The Ferrari 250 GTO is amongst the most prized cars ever manufactured, commanding prices well into the tens of millions presently. Six decades ago, however, their value was significantly lower, exemplified by a magazine advertisement offering a legitimate 250 GTO for $14,000. Surprisingly, the car was purportedly sold for even less—and carried on with an extraordinary life thereafter.
The 250 GTO’s valuation originates from the account of its inception, and how Ferrari circumvented homologation prerequisites by misrepresenting the quantity they had constructed. That narrative is for another occasion; presently our focus is solely on chassis 4219GT, one of the final batch of just 36 cars completed. According to the Ferrari registry Barchetta.cc, it was purchased by tobacco heiress Mamie Reynolds, who enlisted the services of Pedro Rodriguez (a future victor of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Formula 1 Grand Prix) to compete with the car in two races at Daytona.
1963 Ferrari 250 GTO ad for $14,000 in Road & Track‘s December 1963 issue. Chris Tonn
Later that year, Reynolds relinquished ownership of the car to a Buick merchant in San Francisco, who published an advertisement for the car in the December 1963 edition of Road & Track. It was listed at $14,000, however, records from Barchetta.cc suggest the actual selling price was $12,166. While this may seem like a bargain, accounting for inflation, the sum approximates to about $119,000 today. Consequently, still a considerable amount for a Ferrari.
That wasn’t the conclusion of the journey for this 250 GTO by any means. The Buick dealer transacted the vehicle to an individual named George Dyer, who opted to have his Ferrari repainted in blue. According to Ultimate Car Page, Dyer didn’t confine its use to showcases: he utilized the now exorbitantly valued car on a daily basis and used it to teach his progeny how to drive. He retained possession of the 250 GTO until 1993 when he traded it for $3 million-$3.5 million to a British entrepreneur who has since employed it in vintage racing events and showcases. Despite its eventful past, it remains reputed to be one of the most unaltered 250 GTOs around.
Not a bad journey for one of the most economically priced instances of arguabley the most precious vehicle ever constructed. Let’s hope it maintains its integrity irrespective of its future owner—instead of becoming a mere commodity for some anonymous entity.
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