RM Auctions announced today that it found a new home for this rare 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO. Discretion prevents RM from disclosing the identity of the new owner or how much that person paid, but media reports indicate it's Chris Evans, a UK TV/radio personality, and that he paid close to the $20 million asking price.
The car is one of 36 250 GTOs ever built in 1962 and 1963. These front-engine, rear-drive cars all had 3.0-liter (2,953cc) V12 engines that used all-aluminum construction (a very big deal back then) and made on the order of 290 horsepower at 8,000 rpm. Suspension consisted of double wishbones up front and a solid live axle in back. This particular 250 GTO was one of a handful with Series II bodywork, and of course it has been driven by sorts of famous Italian people.
Evans, it would seem, is something of a vintage Ferrari freak (as perhaps we all would be, finances permitting). Back in 2008, he bought a Nero Black 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder that once belonged to actor James Coburn, paying in the neighborhood of $10.9 million. He also had a '59 250 GT LWB California Spyder and a '62 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, both of which he sold at RM's Monaco auction earlier this month.
sharpend says:
07:27 PM, 05/13/10
Chris Evans is getting paid way too much.
bankerdanny says:
07:40 PM, 05/13/10
He was on Top Gear recently. I am mystified how any TV/Radio presenter has sufficient wealth to acquire multiple 8 figure Ferrari's. There has to be more to him than that.
firstwagon says:
01:49 PM, 05/14/10
I wonder how high he thinks it we go? It's the only reason to pay that much for it.