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Ferrari 212 Barchetta highlights RM auction at Villa d'Este

While show-goers sip champagne and basque in the glow of some of the most beautiful classics and most notable concept cars at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, at the Villa Erba just down the shore, collectors bid on some of the most tempting automotive creations. And this year was no exception. Highlighting RM Sotheby's auction this year was a rare classic 1952 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta. The Touring-bodied competition roadster from Ferrari's early days fetched an incredible ˆ6,720,000 – nearly $7.4 million at current exchange rates – to set a new record for that model. According to Sports Car Market, the previous record was held by a 212 Export coupe that sold for $3.2 million early last year. A Barchetta failed to sell for a high bid of $1.97 million in 2008, which just goes to show how far this auction raised the bar for the 212. Though it was by far the top lot of the day, it wasn't the only million-dollar sale of the day. Heck, it wasn't even the only million-dollar Ferrari sold. A quartet of Ferrari supercars – including a 288 GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo – each fetched seven figures, as did a 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso and a 250 GT Cabriolet. So did a Lamborghini Miura, a '73 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 and a '53 Fiat 8V Cabriolet, if you can believe it. Other notable lots included a 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Villa d'Este Coupe, a '74 Lancia Stratos and a rare stick-shift Ferrari 599 HGTE. All told, RM Sotheby's racked up nearly $30 million in sales at its first European auction since merging and rebranding, selling 34 out of the 39 lots consigned, but that stunning 250 California Spider did not appear to be among them.

Chris Harris reviews his personal, two-year-old Ferrari FF [w/video]

Here's the kind of take you don't get too often. In fact, it hardly ever happens. Fan favorite Chris Harris has wanted a Ferrari FF since he saw it for the first time, but he couldn't get his bank account to comply with his desires. So he waited a couple of years for the price to come down, and found a specimen he could talk himself - and Ferrari Finance - into: a 2012 in Tour de France Blue with tan leather and 6,000 miles for the 'What, me worry?" price of 160,000 pounds ($249K US). Harris said that after putting 45,000 pounds down, his monthly payment is 1,400 ($2,177 US) pounds per month. He also said, "Sometimes you just have to do stupid things because you want to do stupid things." Five months in, Harris has no regrets, and in the beginning of the review he gets to one of the primary points that makes us fall in love with cars that can never be exploited on public roads: They make you feel equal parts badass and beastly and baronial at every speed. Or as Harris puts it, it's a "frankly ridiculous motorcar." In the best way. Check out his always-compelling take in the video. Related Gallery 2013 Ferrari FF: Review View 35 Photos News Source: Chris Harris on Cars via YouTubeImage Credit: Copyright 2014 Drew Phillips / AOL Ferrari Hatchback Luxury Performance Videos chris harris ferrari ff

Ferrari launches 488 GTB configurator

Though it may not be as expensive as, say, a Pagani or Bugatti, the bottom line is that most of us will never be able to afford buying a new Ferrari. And most of those who can would probably get one already consigned to a dealer rather than wait on the list. But we can certainly dream. That's where configuration utilities come in, and Ferrari has just added the new 488 GTB to its online customization tool. The system demonstrates just how deeply customers can specify every detail on their new Prancing Horse, from the exterior paint and interior upholstery down to the tiniest detail. Ferrari's lets you choose the color of the brake calipers, the amount of carbon-fiber trim inside and out, the stitching on the leather seats, the color of the carpets and the seat belts. You can even play with the height of the sun in the sky to see how your choices would stand up to the changing light of day. Play around with it first-hand and you'll see, there's really no reason any two should ever have to roll out of Maranello alike. Related Video: