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1960 Ferrari 250 GT sells for over $8 million in record-setting RM auction weekend

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Earnings/Financials, Ferrari

Although the vast majority of eyeballs were tuned to the madness at Barrett-Jackson this past weekend, that televised car auction wasn't the only high-dollar game in Arizona. RM Auctions brought its usual gaggle of exotic wares to the desert, and the car that came out on top sold for much more than Barrett-Jackson's highest sale, the Batmobile.

Coming out on top at RM last weekend was Lot 164, a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta 'Competizione' that sold for a massive $8,140,000 - the buyer could've nearly bought two Barris Batmobiles for that chunk of change. Lot 122, a 1967 Shelby 427 'Semi-Competition' Cobra, stood at $2,007,500 in second place, just in front of Lot 145, a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, which sold for $1,842,500.

After all said and done, RM reported $36.4 million in sales. That's a record for RM in Arizona, even though the total number of lots for 2013 was reduced significantly. Eight machines cracked the million-dollar mark, and you can see all of them in the press release right down below or peruse all of the auction results here. But first, be sure to scroll through our high-res image gallery of live photos above.

Continue reading 1960 Ferrari 250 GT sells for over $8 million in record-setting RM auction weekend

1960 Ferrari 250 GT sells for over $8 million in record-setting RM auction weekend originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari marks 60th anniversary of 250 GT

Noah Joseph — Sun, 20 May 2012 16:03:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Ferrari, Racing

Surely the most important of the classic Ferraris is the 250 series. Over its decade of production, the 250 series gave us some of the most recognizable models of the marque's history, including the GTO, the Testa Rossa, the Lusso and the original California Spyder.

This year Ferrari is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the series that was built around Giachino Colombo's enduring 3.0-liter V12. To mark the occasion, the Ferrari Museum in Maranello is displaying two unique and important 250s from its historical archives. One is the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta that Stirling Moss drove to victory at four races in 1961. The second is the so-called Breadvan, which was commissioned by Count Volpi di Musurata and developed by Piero Drogo and Giotto Bizzarrini. It was one of the original shooting brakes and provided the inspiration for the new FF.

The two are already on display in the museum for any visitor to see, but if your travel plans aren't sending you to Maranello anytime soon, you can still check them out in the photo gallery above and the press release below.

Continue reading Ferrari marks 60th anniversary of 250 GT

Ferrari marks 60th anniversary of 250 GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 May 2012 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alain De Cadenet makes 'em swoon at Mille Miglia NA in vintage Ferrari

Zach Bowman — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:36:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Videos, Ferrari, Humor

This is what we call making an entrance. Classic & Sports Car Magazine contributor Alain de Cadenet recently took to the Mille Miglia North America in one very beautiful 1957 Ferrari 250 GT. The car literally swept the event's presenters off their feet at the ceremonial start when de Cadenet came across the line just a little too quickly. The inertia of the stopping Ferrari pulled the stage floor along for the ride, effectively yanking the rug out from under the five people on stage. No one was harmed in the little fiasco, but the event makes for a pretty hilarious clip.

Hit the jump to check out two videos of the Ferrari bowling everyone over as well as a brief interview with de Cadenet after the Mille Miglia North America came to a close.

Continue reading Alain De Cadenet makes 'em swoon at Mille Miglia NA in vintage Ferrari

Alain De Cadenet makes 'em swoon at Mille Miglia NA in vintage Ferrari originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Ferrari 250 GT SWB lovefest at Pebble

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Misc. Auto Shows, Ferrari

Ferrari 250 GT Scaglietti SWB Gathering at Pebble Beach - Click above for high-res image gallery

Although most Ferrari modelsare highly coveted, the 250 GT Short Wheelbase Berlinetta is one of those cars that sportscar enthusiasts dream of even catching a glimpse of someday. Well, "someday" was Sunday at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance for those who attended. And not only did they get the chance to see a 250 GT SWB up close and personal, but there were eight of them on hand so everyone could share. How clever.

As the historians among you will know, Ferrari had been building street and race cars since 1947, and through the '50s they also made some of the most exquisite dual-purpose cars of all time as well - cars that could be driven to track then raced there. In the late '50s, the best known of these was Ferrari's 250 GT Long Wheelbase Berlinetta - a.k.a. the "Tour de France." At the Paris Auto Show in 1959, its replacement was shown for the first time - the 250 GT Passo Corto, or Short Wheelbase Berlinetta. As its name suggested, it rode on a shorter wheelbase than the TdF, but also had other significant changes.

The engine was a classic 3.0-liter Ferrari V-12, producing between 240 and 280 horsepower. Less than 160 SWBs were built from 1959-1962, no two exactly alike. There were "Lusso" versions with a steel body, a full interior, door panels, sound deadening materials and wind-up windows. There were also light alloy cars with smaller diameter tube frames, no sound deadening, sliding Plexiglas windows and race-ready high-compression engines. These were for people who definitely wanted to track their car,s and although faster than the Lusso editions, they didn't quite match the ultimate SWBs - the Comp/61 or "SEFAC Hot Rods."

The SEFAC cars had the alloy body but also some subtle changes like a more laid-back windshield. They also used the highest spec, with almost 300 horsepower. So-equipped, they could run 0-60 mph in five seconds and had a top speed over 150 mph. Ferrari only built 21 of these Comp/61s and four of them were in the mix at Pebble this year. What a treat.

Although ruggedly handsome, with an aggressive stance and tight proportions, the appeal of the SWB goes further. The SWB is forever coupled with that time in racing history when the Italians started to feel the pressure from a new foe - The Americans...and one particular Texas chicken rancher/racer who was helping Ford take down the Maranello firm. The threat posed by the Shelby Cobra was countered by another evolution of the dual-purpose Ferrari sports racer - the legendary 250 GTO.

Gallery: Ferrari 250 GT Scaglietti SWB Gathering at Pebble Beach

Monterey 2010: Ferrari 250 GT SWB lovefest at Pebble originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mouthwatering Italian classics join the Gooding roster for Pebble Beach

Noah Joseph — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Maserati, Ferrari

1955 Maserati A6G/54 Zagato - Click above for high-res image gallery

Pebble Beach is an octane-drenched event that never disappoints, and this year's event is shaping up to be no exception - but it will be exceptional. Already lined up for the August concours are the debuts of Morgan's new EvaGT and Ferrari's 599 roadster, with notable auction lots including the 1959 Le Mans-winning Ferrari 250 TdF and a famous 1927 Benz owned by the Marx Brothers. The latter will be part of Gooding & Company's auction, but that's far from the extent of what the venerable auction house has in store for Monterey this year.

An ex-Stirling Moss 1956 Maserati 200 SI and the Ferrari 340 America from the 1952 New York Auto Show have already been announced, but once the Pebble rolls around they'll be joined by a growing roster of drool-worthy classic Italian machinery. Among them will be a rare Zagato-bodied 1954 Fiat 8V, a stunning 1971 Lamborghini Miura S and a pristine alloy-bodied 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione, along with the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod and 1955 Maserati A6G/54 Zagato pictured in the galleries below.

SEFAC, as the tifosi will tell you, stands for Scuderia Enzo Ferrari Automobili Corsa, the precursor to the modern Scuderia Ferrari, represented here by what could very well be the ultimate expression of the 250 GT racer in existence today. And that Zagato Maserati? That's the coachbuilt special which the Modenese marque chose to represent at the 1955 Turin Motor Show. In other words, these cars have mad pedigree. Read more about 'em in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 1955 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta by Zagato

Gallery: 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod

[Source: Gooding & Company | Images: Simon Clay & Pawel Litwinski]

Continue reading Mouthwatering Italian classics join the Gooding roster for Pebble Beach

Mouthwatering Italian classics join the Gooding roster for Pebble Beach originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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