Wow...an amazing price for the Ferrari 250 GT SWB California at RM Auctions event. http://sportscardigest.com/archives/854
This is a press release BY RM. By highlighting the exceptional price paid for the California they're trying to hide the fact that their sale was, overall, far from beeing a success.
Is a 250 SWB worth a lot more that a 250 LWB? I'm thinking of the 250 LWB that sold last year at Gooding's Pebble Beach for a (mere?) 4.5 mil. I cannot imagine James Coburn having owned the car added much to the value?
That was my first impression too. There was a red 250 LWB at the same auction, and it would be interesting to see where it traded.
He he. See this article from a UK rag tabloid. I hope the pics aren't accurate or he has been ripped off slightly ;-) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=567146&in_page_id=1773
This car is amasing and rare, not surprising to see also the name of actor like James Coburn help s the price increase. I remember very well the auction of Sothebys Monaco in 1990.
Brilliant! Actually he no longer has that car. He gave it away as a prize on a quiz show he presented called 'Don't Forget Your Toothbrush'. Is this really the most expensive Ferrari ever?
The article says it was a record for an auctioned vintage car. I'd guess there probably have been private sales with higher numbers.
Still chump change compared with the contemporary art auction. The wall of money at the high end of any major collectable market seems unlimited
RM Auction sent out the Leggenda auction final results news release http://www.sportscardigest.com/archives/898
This car was stationed in Colorado for many years while owned by Bruce Lustman. I had the rare privilege of seeing it often since I used the same mechanic. It was set up for driving, not show but was truly stunning in black. I'm not a convertible guy, but this car could "convert" me (pun intended). He also had a 275 NART spider at the time and the two together was enough to make any car guy's (or girl's) knees weak. Dave
You can talk about "market average" on cars made in bulk quantities. But when they made something like eleven California Spiders, each one is its own market. (I don't know how many 250 Calis were made. I remember seeing that only fourteen 375 Calis were built.) You need a "statistical universe" to talk about averages.
Silly you! Classiche will make the owner a "matching" motor, for a price of course. I agree about the price, but I think (could be wrong) that this is the 1st SWB Cailfornia to be auctioned in many years. We will probably see some more now! Dave
Everyone should keep in mind that part of what we are seeing in the decrease in value of the US dollar.He paid in pounds.In "strong dollar" terms the price is about half as much.
I understand and you are correct. My point being....it's not truly an original. For that kind of dough, it should be bullet-proof. The owner shouldn't have to consider going to Classiche....A LWB was sold last year for approx. $4.5M at the Gooding Auction in Pebble Beach.