A 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sold for $14.9 million establishing the record for the most ever paid for a car at a public sale Saturday night at the Gooding & Co., auction in Monterey, California.
With commissions and premiums, the total purchase price surpassed $16 million, far exceeding the $12.2 million (total) paid for another 1957 Testa Rossa in 2009 at a public auction in Italy.
According to Gooding’s description of the Testa Rossa (chassis No. 0666 TR) it is not only the first 250 Testa Rossa built, but was also campaigned by Scuderia Ferrari when new.
It was restored by Dennison International and took first in its class at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
A 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, sold in a private transaction (also brokered by Gooding) to the Mullin Automotive Museum for between $30 million and $40 million last year and assume the title of world most expensive car.
Article Last Updated: December 1, 2013.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
