For most of us, buying a car is a relatively simple process. We save money, decide on a manufacturer and model that fits our needs, and try to find the best deal for it. But every now and then, some cars manage to break all the rules. The most expensive cars in the world are the masterpieces of automotive engineering, all with a matching price tag. But what is the world’s most expensive car of all time?
The 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO – the most expensive car in the world
The Ferrari 250 GTO series was produced in Italy between 1962 and 1963. During this period, 39 cars were built. But in 1963, only one Ferrari 250 GTO was available. 50 years later, the same car would become the most expensive in the world, sold for a price that can easily pull any small state out of the economical crisis. The 1963 250 GTO reached the highest level of performance and style Ferrari dreamed of and went on to become a racing legend.
According to the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, or FIA, at least 100 examples must be built in order for a new model to be homologated for the track. But Ferrari broke the rules with its 250 GTO series and produced only 39. The manufacturer numbered its chassis using jumps between each car number to suggest chassis numbers that didn’t even exist, thus tricking the FIA regulations.
General Specifications
The series of Ferrari 250 GTO was designed to compete in sports car races and in the 24 Hours Le Mans. The sports car was designed by Giotto Bizzarrini and Sergio Scaglietti. Red color. Aluminum body. Two-door coupe berlin Etta body style. Rear-wheel drive. Each one of the 39 Ferrari 250 GTO cars produced is different from the other, because they were custom-made and hand-built, making them even more valuable. The Ferrari 250 GTO is considered the ultimate car by collectors.
Engine specifications
The 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO is equipped with a 3-liter V-12 engine from the 250 Testa Rossa producing 300 horsepower, which was simply stunning for the time. It can reach 60 mph in 6.1 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 158.4 mph. It is equipped with a manual 5-speed gearbox.
Chassis number 3729GT
In 1964, the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO with chassis number 3729GT won the Tour de France; during the same year, it also won the 24-Hour Le Mans. These particular features make the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO chassis number 3729GT particularly valuable. In fact, the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO with chassis number 3729GT is currently the most expensive car in the world. In 1997, it received a bid of $9 million. Afterward, it continued to be sold exclusively on the private market. Previously owned by Paul Pappalardo, an American collector, it was sold for $52 million to an unknown buyer in October 2013. Until this particular transaction, the most expensive car in the world had been another Ferrari 250 GTO, which had been sold for $35 million.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, or DVLA, keeps a database of drivers and cars in the UK, including collectible models. For inquiries about former owners, transactions, and other collection cars that are on sale in the UK, call the DVLA contact phone number.