Ferrari 250 GTO

The Ferrari 250 GTO is a racing car produced by Ferrari from 1962 to 1964. A total of 39 250 GTOs were manufactured. (Gran Turismo Omologato, grand tourer homologated) which means officially certified for racing in the grand tourer class.

In 2004, Sports Car International nominated it the top sports car of all time. Motor Trend Classic placed the 250 GTO first on a list of the 'Greatest Ferraris of All Time.' Popular Mechanics named it the 'Hottest Car of All Time.'

In 2012 the 1962 250 GTO made for Stirling Moss became what was then the world's most expensive car in history, selling for $35m.

The 250 GTO was designed to compete in GT racing. The car was built around a hand-welded oval tube frame, incorporating A-arm front suspension, rear live-axle with Watt's linkage, disc brakes, and Borrani wire wheels. The highly reliable engine was the Tipo 168/62 Comp. 3.0 L V12.

The engine was an all-alloy design utilizing a dry sump and six 38DCN Weber carburetors.

The world record for a car at auction was broken for the fifth time in six years on August 14, 2014 when a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO sold at Bonham's Quail Auction for US$34,650,000 (US$38,115,000 including buyers premium).

The car sold from the Maranello Rosso Collection was stamped with chassis number ‘3851 GT’ and was the 19th 250 GTO Berlinetta made by Ferrari, completed on Sept. 11, 1962.

The car was delivered to the leading French racing driver Jo Schlesser, co-driven by himself and French ski Champion Henri Oreiller in the 1962 Tour de France Automobile race.

Oreiller later crashed the car during a race at Montlhery Autodrome, south of Paris, and died of his injuries in hospital. A newspaper report at the time said the Ferrari careered off the track and flipped twice after a tire burst.

The car was repaired by Ferrari in Italy and was sold to Italian driver Paolo Colombo in time for the start of the 1963 competition season.

In 1965 young Fabrizio Violati, the scion of a wealthy Italian family, bought the car. “I saved the car from scrap and hid it from my parents. I only drove it at night so nobody would see me”