The 10 Most Expensive Ferraris In The World | HotCars - HotCars

Ferraris are expensive, we know. But when we say expensive, mere mortals assume that they cost perhaps a couple of million, because ultimately, it’s a car, and how expensive can a car be, right? Well, let us begin by saying that the cheapest car on this list, of the world’s 10 most expensive Ferraris ever sold, and is well into eight figures. So clearly, millions are spare change when it comes to rare Ferraris, like the GTO.

So sure, the Ford GT40 did manage to best the Ferrari at its own game in 1966, and not just in one but all three big races: Le Mans, Sebring, and Daytona. But even then, a GT40 could only garner $7.6 million at an auction, leaving Enzo Ferrari and his cars to have the last laugh.

Here are 10 of the world’s most expensive Ferraris to have ever been auctioned, and their backstories that explain why they cost as much as the GDP of a small country.

10 1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spider: $17 Million

In March 2016, Gooding & Company sold this nifty red Ferrari at its Amelia Island auction. The ‘Rari was listed as the 22nd short-wheelbase built, and also one of the 37 to come with faired-in headlights, as opposed to a total of 56.

So the rare ‘Rari did end up selling for more than $17 million, and we have to admit, it’s one of the prettiest Ferraris ever built. Only, we don’t have $17 million lying around like spare change, though we really, really wish we did.

9 1959 Ferrari 250GT LWB California Spider: $18 Million

So out of eight of the 1959 Ferrari 250GT LWB California Spider Competizione to bear aluminum bodies, chassis 1451 GT bore the very first outside-plug Tipo 128F engine, rated at 260 horses plus. It was raced at the 1959 Le Mans by Luigi Chinetti and went through several owners.

In 2017, RM Sotheby’s put it on the block at the “Icons” auction in New York, and someone thought this beauty was worth more than $18 million. And so it was sold for that ridiculous amount!

8 1954 Ferrari 375-Plus: $18.3 Million

Only five 375-Plus models were ever made and the intent was to win the 1954 World SportsCar Championship. This is chassis 0384 AM, the first of the lot but could score only one win, later being sold to Jim Kimberly and more. Soon, the ownership itself became convoluted and a point of contention.

In 2014, Bonhams not only solved the issue, but also put the car up for sale at the Goodwood Festival of Speed sale, and while it was offered at no reserve, it ended up selling for more than $18.3 million.

7 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale By Scaglietti: $26.4 Million

The mind boggles. $26.4 million is a helluva lot of money, especially to spend on a car, even if its unparalleled beauty can make the angels sing and more. Only three were ever made and this one was the first of the three, probably why the price is nutty.

Also, this is the car that was built to take down the increasing prowess of the Ford GT40 and came with the first-time use of an independent rear suspension. Needless to say, the Ford GT40 outshone it and yet, this is the car worth $26.4 million.

6 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 N.A.R.T. Spider: $27 Million

Moving on to even bigger leagues, the world was surprised to see a 1967 Ferrari be sold for $27 million, and that too in 2013. It’s the 250 GTs that usually sell for the most, but what makes this particular model sell for this much lie a lot in its looks and rarity.

Only 10 of these ever came into existence, and along with those clean and beautiful lines, the V12 engine in it adds a whole lot of posh power on the racetrack as well as off it. It carries the entire (almost) Maranello racing technology suite for superior speed.

5 1956 Ferrari 290 MM Scaglietti Spider: $28 Million

This car was developed in 1956 to race in the Mille Miglia, thus the MM nomenclature, and only four of these were ever made. Rare enough already, right, which is why the $28 million price tag did not surprise anyone. The 2.5-liter V12 engine churned 320 horses, giving the car a top speed of 173 mph.

In 2015, the car driven by Juan Manuel Fangio in 1956 Mille Miglia, was sold by RM Sotheby’s for $28 million, making it the most expensive car sold for that year and the third most expensive ever.

4 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti: $36 Million

When this one-of-four-cars was put up for auction by Artcurial Motorcars during its annual Retromobile sale in Paris in 2016, people compared it to a Rodin sculpture or a Picasso painting. It carried a 4.1-liter V12 engine that jets an insane 400 horses, unheard of in the ‘50s.

The design, its rarity, and the advancements of the car also ensured it sold at an astronomical price of $36 million. This is also one of the cars driven by British F1 champions like Mike Hawthorne and Stirling Moss, so clearly, the buyer is in august company.

3 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO: $48.4 Million

The mind has not stopped boggling at the kind of monies mentioned and is now simply balking. Cars do not get this expensive, right? But they do, and while this Ferrari sold for $48.4 million at a Monterey auction in 2018, it still did not meet its minimum price.

Talk about lofty expectations. But then again, this car is chassis number 3413 GT, and it was the third to be built. This is the car raced in the 1962 Targa Florio by Phil Hill, and the next year, by Gianni Bulgari.

2 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO: $52 Million

Rumors swirl about this car, another 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO that belonged to a Connecticut car collector named Paul Pappalardo, who claims to have sold it to an unnamed buyer for a staggering $52 million, way back in 2013.

The 3.0-liter Tipo V12 in this car was good for 300 horses and helped it reach top speeds of 174 mph. Is it the world’s fastest car? No, but at $52 million, it certainly is one of the most expensive Ferraris in the world. Also, this is the car that won the 1963 Tour de France road race with Jean Guichet driving it.

1 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO: $70 Million

You could truly buy an island, nay strike that, a whole nation with this kind of money. Only 36 of these cars were ever made, and it was sold by a German collector, privately, to David MacNeil, the founder of WeatherTech – a company that makes car floor mats.

The 10 Most Expensive Ferraris In The World — Via Hemmings

This makes this Ferrari not only the most expensive Ferrari ever sold, but to date, the most expensive car to ever be sold. This Ferrari also won the 1964 Tour de France race and came in fourth at Le Mans. Plus, it has never crashed. Bet MacNeil can change that. Going, going, gone!

Sources: TopGear, Hemmings, Time.com

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Arun Singh Pundir (510 Articles Published)

Arun Singh Pundir has been a longtime media crackerjack and worked most of his life in sales and marketing. In 2018, he officially flipped and switched sides to the editorial. He lives with his wife, two rascally sons and is a car and motorcycle nut in his free time. Not that he has too much free time. He currently writes for HotCars on anything that has any number or kind of wheels. He is also penning pop culture, lifestyle and all things rich for TheRichest. For now, he considers his Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, Suzuki Ciaz, and Royal Enfield Classic 500, the three current flames of his life. His dream is to drive around the world; even if it takes more than eighty days.