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1962 Ferrari 250 GTO hits record $38 million sale at Bonhams' Monterey auction

This weekend's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegrance brings together some of the rarest and most expensive automobiles in the world onto a tiny peninsula in California jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. But this year, there has been one vehicle on everyone's lips - a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. Bonhams put up this incredibly rare Prancing Horse at no reserve for its auction at the Quail Lodge, meaning it could have sold for just a dollar. It didn't though, this ex-Jo Schlesser owned Ferrari sold for a staggering $38.115 million. That makes it the most expensive car ever sold at auction, beating out Bonhams' sale of a Mercedes W196R last year for $29.65 million.
Ferrari only built 39 of these racers, and they have been million-dollar cars for years. One reportedly sold privately for $52 million last year, and one built for Stirling Moss went for $35 million privately in 2012.
While the spectacle of seeing a 250 GTO drive across the auction block with no reserve and then set a record price was certainly amazing, it wasn't the only rare Ferrari up for sale during the evening. Bonhams also handpicked some of the most collectible Ferraris in the world and brought them to the stage. The ten cars included a 1962 250 GT Short-Wheelbase Speciale Aerodinamica that went for $6.875 million, a 1953 250 Mille Miglia Berlinetta driven to racing victory by Phil Hill for $7.26 million and even a 1978 312 T3 Formula One car for $2.31 million. All told, the group of them sold for $65.945 million.

LaFerrari, McLaren P1, Porsche 918 and Agera R take to Assen

It's the show-down (sort of) we've all been waiting for. The battle of the hybrid hypercars from the performance powerhouses of Europe: Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder. No one publication has managed to get their hands on all three just yet, but this video has - and with a Koenigsegg Agera R thrown in for good measure.
The video was shot by our (unrelated) Dutch compatriots at Autoblog.nl at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands. The track has played host to Champ Cars and all manner of racing bikes, but this could be the ultimate grid of actual production machinery that's ever lined up behind its start/finish line. Shame the weather was rainy and this unsurpassed array of supercars weren't really racing - more showing off for the crowds. But what a show it was. Scope out the footage in the video below.

Marchionne could become Ferrari CEO

Don't think that just because FCA is spinning off Ferrari into a separate company that Sergio Marchionne is giving up any control. Not only is he already chairman of the Prancing Horse, but he might also become its next CEO after Amedeo Felisa steps down, anonymous insiders claim according to Automotive News Europe. The dual roles would put the sportscar brand's future in Marchionne's hands, while he continues to run FCA. Rumors of Felisa stepping down emerged in July, but Ferrari never made an official announcement. The reports suggested that he could leave in September. Execs at the Prancing Horse are now working to decide on a replacement, but there's nothing official in place yet, according to Automotive News Europe. Felisa might maintain an advisory role after retiring, as well. If Marchionne takes charge, the move would come just as Ferrari becomes a newly independent entity. The Prancing Horse's necessary paperwork is already filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and the IPO is expected in October. Marchionne took over as Ferrari's chairman last year after Luca di Montezemolo's resignation. As boss, he intends to increase production to 10,000 units a year from 7,000 annually under Montezemolo. Among the projects in development is a revived Dino. Related Video: