Enzo Ferrari, founder of the eponymous car company, founded his legendary scuderia for one purpose: to race. The Italian carmaker’s road-going vehicles were simply a means of funding the racing side of the company and adhering to certain rules that said its race cars have to be based on street-legal vehicles. That meant the cars that went to the public were slightly subdued versions of cars designed for pure speed.
The only cars that could top them were the unbridled rosso corsa-colored Ferraris on the track and, if your pockets are deep enough, you can get one of these classic racers of your own.
Bonhams will be auctioning off a 1966 Ferrari 275 Gran Turismo Berlinetta Competizione this January in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the GTB isn’t just race ready, its race royalty.
This Ferrari saw victories at legendary events such as the 1000 km race in Spa-Francorchamps, the 1969 Imola 500 Km, and won its class in the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s since hopped from a few collections and saw some bodywork restoration after it fell victim to a warehouse fire. However, the damage was superficial and its underpinnings were left unscathed. Ferrari has even given the car a certificate of authentication as the Grand Tourer retains its original 3.3-liter 12-cylinder engine, chassis, and transmission.
It doesn’t take much to speculate that this classic race car won’t leave the auction block for a bargain price. A 1963 250 GTO was currently sold for $38 million at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance this summer, and Ferrari made 39 of them. This car is one of twelve.
It might be too late to start putting pennies in a jar for us, but some lucky car lover with an extra fortune lying around is going to kick of 2015 with one heck of a bang.
