This Modern Day Ferrari 250 GTO is Based on an 812 Superfast
Late last month, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for $48.4 million, making it the most expensive car ever sold at an auction.
Just a couple months prior, another 250 GTO sold for $70 million in a private transaction, which was thought to be the highest sum paid for any automobile ever.
Now the most expensive car of all time is getting a modern-day recreation thanks to Ares Design. The company, led by former Lotus CEO Dany Bahar, has rendered a 250 GTO recreation based on the 791 hp Ferrari 812 Superfast. The vehicle was commissioned by an Ares Design customer, but the company says it will produce up to 10 examples if it receives enough interest. Each will sell for roughly $1.16 million, according to Robb Report, which is about three times as much as the 812 Superfast’s sticker price.
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The design renderings in the gallery above are a work in progress, Ares says, but are largely representative of how the finished product will look. Bahar says the recreation car is “a modern reinterpretation, not a copy.” So while some aspects are similar to the 250 GTO, it wasn’t aiming to be an exact copy of the iconic 1960s race car. Bahar is also aware that recreating a legendary vehicle like the 250 GTO can be controversial, saying that going ahead with the project requires “big balls” and above all else, a talented designer.
The 250 GTO was designed to adhere to the rules of the FIA’s Group 3 Grand Touring racing class. It debuted at the 1962 12 Hours of Sebring, where it finished second overall in the hands of America racer Phil Hill and Belgian-born sportscar ace Olivier Gendebien. This successful first outing was a sign of things to come for the 250 GTO. The car won the 1962, 1963, and 1964 FIA International GT championships and also placed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1962 and 1963.
This string of motorsports success, along with its beautifully styled and well-proportioned exterior, has cemented the 250 GTO as the most desirable car from the world’s most storied automotive manufacturers. Ares’ recreation looks to capitalize on the 250 GTO frenzy that has enveloped the collector car world, so it will be interesting to see how much interest the coachbuilder receives in it.
[Source: Robb Report]
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Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
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