1957 Ferrari 250 TR Spyder

34 Testa Rossas were built from 1956 through 1961. Three time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours Race - 1958, 1960, and 1961 - the Testa Rossa, or red head, was Ferrari's go-to-work sports racing car. Somewhat conventional mechanically it shook the world when shown with its pontoon fender bodywork, a Scaglietti invention, which was stunning aesthetically. However, it did not meet its aerodynamic demands and was re-designed. The subsequent renditions were equally stunning. Series number 0666TR, the first, had an envelope body, then a factory pontoon body was fitted. It raced in South American in 1957 and DNFed at Le Mans in 1958.

Ferrari 250 TR (Testa Rossa) with chassis number 0666 is truly a unique and wonderful creation. It is the first prototype TR constructed and based on the 290 MM chassis. It was a factory race car during the 1957 and 1958 season driven by Masten Gregory, Olindo Morolli, Graf Berghe von Trips, Wolfgang Seidel, and Mike Hawthorn. It competed at the 1957 1000 km Nuerburgring race where Gregory and Morolli piloted the car to an impressive 10th place finish. It was brought to the 24 Hours of LeMans race but did not compete due to a piston failure during practice.

In late 1957 the car was rebodied by Scaglietti and given a pontoon-fender appearance. It continued its factory racing career by competing in the 1000 KM Caracas, 1000km Buenos Aires, and Targa Florio race. It had podium finishes at each of the 1000km events.

In 1958 it was driven at the 24 Hours of LeMans by Dan Gurney and Bruce Kessler. It was involved in an accident and suffered front and rear damage. The damage was repaired and sold to Rob Carveth of the US. Carveth entered the car, along with co-driver Gilbert Geitner, in the 12 Hours of Sebring, 1000km Nuerburgring, and the 24 Hours of LeMans. In each event, the car failed to finish.

Near the close of the 1950s, the car was rebuilt using parts from 0760, a 250 TR that was never completed. Since that time the car has passed through several owners and has remained in the United States. In 1970 it was purchased by Charles Betz and Fred Peters who had the car shown at the 1988 Pebble Beach Concours where it was awarded a very impressive and prestigious First. In 1994 it was shown at the International Ferrari Concours where it won First in Class. A year later it was shown at the Rosso Rodeo Concours where another First in Class was bestowed upon the vehicle.

It has been shown at a number of concours, events, and museum exhibits since that time. It was brought back to Pebble Beach in 1997. It was shown at the 2004 and 2007 Cavallino Classic by its most recent owner. It has participated in the 2004 Monterey Historic Races at Laguna Seca.

In 2011, it was brought to the Gooding & Company auction in Pebble Beach. Bidding began at $10 million (US) and quickly rose. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $14.9 million (plus buyer's premium.)

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2011