Ferraris to take centre stage at Mecum Monterey auction

A 1968 Ferrari 330 GTS will lead auction estimates at the upcoming Mecum event in Monterey, California, later this month.

The silver V12 convertible is expected to reach $3-3.5million (£1.9-2.24million) at the annual Daytime Auction, held on August 13-15.

Originally presented at the Paris Auto Salon in October 1966, the 330 GTS joined the hard-topped GTC in Ferrari’s range, and used the same 4-litre, 300bhp V12.

This particular car featured on the cover of the December 1969 issue of Road & Track magazine, and subsequently found a home with Bill Harrah – an American businessman best known as the founder of Harrah’s Hotel and Casinos.

In 1972, the car was sold to another businessman in Colorado Springs, and since 2010 has resided with a third owner. It has covered 25,000 miles and even features the original factory exhaust system.

Two other 1960s Ferraris could also fetch high sums at Monterey. The first is a 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB ‘Short Nose’, expected to reach $2.75-3.25million, while the second is another 1964 car, a 250 GT/L ‘Lusso’. Presented in light blue, it should reach $2.25-2.75million.

An example of the value of more recent Ferraris, a pristine red 1989 Ferrari F40 could sell for as much as $1.2-1.5 million – around £770,000-£960,000 at current exchange rates. You can find our own take on the F40 in our Ferrari 488 GTB video review.

The final million-dollar car is a 1872 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona. In stunning red paintwork, the car could reach $1-1.2million at the Mecum event.

Other Ferraris in the auction aren’t quite as expensive, but many are equally special – classic fans will be satiated by a 1973 Dino 246 GTS, which could break the $400,000 mark, and the white Miami Vice Ferrari Testarossa.

More modern examples crossing the block include a 2011 Ferrari 599 GTB Alonso Final Edition – named for the F1 star previously with the Scuderia but now at McLaren, and a 2003 575M with the Fiorano handling package. Amazingly, this latter car could reach half a million dollars.

The Daytime Auction will take place at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa, and Del Monte Golf Course in Monterey.