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Colani's land speed record Ferrari for sale

Everyone knows that Ferraris are designed to go fast, but their performance is measured by a number of different metrics. This particular example, however, was designed with one goal in mind, and that was top speed. And now it's up for sale. The one-of-a-kind creation was the work of Professor Luigi Colani. The car started life as a Testarossa, but was extensively modified and entirely rebodied in order to pursue a high-speed run at the Bonneville Salt Flats. That meant an aerodynamically optimized body designed by Colani to dramatic and wind-cheating effect, and substantially reworked mechanicals as well. The flat-twelve engine was fitted by German firm Lotec with a pair of turbochargers to drive output beyond 750 horsepower. The 1989 Ferrari Testa D'Oro Colani - so named, we gather, for its gold cam cover - was clocked at 218 miles per hour back in 1991, winning its class at Bonneville and far outstripping the 201-mph top speed quoted by Ferrari for the F40 that was all the rage at the time. The vehicle has now been put up for sale by Purosangue Maranello, where (as you can see from the images in the gallery above) it sits alongside another one-off Ferrari: the four-door Pinin concept of 1980 (to say nothing of the Minardi F1 racer in the other corner). If it's a completely unique Prancing Horse you're after, Purosangue (Italian for "pure blood" or "thoroughbred") seems to be the place to look. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sells for record $39.8 million

This might not come as a shock, but ultra-rare vintage cars are only going to get more expensive as time rolls on, particularly if there's a prancing horse on the car's nose. For example, in 2011, a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sold for $16.39 million. In February 2012, a 1964 250 GTO sold for nearly $32 million. Later that year, a 1962 250 GTO sold for $35 million. It was the most expensive car ever sold, making last year's 275 GTB/4 NART Spider and its $27.5-million auction price seem like a drop in the platinum-lined bucket. Now, there's been another high-dollar Ferrari sale.
An unrestored, 1957 250 Testa Rossa was reportedly sold for over $39 million, making it the most expensive car ever sold in the United Kingdom. Just for perspective, $39 million is about 28 LaFerraris or roughly 128 F12 Berlinettas. It's not the most expensive car ever sold, but it still represents a huge sum of money for a classic car. Part of the reason for chassis number 0704 - the car pictured above is 0714, which sold for a mere $12.2 million in 2009 - being sold for so much is down to its excellent provenance.
It made its race debut at the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans, although it failed to finish. Phil Hill and Peter Collins racked up wins with this exact car in Buenos Aires and Sebring, according to the folks at Hemmings. Combining race wins by a former Formula One World Champion with an unrestored example of an extremely rare car (one of just 34 250 Testa Rossas ever built) makes its monumental sale price almost seem reasonable.

Sebastian Vettel to leave Infiniti Red Bull at end of 2014

Things are going to look very different in the Formula 1 paddock come 2015. Official word came down from Infiniti Red Bull Racing that Sebastian Vettel, who won four driver's titles while with the energy-infused fizzy drink and marketing company, will be leaving the team after the 2014 season comes to an end. Taking Vettel's well-worn seat at Red Bull will be Daniil Kvyat, who will join Daniel Ricciardo for 2015. Feel free to read that official announcement below.
While no official announcement has yet been made, rumors swirl that Sebastian Vettel will drive for Ferrari in 2015, taking the place of Fernando Alonso, who many believe will end up at McLaren, which itself is in line for a major driver and team shakeup next year as it switches to Honda power. It's not clear where the rest of the current crop of F1 drivers will land, but as this first blockbuster domino falls into place, expect the rest to fall in line in the coming weeks and months.