1953 Ferrari Berlinetta Auctioned For $12 Million

By Ganesh

Updated: Saturday, February 1, 2014, 16:21 [IST]

The 2013 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'este event saw many old and rare cars being auctioned, including many Ferrari models such as 275 GTB, 288 GTO, F40, F50, Enzo, 599XX and a 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400. But one Ferrari left every other car behind when it went for a staggering 9,865,000 Euros (~12 million or INR 67.47 crores) at the RM Auctions' Villa Erba.

The Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta ‘Competizione' is the only one of the three existing models that took part in the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans. This car is also the only Ferrari works car known to have been driven by three world champions drivers - Alberto Ascari, Dr. Nino Farina, and Mike Hawthorn. This makes the car particularly rare.

The car still houses the original 340 HP, 4.5 liter V12 engine, along with the four speed manual transmission. The race car was designed by none other than Pininfarina. The previous owner, who acquired it in 2006, has beautifully restored the cars originally race livery, featuring the number ‘14'.

The new owner is said to be the same man from UK who also owns the iconic Ferrari 250 GTO.