Rare Ferrari sets $16m auction record

A RARE Ferrari has set a world record for the most expensive car sold at auction, with an anonymous buyer ignoring the global recession by paying €9.02 million ($A16.2 million) for a 1957 250 Testa Rossa.

This beats the previous world record – set at the same event at Ferrari’s Maranello factory a year ago – of €7.04m ($A12.4m) for a 1961 California paid by celebrity DJ Chris Evans.

Another famous Prancing Horse that was expected to challenge the record failed to sell after reaching €7.25m ($A12.8m). The 330 P4 is one of only three built, finished second at Le Mans in 1967 and raced in Australia at Surfers Paradise a year later, but which is currently in its last racing form with modified bodywork for the United States Can-Am series.

Also failing to sell on the day was a Maserati 250F Grand Prix car driven to victory in the 1956 Monaco Grand Prix by Stirling Moss. It was passed in at €1.35 million ($A2.4 million).

The record-setting black 3.0-litre V12 ‘pontoon-fender’ 250 Testa Rossa (chassis 0714TR) is one of 22 examples built and also has a racing history, but mainly in US amateur racing.

The new auction record was posted on Sunday at the third annual factory-sanctioned Ferrari Leggenda e Passione event held by RM Auctions, which would not reveal the identity of the winning phone bidder.

“The historical significance of this car attracted a bidding war as collectors from around the world – both in the room and on the telephone – competed to secure one of the most alluring and iconic of all Ferrari racing cars,” said RM Europe managing director Max Girardo.

“The eyes of the world were watching today’s sale as cars of this quality are so rarely offered to the market. The quality and the provenance of the Testa Rossa speaks for itself and the price we achieved today is testament to that.”

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Famous Ferrari sold