At the Bonhams auction, records were shattered as the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis number 3851 GT, was sold for $38,115,000 USD. This is the most ever paid for an automobile at auction, underscoring the unrivaled desirability for Ferrari in the collector car market and the continued dominance of the brand at auctions worldwide.
This Ferrari 250 GTO is now, effectively, the most valuable and coveted car in the world.
This car was the 19th Ferrari GTO to be completed and was invoiced on September 11, 1962. It was originally finished in metallic pale grey with lengthwise red, white and blue centerline stripes when acquired by its first owner, French privateer Jo Schlesser, who was also a Formula 1 driver. Its last owner was Italian Fabrizio Violati and the car was part of his Collezione Maranello Rosso.
No other mark is commanding attention and achieving such spectacular values so far in Monterey like Ferrari, with total Ferrari sales at Bonhams totaling just under $65 Million USD.