Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO sold for almost 52 million
Announced as the highlight of the 2023 auction year, the 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO was auctioned live by RM/Sotheby's on November 13, 2023 at 17:30 New York time.
Chassis 3765 GT was the only GTO of the first series to be launched by Scuderia Ferrari itself and competed in the 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans, among other events. There it was still equipped with a four-liter engine and competed in the prototype class.
The car later competed in the 1000 km race at the Nürburgring in 1962 and achieved a class victory and second place overall.
In later years, the GTO was used by private drivers and also took part in the Targa Florio in 1965.
The racing sports car, which was fitted with a 250 P engine in 1964, also achieved concours honors, winning awards in Pebble Beach and Amelia Island, for example, and even "Best of Show" in Amelia.
This GTO changed hands for the last time in 1985, was extensively restored and has been on display ever since. No wonder it was referred to as the "holy grail" of the sports car world, even if this may seem a little exaggerated.
The one-car auction was held at Sotheby's in New York. While invited guests on site were still sipping their glasses of champagne, eager online viewers around the world were biting their nails. How expensive could this car, estimated at more than USD 60 million, be?
At 5:38 PM New York time, just eight minutes after the announced start, the screens around the world were still dark. At least then you could take a look inside the auction room. The Ferrari was ready and the auctioneer explained that the auction would start shortly. Chassis 3765 GT was introduced on a screen. "This is the one and this may be the one opportunity to acquire it ...."
05:42 PM The auction begins. The auctioneer explains the car again in a few words and then adds the conditions of sale (commission 10%)
He calls the car at 34 million, telephone bidders continue with 36 and 38 million. 40 million is reached. The millionaires' club is in no hurry. 42 million on the phone. Now 44 million. A minute later, 45 million, and apparently it would be sold for that. Now 46 million. Still a long way from the estimated 60+ million. 46.5 million. Now it's getting a bit small. 47 million. One bid per 30 seconds. "Don't wait another 38 years for it ...".
Six minutes have passed, still "only" 47 million. The auctioneer starts counting down the GTO. "SOLD". This "historic auction" has lasted less than ten minutes. 47 million before surcharge, 51.7 million USD including surcharge (EUR 48.1 million, CHF 46.5 million) is paid for this GTO, a new world auction record according to RM/Sotheby's.
Nevertheless, one or two viewers may be disappointed, after all, after the SLR Uhlenhaut record of 2022, one could have bet on a three-digit million sum ...
P.S. Of course, the result and many pictures can also be found in the Zwischengas auction database .
