bhp, 2936cc DOHC 32-valve V8 engine, twin turbochargers with intercoolers, 5-speed transmission
Sold for $376,750
Why?
No power windows, no door panels, no radio, no carpets, but you do get racing seats with red Nomex covers! Ferrari’s no-compromise performance engineering meant an advanced carbon-fibre and Kevlar reinforced steel space frame chassis with composite body panels and of course, an engine that breathed fire. The F40 was raw and radical, a supercar that simply defined the term. Though it was introduced way back in 1987, the F40 boasted a 320 kph top speed and a 0-to-96 kph timing in the three second range.
1963 Ferrari 250 GTE
240 bhp, 2953cc SOHC V12, 4-speed manual transmission
Sold for $195,910
Why?
Ferrari’s first production gran turismo was a huge commercial success. Based on the legendary 250 GT LWB Tour de France, but with the engine pushed forward and an increase in both front and rear tracks, Ferrari could liberate plenty of interior space. Luxuriously appointed, the 250 GTE featured a Pininfarina-designed steel body with aluminium bonnet, doors and boot lid, disc brakes, Nardi steering wheel and Borrani wire wheels… and it could attain over 220 kph.
1985 Ferrari 288 GTO Prototipo
400 bhp, 2855cc DOHC, twin turbo and intercooled V8, 5-speed transmission
Sold for $693,220
Why?
The 288 GTO prototype was built for homologation purposes, but it was a machine that took Ferrari's prowess in making GP cars into road cars. Whopping performance from the twin-turbo meant that the chassis had to be state-of-the-art. All of which led to a car that could attain a top speed of over 300 kph and touch 100 kph within five seconds. This car here is the sole surviving factory prototype for the 288 GTO series.
