Click above for high-res gallery of this record-breaking Ferrari
This past weekend a new record was set for the highest amount paid for a car at a vintage auction by a 1961 Ferrari California Spyder selling for $10,894,900 after auction fees. The sale was at RM Auction's second annual "Ferrari Leggenda e Passione" auction in Maranello, Italy, and the obviously wealthy buyer was popular British radio host Chris Evans.
While we aren't experts on the classic car market, we can't help but think this sale was the result of a "gotta have it" mentality by Evans with no regard for the actual value of the vehicle. The initial estimate from RM Auctions was nearly half the sale price, and the fact that the car was previously owned by actor James Coburn seems somewhat inconsequential. While there's no doubt that Evans snagged an incredibly beautiful vintage Ferrari, we think he could have got his hands on a California Spyder for much less.
[Source: RM Auctions]
PRESS RELEASE:
Maranello, Italy (May 18th, 2008) Car enthusiasts and Ferrari collectors from across the globe descended on Maranello, Italy this past weekend for RM Auctions' second annual "Ferrari Leggenda e Passione" auction event to witness a new auction record established for a 1961 Ferrari California Spyder formerlly owned by actor James Coburn. The rare car exceeeded all expectations by selling for a world record auction price for a vintage car at auction in the amount of $10,894,900 U.S., surpassing the previous record set at Sotheby's Monaco in 1990 for a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO at $10,756,000 U.S.
The annual RM Ferrari auction held in association with Sotheby's, put under the hammer an unrivalled collection of historic Ferraris at the legendary home of Ferrari in Maranello, Italy. Among the attendees was one extremely well known Ferrari enthusiast, and British television and radio personality Chris Evans. Chris, accompanied by his wife, golf pro and writer Natasha Shishmanian, attended the Gala reception on Saturday, May 17th where he fell for the considerable charms of a black 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder. The following day, Chris made the successful bid for his dream machine, which will now take pride of place in his own celebrated collection and the honor of "the most valuable car sold in auction history."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Borat Sagdiyev @ May 19th 2008 1:45PM
Must be nice to have money to burn like that...
Aprime @ May 19th 2008 1:52PM
With the eyebrows he has...
Benfolio @ May 19th 2008 2:48PM
And dem teef. DAYUM!
Targa2Tasmania @ May 19th 2008 4:35PM
Beautifull car with pedigree.
But just another nouveau riche qui doit s'exprimer avec la vulgarité de flasher sa monaie. Est ce que il y a de l'espoir? J'éspère, j'éspère profondement.
Cary @ May 19th 2008 9:58PM
Beautiful motor, but what a knob.
tanooki2003 @ May 19th 2008 1:52PM
All I can say is.... Well I'll Be Damned
rndmnme @ May 19th 2008 1:53PM
Douchebags: Driving up the costs of classic cars since 1901.
Seriously, by the time I'm 40 any car made before 1985 will have a 6 figure price tag for no good reason.
MajorGeek @ May 19th 2008 1:57PM
No doubt, watch Barrett Jackson for the ultimate in rich white trash overpaying for crappy cars. Its a riot to watch these guys piss away their money. Frankly, I always loved the Dodge Daytona from 1970 or maybe the Suberbird, its worth about 250,000 which IMHO is about the maximum any car should be worth. Its just stupid to think something you drive should be worth more, of course sadly too many people buy these cars and never even bother to drive them, which for me sort of cancels out the point of owning an awesome car. This is why I dont go to those silly ass cruise in's, I drive PAST them enjoying my ride.
geo.stewart @ May 19th 2008 1:53PM
SWEEEET ride.
10M sweet, idk. but looking at that, I understand the gotta have it quotient.
who knows, maybe the heiress to the Oh Henry! candy bar fortune was bidding against him
Torrent @ May 19th 2008 1:58PM
Holy crap! I could buy like 350 Pontiac G8 Gt's with 10 million, and still have money for a couple Cobalts!
Mike K @ May 19th 2008 2:00PM
1961 Ferrari California Spyder sells for record $10,894,900
Yeah but after you drive it off the lot it's only worth what? like $7,765,234 right?
Richard @ May 19th 2008 2:29PM
LOL!
tankd0g @ May 19th 2008 2:01PM
I passed on it because it wasn't red....
The Luigiian @ May 19th 2008 2:04PM
Is it going to catch fire like that black 599 GTB Fiorano did?
rouse42 @ May 19th 2008 2:39PM
Naa. the old ones are powered by Coal.
it doesn't combust as easily.
Omer @ May 19th 2008 2:07PM
I guess its time for this car to move from one mansion garages to another. Also, this car is not worth 10Mill since it not even a red Ferrari.
icu812ru469 @ May 19th 2008 2:13PM
Retard, with too much money that he did not earn. Obviously his money was stolen easily since he gave it up so fast...
2004m3driver @ May 19th 2008 2:38PM
Those are quite some insinuations you have there. He earned what he was paid for. Understand? You and I might not like it, but someone does, and someone is paying for it. He's a radio and tv host, so he must be making money off of advertising too and he is probably smart enough to invest some of that money. Why not reward himself with a nice lil vintage Ferrari. Tell the people in Britain to change the station when he is on since he is robbing them and being a "retard."
Allan @ May 19th 2008 2:14PM
Think maybe it's value increased significantly with the recent announcement of the new California?
In2uition @ May 19th 2008 2:15PM
Nice Ferrari. That guy looks really goofy...