The Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa is a legend. It's one of the winningest Ferraris of all time, having raced (and won) in the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times (1958, 1960, 1961), the 12 Hours of Sebring three times (1958, 1959 1961), the Targa Florio (1958), and the 1000 Km Buenos Aires twice (1958,1960). Needless to say, there aren't many of these cars left, and they don't often come across the auction block. A mere 19 of them were ever made. This 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa will soon be auctioned off by RM Sotheby's, and it's going to make some serious coin.
Chassis number 0738 TR is the car we're talking about, and this particular one won the 1965 edition of the Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix as well as a few other races. It came to the States in the '80s, and was rebodied in the '60s but retained its original drivetrain. There's so much of this car that makes it truly special and worth the millions it will bring it when it finally goes to auction.
This specific car was fully restored by none other than the trusted and renowned Ferrari Classiche, the Ferrari's very own in-house classic restoration department. It also received the high-end and meticulous Red Book certification, which means the car retained its original engine and gearbox, as well. That engine is none other than the 3.0-liter V12 "Testa Rossa" (red head" in Italian, denoting the cylinder heads).
Chassis number 0738 TR is, indeed rare. Consider the fact the 250 GTO (the most expensive Ferrari ever sold at auction for a cool $51 million last year). 36 of them were made, so the 250 Testa Rossa is even harder to find. The 250 GTO commands more money because it's the last version of Ferrari's 250 series and one of the last legendary front-engined grand touring (GT) race cars.
The 0738 TR comes from a private collection, and the car hits the auction block in Detroit, Michigan, on February 21, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. EST. Collectors everywhere will be bidding on this one because who knows when another one will surface for bidding... probably not anytime soon. Look for bids to hit for upwards of $38 million. Start selling those real estate investments, blue chip stocks, or superfluous organs, whatever is required.
