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The Next Best Thing: 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione up for auction at Brooklands

Noah Joseph — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Auctions, Ferrari, UK

1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione - Click above for high-res images

Practical considerations aside, cost no object, if you could have any car ever made, what would it be? We'd bet that a large proportion of you would be thinking of the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO. Unfortunately, cost is an object for the vast majority of us. And considering how the iconic GTO is one of the most valuable, most sought-after classic sportscars ever made, the overwhelming likelihood is that most of us - make that practically all of us - could never stand a chance of owning one.

It's only natural, then, that there should be replicas made. Scratch that - "tributes." But if you're going to replicate a GTO, you're not going to start with an old Firebird as your underpinnings. You're going to start with another classic Ferrari. Just one not quite as valuable.

That's what the owner in that other video did. And that's what you're looking at here. This 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO "Evocazione" started its life as a Ferrari 330 GT, and in 1993 was sent to Italy to have its chassis modified before being fitted with painstakingly handmade aluminum bodywork in the UK. Attention was paid to every detail, down to the gauges and Borrani wire wheels. And now it's up for grabs, courtesy of newly inaugurated auction house Historics at Brooklands. Once it crosses the block there on September 25, it's expected to fetch around £240,000 ($377k) - which may seem like a fair chunk of change, but it's a far cry from the $18 million reportedly last fetched by the original.

Gallery: 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione

[Source: Historics at Brooklands]

Continue reading The Next Best Thing: 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione up for auction at Brooklands

The Next Best Thing: 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione up for auction at Brooklands originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ferrari 250 GTO and Ford GT40 (sorta) reunited in Malibu

Noah Joseph — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Videos, Ford, Ferrari

Ferrari and Ford retro supercars on The Smoking Tire - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Any racing fan nut, automotive enthusiast or classic car nut worth his driving mocs knows the story of the Ford GT40. In the early 1960s Ferrari was on a six-time winning streak at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. That's when Henry Ford II initiated proceedings to take over the Maranello sportscar-maker and racing team.

As the story goes, though, the notoriously intractable Enzo Ferrari didn't like the terms and canceled the deal at the 11th hour. Ford was left holding his hat and out of spite commissioned the GT40 with the explicit aim of knocking his Italian counterpart off his high (prancing) horse. The result was that, with the GT40, Ford won Le Mans four times in a row.

Now the Ferrari 250 GTO wasn't one of the cars that won at Le Mans during Ferrari's six-year reign. It was busy winning other categories during the same period. But that's alright, because the car in the video after the jump isn't a real GTO anyway. It is a real Ferrari, though: a 365 GTB/4 Daytona rebodied to look like a GTO. And it's not facing off against a GT40 either - that's actually the modern tribute, the 2005 Ford GT.

Do either of those facts mitigate the sight of seeing these cars take to the mountain roads outside Malibu, California? Hardly. But don't take our word for it, follow the jump to watch the video for yourself and see Matt Farrah of The Smoking Tire take the joyride of his life.

[Source: The Smoking Tire via RideLust]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari 250 GTO and Ford GT40 (sorta) reunited in Malibu

Video: Ferrari 250 GTO and Ford GT40 (sorta) reunited in Malibu originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RM Auctions sells 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO for reported $18 million

Drew Phillips — Sun, 16 May 2010 11:06:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Ferrari

1963 Ferrari 250 GTO #4675GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in February we reported that RM Auctions was conducting a private treaty sale for a coveted 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO worth an estimated $16-20 million. This past week, the auction house announced that they had found a buyer for the car, but released limited details on the sale.

According to The Sun, however, the buyer is none other than British radio host Chris Evans, who also paid more than $10 million for a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder at an RM auction. The 250 GTO tops his previous purchase, though, at a reported £12 million (or approximately $18 million USD). Apparently, Evans had to sell three other Ferraris in his collection to make the purchase, and he plans to drive the car on the road.

While that's a lot of money, Evans' car actually wound up costing less than some other 250 GTOs. For instance, another recent example that traded hands was rumored to have a $28.5 million price tag. To top all those, a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic was purchased for $30 to $40 million earlier this month, making it the most expensive car of all time. Hit the jump for the press release from RM and check out Evans' latest toy in the gallery below.

Gallery: 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO chassis #4675GT

[Source: RM Auctions, The Sun]

Continue reading RM Auctions sells 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO for reported $18 million

RM Auctions sells 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO for reported $18 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 May 2010 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultra-rare 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO up for sale by RM Auctions... will it set a record?

Drew Phillips — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Auctions, Ferrari

1963 Ferrari 250 GTO #4675GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Very rarely does a Ferrari 250 GTO come up for sale, and if it does, you'll probably never hear about it. Most sales are done behind closed doors, and the amount of said transactions are almost never disclosed to the public. That's just part of the mystique behind the world's most valuable car, and it's partially why the cars are so coveted. Just 36 examples were built between 1962 and 1963, each still in existence and easily carrying an eight-figure price tag. A few years ago, a 250 GTO supposedly changed hands for nearly $30 million, but no one can completely confirm the rumor.

We will, however, have more details about the next sale of a 250 GTO. RM Auctions have announced that they will be doing a "private treaty sale" of 1963 250 GTO chassis #4675GT. The car has been in possession of its current Japanese owner, Yoshiho Matsuda, since 1996 (a low point for the value of the car compared to the high prices of the late 1980s), and it has an extensive racing history.

We saw the car at the Pebble Beach Concour d'Elegance back in 2004, and while its Series II bodywork isn't quite as stunning as earlier models, it's still an extraordinarily beautiful car. If you've got millions of dollars just sitting around, now is the time to break out the checkbook and buy your very own rolling piece of V12-powered Italian artwork. Hit the jump for the official press release from RM or click the high-res gallery below for a beautiful studio shot plus several of our photographs from our 2004 encounter with the car.

Gallery: 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO chassis #4675GT

Non-Studio Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: RM Auctions]

Continue reading Ultra-rare 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO up for sale by RM Auctions... will it set a record?

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Rumormill: Ferrari 599 GTO? EVO says 700-hp bruiser is on the way

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Ferrari, Rumormill

Ferrari 599XX - click above for hi-res image gallery

Few words have greater impact when mashed together than "Ferrari" and "GTO." While there are rivals at times, the most expensive car in the word for the last three decades has been the original, Daytona Coupe battling, Le Mans winning Ferrari 250 GTO. Designed by Giotto Bizzarrini and raced into history by Phil Hill, few cars wear the moniker "legendary" quite as well. After all, only 39 were ever made.

But, like Leah, there is another. The mighty Ferrari 288 GTO. Developed -- like Porsche's 959 and 961 -- for Group B action, few if any cars set our hearts so totally on fire. Know nothings might scoff at the 2.85-liter displacement, but those of us in the know will point to the two turbochargers, two intercoolers and 400 stampeding horses. We might even tell them that if they turned the boost pressure up from 11.6 psi to something a bit higher, 600 hp is well within reach. However, the 288 GTO isn't, as just 272 examples (though some say 273) were made. Compare that to the 1,315 Ferrari F40s that were built. A car we should point out, that's basically a 288 GTO with a body kit.

Now there might be three. EVO is reporting that Ferrari is about to let loose a new GTO upon the world in the form of a 700 horsepower monster called the 599 GTO. Obviously, it's an evolution of the street 599, and in fact EVO's claiming it's the racetrack only 599XX for the street. During a recent interview, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa told the Brit mag that when the 458 Italia debuted, the 599 was internally reassigned to the "Sports Car" division, instead of where it used to reside, as a "GT."

More interestingly, should it come to fruition, the 599 GTO will have specs to make Enzo owners smack their own foreheads. 700 hp will come from the raising the 6.0-liter V12's redline to a stunning 9,000 rpm. A faster transmission should shave gear change times down from 100 milliseconds to an essentially F1 quick 60 milliseconds. And it will be light. Everything should add up to a 3.2 second dash to 60 mph and an Enzo-matching top speed of 217 mph. Though if the 599 GTO went a little bit faster than that, we wouldn't be all that surprised. Tip of the Ferrari branded $50 Kimi Räikkönen baseball cap (no, really) to Kevin!

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Ferrari 599xx

[Source: EVO]

Rumormill: Ferrari 599 GTO? EVO says 700-hp bruiser is on the way originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolls-Royce Star of India to go on auction for €10,000,000

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Auctions, Europe, Rolls-Royce, UK, Luxury

1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Star of India - click above image for high-res gallery

As if the adventures of Bernie Madoff weren't enough to convince you that we're living in the new Jazz Age, this might: A very custom, one-off 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II 40/50 HP Continental, known in high Roller circles as the Star of India, is being put on auction for the seriously astronomical price of ten million Euros. That's one Porsche Turbo over fourteen million Yankee dollars to you and me. Originally bodied by Thrupp & Maberly for the Maharaja of Rajkot, the Star of India has spent the last few decades in the private collection of Hans-Günther Zach at his Mühlheim/Main Rolls-Royce museum.

There's no indication if Herr Zach is feeling the pinch of the world wide economic meltdown -- or if he's just moving on to greener pastures -- but his entire collection is up for grabs. While there's no doubt other impressive cars up for sale (like the 1926 "Aluminum Sculpture" Phantom I Open Tourer) the star is without question the Star. Never mind the royal pedigree, how can you get past the aluminum on orange carriage work?

Should it sell for its asking price, the 7.7-liter pushrod straight-six Rolls equipped with two additional headlights to follow the path of the steering (fourteen headlights total), would be the most expensive car in the world. After all, rumors of the Japanese man that reportedly paid $15,000,000 for a Ferrari 250 GTO before Japan's economy imploded in the late 1980s have never been proved. Happy bidding. Thanks to Reddy for the tip!

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Phantom II Star of India

[Source: Born Rich]

Rolls-Royce Star of India to go on auction for €10,000,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Little Nürburgring: Ferraris in their Natural Habitat at Mont Tremblant

Noah Joseph — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:56:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Ferrari, Canada

2009 Ferrari Challenge at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've always found the idea of going on safari or a diving expedition rather intriguing. But while we can appreciate those willing to spend their precious vacation time and hard-earned cash to see nature's most beautiful creatures in their natural habitats, most of us here at Autoblog aren't exactly the nature-adventure types. We're car guys. The Ferrari Challenge... now that's more like it.

Like a lion in the Sahara or a bear in the forest, Ferraris belong on the race track. But the unfortunate reality is most end up sitting in tiled garages adjoining big mansions in prestigious locations. We get to see more than most, but more often than not they're perched on an auto show stand under floodlights and flash bulbs. So when Ferrari invited us to join them at the legendary Circuit Mont Tremblant for a round of wheel-to-wheel racing, we could hardly resist. Follow the jump for more.

Gallery: 2009 Ferrari F430 Challenge at Mont Tremblant

Gallery: 2009 Ferrari Historic Challenge at Mont Tremblant

Continue reading The Little Nürburgring: Ferraris in their Natural Habitat at Mont Tremblant

The Little Nürburgring: Ferraris in their Natural Habitat at Mont Tremblant originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari 250 GTO rumored to have sold for $28.5 million

Drew Phillips — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Auctions, Ferrari

Click above for high-res gallery of the Ferrari 250 GTO

The going rate for vintage Ferraris seems to be at an all time high, as evidenced by the record sale of a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder back in May and the incredible selection of million dollar Ferraris at the RM Auction in Monterey this year. All of those are easily topped, however, by the rumored sale of a Ferrari 250 GTO for an incredible $28.5 million. Not much is known about the actual sale, since many of the high-dollar Ferrari transactions are done through private parties and not necessarily through an auction house. However, the knowledgeable members at FerrariChat.com have it on authority that the sale did happen. If anything, it gave us a chance to put together a huge gallery of 250 GTO photos from various concours and vintage racing events. Enjoy the photos below!

Gallery: Ferrari 250 GTO

[Source: FerrariChat.com]

Ferrari 250 GTO rumored to have sold for $28.5 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari GTO cufflinks made of real Ferrari GTO

Alex Nunez — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 12:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Ferrari

Much like the Sex Panther cologne in Anchorman, which was "made with bits of real panther," Alfred Dunhill's enthusiast-oriented Provenance cufflinks are shaped like miniature Ferrari 250 GTOs, and are made of actual Ferrari 250 GTO aluminum body panels. Worry not, friends, as we're quite certain that Dunhill isn't wantonly slaughtering GTOs for the sole purpose of keeping French cuffs stylishly managed. A few panels were probably enough to make a full production run of the limited-edition baubles, which are as close to actual Ferrari GTO ownership as some buyers are going to get. With a price tag of $1800, even that subset of customers will assuredly be among the very well-heeled.

[Source: Dunhill via Acquire Mag]

Ferrari GTO cufflinks made of real Ferrari GTO originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jul 2007 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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