Like most people know, the Ferrari 250 GTO is one of the most valuable cars in the world. The “Ferrari of Ferraris” keeps on setting sales records. In 2012 a 1964 GTO was dubbed ‘the most expensive car in the world’ by selling at auction for $32 million. A few months later that title was stripped away and taken by another (1963) GTO that sold for $35 million. If you can now find a GTO in that price range it’s considered a steal! In 2012 a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO was sold for $52 million! In comparison, for the price of one GTO you could -theoretically- have 36 LaFerraris, 182 458 Speciale As or 3086 Fiat 500s on your driveway!
When the 250 GTO first went for sale it cost $180,000. Now you pay almost three thousand times this amount for one. So what makes the 250 GTO so speciale that there are many collectors who’d love to have one, who can afford to get one, but still don’t have one?
To start, only 39 have ever been produced. There were 33 ‘series I’ (1962-63), 3 ‘series II’ (’64) and 3 330 GTO. The 330 is essentially a 250 GTO with a bigger engine.
To be able to originally buy one you had to be personally selected and/or evaluated by Enzo Ferrari and Luigi Chinetti (his north American dealer). Also the 250 is a pure race car. Almost every model has actually been raced with, so every model has a broad history with it!
Therefore it was a ‘no brainer’ for me to, when I heard that I had the opportunity to visit one, directly hop in my car!
The model that I visited is the second (of three) 1964 GTO (series II), with chassis number 5573GT. This specific model only shows up on rare occasion. The last times were for its 40th birthday at the Louis Vuitton Classic in 2002 and its 50th birthday at Le Mans Classic in 2012.
Like every GTO, this car has been used to race. Its first race was on March 21st in 194 at the 12 hours of Sebring. Its last race was on May 23rd at the USRRC Bridgehampton. At both its first as its last race the 5573 did not finish. Luckily it did complete many other races, with as highlight in its career a first place at the SCCA Interclub Bridgehampton and a second place in the 1000km at Nürburgring, both in 1964.
This model is now being brought back to its former glory, to steal the show at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in 2017!
With special thanks to Ed Stepanyan for the tip!
