A 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for US$52 million (£32 million) has become the world’s most expensive car.
Bloomberg reports that the red classic Ferrari was sold to an unknown buyer in a private transaction. French racing-car driver Jean Guichet drove the chassis number 5111 model when he won the 1963 Tour de France race. Its sale price is almost 49% more than the previous world-record price of $35 million achieved in 2012 for a green 1962 250 GTO built for British racing-car driver Sir Stirling Moss.
Only 36 models were built between 1962 and 1964 making the rare car a cult Ferrari. Many of the 250 GTOs produced have an impressive race pedigree and the marque has become revered by collectors as one of the icons of Ferrari production history. The 250 GTO model was the pinnacle of development of the 250 GT series in competition form, while also a road car. It made its public debut at the annual pre-season Ferrari press conference in January 1962.
John Collins, chairman of classic Ferrari specialist Talacrest, told British newspaper the ‘Daily Mail’: “Classic Ferraris have seen more gains than others, they’re like the Picassos of the car world. And the 250 GTO is the golden car of its generation... They are bought by people who have a love of cars and see them as an investment.”
