2019 Scottsdale, Arizona Sales: Top Ten Ferraris (Preview)

The top ten most-expensive Ferraris on offer at the Scottsdale, Arizona, 2019 classic car auctions have estimates above $3 million.

1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale
Darin Schnabel © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Ten Ferraris on offer at the annual Scottsdale, Arizona collector car auctions in January 2019 have upper estimates exceeding $3 million. The most-expensive car, a 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale, is likely to set a new Scottsdale auction week record if it sell above $10 million as expected. Most of the top-ten Ferraris on offer are from the classic period of the 1950s and 1960s but also include two 288 GTOs from 1985, and a 2017 LaFerrari Aperta.

Top-Ten Most-Expensive Ferraris at Scottsdale 2019

The ten most-expensive Ferraris on offer at the Scottsdale, Arizona 2019 classic car auctions are:

YearCarEstimateAuction House
11957Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale11,000,000 – 13,000,000RM Sotheby’s
22017Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta6,500,000 – 8,500,000RM Sotheby’s
31964Ferrari 275 GTB Prototype6,000,000 – 8,000,000Gooding
41963Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta6,000,000 – 8,000,000Gooding
51958Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta5,750,000 – 6,500,000Gooding
61953Ferrari 250 MM Spider5,500,000 – 6,500,000Gooding
71954Ferrari 500 Mondial Series I Spider5,000,000 – 6,000,000Bonhams
81985Ferrari 288 GTO3,200,000 – 3,600,000RM Sotheby’s
91967Ferrari 275 GTB/42,800,000 – 3,200,000RM Sotheby’s
101985Ferrari 288 GTO2,500,000 – 3,000,000Gooding

Top Ferraris at Scottsdale, Arizona 2019

1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale Profile
Darin Schnabel © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The two most-expensive cars on offer at the 2019 Scottsdale classic car auction series are both at the RM Sotheby’s auction but five of the ten most-expensive Ferraris are on offer at Gooding. Bonhams has one on the list and RM Sotheby’s four. The estimates of several – especially at Gooding – are not excessive hinting at a desire by vendors to actually sell these cars and not to miss sales with over optimistic reserves.

1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale

1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale Rear
Darin Schnabel © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale, at RM Sotheby’s, is by far the most-expensive car on offer during the Scottsdale 2019 collector car auction series. It has the potential to raise the Scottsdale auction week record from the current $9,900,000 paid for a 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster in 2016.

This Ferrari with one-off, coachbuilt bodywork by Pinin Farina, originally belonged to Princess Lilian de Réthy of Belgium. The Speciale’s long nose featured covered headlamps, while the front fenders were notable for large chromed and louvered vents, reminiscent of those found on the California Spider.

2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta

2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
Mo Satarzadeh © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

In sharp contrast, and also at RM Sotheby’s, is the modern 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta. It will be the second LaFerrari Aperta offered at public auction in 2019 – the Aperta at Mecum Kissimmee failed to sell despite a highest bid of $6.1 million.

The car on offer is a US-specification model with 1,500 miles on the clock. It is finished in Nero Daytona with red accents throughout the exterior and interior.

1964 Ferrari 275 GTB Prototype

1964 Ferrari 275 GTB Prototype
1964 Ferrari 275 GTB Prototype © Gooding

For the second consecutive year, the top car at Gooding Scottsdale will be a unique 275 GTB. The 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB Prototype was the very first 275 GTB built and the development car for what would become a very popular Ferrari series. Its present condition resembles the car as it was in the 1966 Monte Carlo Rally where it participated with factory support as part of the development process.

1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta

1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
© Gooding

The 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta with coachwork by Scaglietti, chassis 4037 GT, at Gooding was the fourth to last of 166 SWB produced and one of only 96 Lusso SWB Berlinettas built. It had a string of owners including Nicolas Cage in 2006.

The car is Ferrari Classiche certified with matching-numbers engine and gearbox.

1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta

1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta (Estimate: $5,750,000 – $6,500,000)
© Gooding

The 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta, chassis 1037 GT, at Gooding was the 19th of 36 single-louver Tour de France Berlinettas produced (out of a total 78 made).

The car was originally delivered in Venezuela where it was raced successfully for several years.

The car is Ferrari Classiche certified to having amongst others its original body, chassis, engine and gearbox and is sold with a spare 250 GT engine.

1953 Ferrari 250 MM Spider

1953 Ferrari 250 MM Spider Series II (Estimate: $5,500,000 – $6,500,000)
1953 Ferrari 250 MM Spider Series II © Gooding

The 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Spider, chassis 0348 MM, at Gooding is one of just 12 Vignale Spiders built on the 250 MM chassis.

The 250 MM Spider was originally delivered to the USA where it was extensively and successfully raced. However, it survived in a very good condition with its original engine, gearbox, chassis and coachwork.

1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Series I Spider

1954 Ferrari Mondial Front
© P. Litwinski / Courtesy of Bonhams

1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider, chassis 0438MD, estimate $5,000,000 – $6,000,000, is top car at the the Bonhams Scottsdale 2019 classic car auction. Ferrari produced only 27 Mondials with this Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider the eleventh of only twelve Series I Spiders produced with Pinin Farina coachwork.

This Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider was originally owned by Porforio Ruburiso who specified the blue color. He sold it to Johnny von Neumann who extensively raced it with amongst others Phil Hill as driver.

1985 Ferrari 288 GTO

1985 Ferrari 288 GTO
Drew Shipley © Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO at RM Sotheby’s is a low-mileage US example with only 2,900 miles from new.

Only 272 of the 288 GTO were produced, of which only one were sold at auction in the past two years: for a very strong $3,948,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Maranello 2017 sale. Prior to that result, 288 GTOs traded mostly for around $2.5 million and often failed to attract much bidding.

1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4

Blue 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
© 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 at RM Sotheby’s is a freshly serviced and Classiche-certified car. It is one of only 330 examples built and finished in the stunning color combination of Blue Sera over Pelle Bleu. 

This 275 GTB/4 was part of the Pinnacle Collection that RM Sotheby’s sold at Monterey 2015. Right at the peak of the market it achieved $3.3 million – expectations, not only for this car, have lowered since.

1985 Ferrari 288 GTO

The 1988 Ferrari 288 GTO at Gooding is the “cheaper” of the two on offer during the 2019 Scottsdale classic car auction week. This 288 GTO had only three owners and is in a very well-maintained condition. It has 12,249 km on the clock.

More on Scottsdale 2019 Collector Car Auctions

2017 Ford GT
© Barrett Jackson

The first major collector car auction series of the year is traditionally the Scottsdale and Phoenix auctions in Arizona, USA, in mid-January.

Most major car auctioneers have sales in Arizona including Barrett-Jackson, Bonhams, Gooding and RM Sotheby’s. A notable exception is Mecum that start the auction year a few weeks earlier at Kissimmee in Florida.

Scottsdale, Arizona, 2019 Auctions Sale Results

Scottsdale, Arizona, 2019 Auctions Sale Previews:

Scottsdale, Arizona, 2019 Auctions Pre-Sale Announcements: