The Highest Selling Car in History: The Ferrari GTO

Luxury, performance, and a history of excellence follow this name wherever it goes and there’s no question as to why. Ferrari has been a show-stopping powerhouse of a brand since its founding date in 1939. From the track to the street, racing to riding in style, setting new bars and expectations worldwide for cars of the same caliber, there isn’t much that this brand hasn’t delivered on in their neck of the woods. A lasting reputation like this is one founder Enzo Ferrari would be proud of today, and the lineup over the years is more than impressive from our current point of view. Some limited production lines, some singular one-off vehicles, and some still in production today, there’s something for a variety of drivers to appreciate and enjoy in their collection. A notable recurring theme that brought consistently good feedback from multiple generations, several decades apart each, is the GTO series consisting of the 250, 288, and most recently the 599. These models, while unique in their own way, perfectly represent the timeless class and luxury that can be found throughout the history of Ferrari.

 

History and Legend

Every strong brand presence needs a memorable emblem, and Ferrari does not disappoint! The cherry on top of each stunning machine they release is the image of the prancing horse, or better known as, Cavallino Rampante, a symbol of power, prestige, and prowess in a multitude of applications. Such a signature has been popular in logos and other imagery for longer than this particular brand has been around, some dating back to engravings on the faces of ancient coins. The addition of red, green, and white colors representing the Italian flag, and the letters S and F inscribed on the bottom, which stand for Scuderia Ferrari, make it more unique to the brand and its roots, and set it apart enough from other uses of similar imagery to be recognizable in almost any context today. In the context of fast and magnificent animals, horses hold the titles well, so it’s no wonder they’ve become closely associated with racing, and thus Ferrari.

What Sets the GTO Apart?

It would take a pretty unique car to sell for 3,000 times its original purchase price, but that is exactly what happened in June of 2018. The title for most expensive Ferrari ever sold was quickly won over at the 2018 Monterey car week auctions where a gorgeous red 1962 Ferrari GTO 250 sold for a whopping $48.4 million dollars, claiming the record for most expensive car ever sold at an auction. So, what is it exactly that makes this particular Ferrari GTO model the “Hottest Car of All Time”?

In 1962 the Ferrari GTO 250 was designed and used as a race car. After winning the 1962 Italian GT championship, this particular model went on to win 15 more class and overall races, just within the span of 3 years (1962-1965). It even competed and won against powerhouse hyper cars such as the Jaguar E-Type, Aston Martine DP214, and even the Shelby Cobra. Any car fanatic can tell you that the Ferrari GTO 250 not only comes with incredible design structure, but historical significance. The beautiful sports car truly is a collector’s darling.

Specs

When you lift up the hood of a Ferrari GTO 250 you will be met with nothing but perfectly kept Italian machinery. The GTO 250 comes with a Tipo 168/62 Colombo V12 engine specifically designed by Giacchino Colombo. The engine packs a punch with 296 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 217 lbs-ft of torque at 5,500 rpm.

Aside from its powerful engine is its sleek aerodynamic design that optimizes speed and stability. The body is designed entirely out of aluminum and features a long nose that stays low to the ground. It also includes a small radiator inlet, and air intakes located on the nose the feature removable covers.

The interior of this car was kept minimal for racing purposes. Inside the seats are a cloth-upholstered and the floors are carpet free to provide a simple and efficient cockpit for whoever is behind the wheel.

 

Final Thoughts

It’s no surprise that with such advance aerodynamic technology for its time and historical significance that the 1962 Ferrari GTO remains the most valuable collector car in the world today. While it was last sold for a top price of $48.4 million dollars, the cars value continues to climb throughout the years and remains a prized possession to car enthusiasts everywhere. Of all 39 Ferrari GTO 250’s that were manufactured from 1962 to 1964, all 39 are still running and road-ready – a testament to the long-standing, dominated Ferrari name in the world of racing and exotic sports cars.