Ferrari 250 GTO sells for a record-breaking £52million

A Ferrari 250 GTO has sold privately for a rumoured $70million (£52million) making it the most expensive car to ever be sold. The car that now holds this world record is chassis number 4153GT – a silver GTO built in 1963.

Any Ferrari 250 GTO is a rare and special car – that’s why the most expensive car sold at auction is also a Ferrari 250 GTO – but this one boasts a specification and history very few of the 39 250 GTOs can compete with. Firstly, it is one of the earlier and prettier Series I cars, rather than having the Series II bodywork reminiscent of the 250 LM.

It is also one of the few 250 GTOs not to be painted red. Instead, it’s finished in silver with a yellow stripe running perpendicular across the bonnet, the livery of Belgium team Ecurie Francorchamps.

As well as being cosmetically desirable, this GTO also has its original engine, rather than a replacement from another 250 Ferrari, and has never been crashed. However, it was restored back in the 1990s and has, more recently, been certified by Ferrari Classiche.

The 250 GTO’s range of abilities – that it was able to compete competitively on circuits as well as on the many road rallies and hill climbs that took place in the 1960s – is demonstrated by this car’s impressive history.

Not only did this GTO race at Le Mans in ’63 (finishing fourth overall) and in the Spa 500km Grand Prix in ’64 (where it finished sixth overall), chassis 4153GT also won the 1964 Tour De France and then came third (and first in class) in the Mont Ventoux hill climb.

> Read about the 10 most expensive cars ever sold at auction

The new owner of this 250 GTO is David MacNeil, CEO of WeatherTech – a car floor mat manufacturer and the current title sponsor of the IMSA championship. MacNeil purchased the car from Christian Glaesel, a German classic car collector and historic racer.