Wednesday, January 26, 2011

1961 Ferrari 250 GT Spyder

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Search as I might, I have never found any Ferrari design that did not set my heart racing. Beginning from their first cars in 1947, to the newly released FF,2+2 V12 4 Wheel drive, Ferrari, freed from the need to produce an auto at an affordable price, has pushed the boundaries of speed and handling. Ferrari’s new California Gran Turismo with it’s mid-front 8-cylinder engine: has a Max speed of 193 mph, hit 62mph in under 4 seconds.


Throughout their history, each of the Ferrari models both road cars as well as the cars they sent into competition, have made use of what was at that time, the “State of the art technology.” This willingness to utilize the “Latest and Best” has kept them on top.

While I marvel at the performance data of their newest offerings, I still have a great fondness for their classic cars of the 60s.



One such example is the Ferrari 250, a sports car built by Ferrari begaining in 1953. The car was in production till 1964 and was the most successful of their early line-up being replaced by the 275 and later the 330.

One think that is clear, obviously I’m not the only one to find these vintage models so desirable. RM Auctions joined with Sotheby’s to sell a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder, and set a new world record for the most expensive auto ever to be sold at auction. The fact that the car was at one time owned by the actor,James Coburn (In Like Flint), could have had a slight “Bump-up” from its pedigree, but the staggering final bid of $10,894,400 defines this as one of the most beautiful, desirable vehicles ever built.


Speaking of which, remember the Ferrari California in Ferris Bueller's Day Off


Well the House used in the movie is located in Highland Park, Illinois. This house does in fact have that garage cantilevered over the ravine from which the car crashes; well that house is up for sale.
The asking price for the home is 1.6 million, clearly that house will sell for less than the value of The Ferrari 250 GT California, that in movie legend was destroyed as the result of an ill-conceived attempt to "Reverse-out" the miles racked up after 3 teens day on the town.