Ivan Vicario Martin
The date is next November 13, during the New York 2023 Modern and Contemporary Art auction. The protagonist is a unit of Ferrari 330LM / 250 GTO from 1962 with chassis number 3765. That is, the perfect cocktail to achieve a new record for the most desired model in history, of which we remember that only 36 units were built. And it is expected to far exceed the $48 million achieved by the 250 GTO chassis 3413 at Monterey 2018. Also then it was RM Sotheby's the person in charge of the auction.
We are talking about the only GTO Series I that the Scuderia itself ran Ferrari, that He was second overall and first in his category in the 1.000 Nürburgring 1962 Kilometers, piloted by Mike Parkes and Willy Mairese. Barely a month later, he would take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, again with Pakes at the wheel, now accompanied by the remembered Lorenzo Bandini.
After setting the second fastest time on the grid, only behind the Ferrari 330 TRI/LM of Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien -eventually winners of the test-, they were not so lucky in the race. An accident caused the car to overheat, condemning Parkes and Bandini to abandonment just after 56 laps.
THE LIFE OF THE FERRARI 250 GTO #3765
Without finishing that year 1962, chassis 3765 passed into the hands of Pietro Ferraro, "Montin", who sold it to Ferdinando Latteri two years later. He kept it until 1967, a period in which he achieved several triumphs and podiums, mainly in mountain races. The next owner of him was Mario Tosi, who He bought it through the factory for an amount that seems ridiculous today: $8.000.. During this period, the original 163 LM engine was replaced by that of the 246 SP chassis 0796.
Its next owners were Jack Reuter -between 1970 and 1974- and Fred Leydorf, who had it in his possession until 1985. Since then, it has remained in the hands of American James Jaeger, who has cared for and maintained it with care. In addition, he has been seen in different events, winning the Best of Show at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2012.
FOR THE RECORD
Now, after 38 years, Jaeger has decided to part with its Gran Turismo Omologata, what has triggered price speculation which will reach the RM Sotheby's auction. Recall that, in 2014, Bonhams auctioned chassis number 3851GT at Quail Lodge for $38.115.000. That mark lasted just four years, as the 3413 chassis fetched an incredible $48.405.000 in Monterey in 2018, as we've already anticipated.
These figures pale in comparison to the 135 million that were paid for Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR “Uhlenhaut Coupé” of 1955 last year. All in all, Ferrari remains the most valued brand in the world, with seven cars among the ten most expensive cars sold at auction.
Be that as it may, it is expected that in just two months there will be eight models of the prancing horse present on that list. And the forecasts are that The Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO chassis number 3765 exceeds 60 million dollars. All updated information is on the website of RM Sotheby's.
Photographs by RM Sotheby's and Ferrari.
