The 210th and only unsold LaFerrari Aperta goes to auction later this week and all indications are that the world record price for a new car at auction will be broken. The world record is already held by a hardtop LaFerrari at US$7 million, but that car was one of 500, whereas the Aperta (open top) is one of 210.
The European auction season is underway with the Silverstone Auctions' Salon Prive sale held on September 2, and no less than five major auctions in the next five days: RM Sotheby's annual London event on September 6, Coys' Fontwell House auction on September 7, Bonhams' Goodwood Revival Auction on September 9, RM-Sotheby's "Leggenda e Passione" auction on September 9 and Bonhams' Chantilly Sale on September 10.
All of the sales include some exquisite collectible automobiles, with the "Leggenda e Passione" auction including a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider and a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competition, and the single marque sale having previously been responsible for several world records.
The most likely record to be broken in the next week, though, will be the world record for a new car at auction – a 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, one of just 210 open top versions of the Ferrari supercar ever made.
Ferrari has donated the car (and RM-Sothebys is waiving all fees) for the benefit of Save the Children, and all proceeds of the auctioned Aperta will go to a very worthy cause.
The car pictured in this article is only a file image of the Aperta. Ferrari has promised a special colour scheme for the auctioned vehicle and presumably it will be even more spectacular.
The price of the hardtop LaFerrari has been strong since the production run of 499 cars was released to Ferrari's most important customers. In the Monterey Car Week auctions held during August, four LaFerraris sold for $4,400,000, $3,520,000, $3,410,000 and $3,450,000, respectively, and private offerings on James Edition reflecting similar prices.
The big difference between the LaFerrari and the open LaFerrari Aperta is the scarcity of the Aperta – 210 Apertas have been made, compared with the 500 hardtops.
The record for a new car at auction is held by a Laferrari, which fetched $7 million at an RM-Sothebys auction (above) in October 2016. It was the last of the 500 LaFerraris and was auctioned for charity.
The estimated price for the final LaFerrari Aperta is €3,000,000 to €4,000,000 (US$3.3 to $4.4 million), but logic says the $7 million record is within reach. Some very wealthy and influential people missed the cut for the 209 LaFerrari Apertas, and in this league, where two people for whom money really isn't an issue get into a bidding competition ... charity can often be the winner.
All elite auctions are now webcast, and RM-Sotheby's "Leggenda e Passione" auction on September 9 promises compelling viewing (for free I might add) – just go to the web site and watch the auction, which is being held at Ferrari's Fiorano test track.
Maybe you'll see a world record broken.
