1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (TR) Auction to Break World Record

A few classic Ferraris have become some of the most sought-after four-wheel works of art at almost every luxury auction that took place in the last decade. First there was the 1962 Ferrari GTO which was sold for $10,756,000 at a Sotheby's auction in 1990, in Monaco. Last year, James Coburn's 1961 250GT SWB California Spyder (the four-wheeled star from “Ferris Bueller's day off”) fetched $10,894,900.

2009 looks like it will be the year when the record for the world's most expensive car is going to get shattered once again, by another Ferrari. One of only 22 ever built, a legendary 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (TR) will be offered for sale at RM Auctions' “Ferrari Leggenda e Passione” event. The auction will take place May 17, 2009 in Ferrari's backyard, Maranello.

The “pontoon fender” vintage Ferrari was designed by Scaglietti and it entered 19 international championship races from 1958 to 1961, taking 10 victories. Since this pretty much gave it a superstar status among Ferrari collectors, the 250 TR (chassis number 0714TR) is expected to be sold for at least eleven million US dollars.

“This legendary 250 TR is one of the most exciting motor cars ever to be presented in auction history,” said Max Girardo, Managing Director of RM Europe. “The Ferrari Leggenda e Passione event, now in its third year, is firmly established as the place to sell important road and race going Ferraris, and we are delighted to present this stunning 250 TR at its Maranello birthplace,” he added.

The first owner of the car was racing driver and future coachbuilder Piero Drogo, who took delivery of it in December 1957. Just one month later the 250 TR debuted in the 1000 km Buenos Aires, managing to finish in fourth place. After other entries in Cuban and Portuguese Grand Pris, the car was sold by famous American Ferrari agent Luigi Chinetti to Alan Connel, who also professionally raced it until 1963.