Unique 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Bianco Speciale Could Break Record $70 Million At Auction
It’s one of a kind … literally.
A unique Ferrari 250 GTO will be crossing the block at the Mecum Auctions Kissimmee, Fla., event on Jan. 17, where it is expected to sell for a record amount.
The 1962 coupe is one of just 36 250 GTOs that were built from 1962 to 1964 and the only one painted white. It is also one of just eight that were built with a right-hand steering configuration.
The color is officially called Bianco and the car has become known as the Bianco Speciale in Ferrari circles. It has a five-speed manual transmission and a Colombo 2953cc V12 engine that was officially rated at 300 hp.
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As was Ferrari convention, the 250 in the name represents the approximate 250cc displacement of each cylinder. While no two 250 GTOs are exactly the same, they had an estimated top speed of 280 kmh, which converts to 174 mph.
The Bianco Speciale was originally purchased by British racing driver and team owner John Coombs and was raced for several years by the likes of Graham Hill, Richie Ginther and Jack Sears, who later purchased the car and owned it from 1970 to 1999.
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Sears sold it to retired Microsoft CEO Jack Shirley, who still owns it today. The car has been refreshed over the years, has never been put through a full restoration and retains its original transmission. It is currently equipped with a new street engine built by Ferrari Classiche and the auction lot includes another engine in racing specification. Mecum hasn’t offered a pre-auction estimate of its valuation, but there are two historical data points to go by.
A 1962 330 LM/250 GTO with a 4.0-liter engine went for $51,705,000 at an RM Sotheby’s event in 2023 to set an auction record for the brand, while WeatherTech owner David MacNeil reportedly paid $70 million for a 1963 250 GTO in 2018 in a private sale. Hagerty’s current valuation for a top condition 250 GTO is $72 million, but that doesn’t take into account the rarity of the Bianco Speciale, so the high bid is anybody’s guess.
MacNeil’s Ferrari is technically the second most expensive car ever sold, but number one comes with an asterisk. A prototype Mercedes-Benz racing car from 1955 known as the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe was auctioned by the automaker in 2022 for $143 million. However, the proceeds were earmarked for the establishment of the Mercedes-Benz Fund charity to support research and scholarship in the fields of environmental sciences and decarbonization, so the price paid can’t all be attributed to the car.
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Now, if you’re wondering why American Cars And Racing is even covering an old Ferrari, even we can’t ignore a potentially historic sale like this one, especially since the auction is in the USA. Last year’s Kissimmee event saw the Porsche 917K from the Steve McQueen film “Le Mans,” owned by Jerry Seinfeld, bid up to $25 million, but go unsold as it didn’t reach the undisclosed reserve price. Seinfeld came to an agreement to sell it after the event, however, but didn’t reveal exactly how much he got for it.
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Whoever ends up buying the Bianco Speciale already has a date to put on their calendar, as the car has been invited to participate in the 2026 Palm Beach Cavallino Classic gathering of Ferraris in February, if its new owner would like to make the trip.