Maranello, 28 May 2013 – A classic car gains value over time, even more so if it is a Ferrari. This was confirmed for the umpteenth time at an auction organised by RM at Villa Erba on Lake Como, where a splendid Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta Competizione, with Pin Farina designed bodywork went for 9,856,000 Euros.

This car had an outstanding racing history, culminating in victory in the 1953 Pescara 12 Hours with Mike Hawthorn and Umberto Maglioli at the wheel. Among its other results, a stage win and sixth overall, again with Maglioli, this time partnered by Mario Ricci, and a victory on the Guadalupe circuit, again courtesy of the Italian driver. It was out of luck however in the two 24 Hour races it took part in, at Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps, failing to get to the chequered flag in either of them.

The hammer price of the car is a record for collectors auctions in Italy, including those for works of art. Since 1993, only one other car, also a Ferrari, has gone for a higher price: a 250 TR took the bidding up to 16.9 million dollars at a Pebble Beach auction two years ago.

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Demonstrating that auction remains the most powerful way to sell investment-quality automobiles, the incredible 1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta ‘Competizione’ realised €9,856,000 ($12,812,800), smashing the previous auction record for the model and establishing a new world record for a closed ‘Berlinetta’ Ferrari sold at auction, while also being the most expensive automobile sold at auction in the 2012-2013 season.

At a packed venue in the grounds of the historic Villa Erba, in excess of 1000 people witnessed the star Ferrari lot lead the way in a sale which saw five cars exceed €1,000,000 and 11 lots exceed their pre-sale estimates. Spirited bidding was seen in the room and on the phones and internet, with international interest being received from across 30 countries and from all four corners of planet.

Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Europe, said: “Once again, we have demonstrated that auction really is the only way to sell important cars. Over 25 percent of lots exceeded their pre-sale estimates, with a number of model specific records achieved. It is clear that RM’s truly global reach and its unsurpassed investment in exceptional marketing and promotion brings an international audience to our sales that would be impossible to access any other way.”

Ferrari was once again the unstoppable marque most in demand by bidders. Besides the remarkable performance of the 340/375 MM, other notable Ferrari sales included the 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupé Aerodinamico, which realised €2,184,000 ($2,839,000); the 2004 Ferrari Enzo, which achieved €1,069,600 ($1,390,480); the 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB, for €1,120,000 ($1,456,000); and the 2010 Ferrari 599XX, which brought €918,400 ($1,193,120). In total 15 Ferraris were offered at Villa Erba, all of which sold very strongly.

However, it was not only Ferraris that proved popular with bidders. The stunning 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadsterimpressed everyone with its immaculate presentation and garnered significant pre-sale interest. When the hammer fell, the car found a new owner for €1,114,400, an extremely stong price for a 300SL Roadster. Always popular with collectors, the 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 also sold extemely well at €425,600 ($553,280).

1960 FERRARI CALIFORNIA SOLD AT OVER 11 MILLION DOLLARS AT PEBBLE BEACH AUCTION

Pebble Beach (California), 20 August 2012 – The weekend in Pebble Beach ended under the sign of Ferrari. After the enthusiasm for the debut of the F12berlinetta in the USA and the handover of the personalised Tailor Made FF to the British golfer Ian Poulter, the manufacturer from Maranello was also a protagonist at the auction on the Californian weekend.

The 1960 California 250 LWB Spider Competizione reigned the event and went to an anonymous collector for over 11 million Dollars (including the auction fee). The car is an extremely rare model and has been built only nine times for competition. The car comes from the Sherman M. Wolf collection, who had bought it from its first owner in 1979 and owning it until last weekend. A rare car that also only had two owners.

At the same auction other wonderful Ferraris from the same collection came under the hammer: such as the 1985 288 GTO, sold for 1 million Dollars, and a 340 MM Spider, sold for almost 4.5 million Dollars.