It must be Ferrari Tuesday (perhaps we should reschedule these posts for Ferrari Friday), with Graham’s piece showing what people are getting up to with the latest breed of Fezzas, but what’s going on with the old school?
In the case of the famed Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa - clearly the inspiration for Speed Racer’s ‘Mach Five’ race car - a stunning 1957 example, bearing the chassis number #0714TR and one of only 22 ‘pontoon-fender’ models built, was recently auctioned by RM Auctions at the third annual Ferrari Leggenda e Passione for the record price of €9,020,000.
That’s about $18 million in Aussie dollars.
And what record did it break? That of a 1961 250 GT California Spyder, which sold at the previous year’s event for around AU$14 million.
“The historical significance of this car attracted a bidding war as collectors from around the world - both in the room and on the telephone – competed to secure one of the most alluring and iconic of all Ferrari racing cars,” said Max Girardo, Managing Director of RM Europe.
The Scaglietti-designed 250 TR was built from 1957 to 1958, and despite only 22 examples being produced, a number of the topless Ferraris entered 19 international championship races from 1958 to 1961, with 10 victories coming from their efforts.
“This legendary 250 TR is one of the most exciting motor cars ever to be presented in auction history,” said Max Girardo, Managing Director of RM Europe.
“The Ferrari Leggenda e Passione event, now in its third year, is firmly established as the place to sell important road and race going Ferraris, and we are delighted to present this stunning 250 TR at its Maranello birthplace,” he added.
