There are certain cars that have achieved legendary status for their design and performance. Ferrari is no stranger to producing these kind of models, with the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO being one of the greatest of all time. This mythical motor won the 1964 Tour de France and it’s recently been sold for a record-breaking £52 million.
Known as the 4153 GT, the car is one of only 36 built between 1962 and 1964. The 4153 comes with a 3-litre V12 engine that allows the car to reach 174 mph. In the 1990s, the GTO was restored by Hertfordshire-based DK Engineering. Ferrari historian Marcel Massini confirmed that the car had been bought in a private deal by David MacNeil, the founder of WeatherTech, a manufacturer of car floor mats. Massini has predicted GTO prices will continue to climb, due to the increase of billionaire Ferrari collectors.
Sources report that MacNeil is a passionate Ferrari collector, owning several multi million pound cars. His purchase puts him in an elite car collecting group called the ‘GTO Club.’ The group is made up of GTO owners Ralph Lauren, Lawrence Stroll and Rob Walton. Ferrari GTOS are considered the cream of the crop and the best Ferraris ever made.
James Cottingham, vehicle acquisition specialist at DK Engineering, said “this is without doubt one of the best 250 GTOS in existence in terms of history and originality. Its period competition is very good. It won the Tour de France which is a big tick and was fourth overall at Le Mans, which was a mega result. It was raced by Ecurie Francorchamps, who are one of the most iconic and famous independent Ferrari teams. It has never had a big accident and it is highly original.”
The 4153 GT’s defining moment came when it won the Tour de France. Driven by Lucien Bianchi and Georges Berger, the duo drove the car to victory. Its performance and appearance have made the Holy Grail of cars.
