Automotive

Ferrari 335S Spider Scaglietti sells for US$35.7 million (updated)

View 26 Images
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial
View gallery - 26 images

Update: A Ferrari 335S Spider Scaglietti sold for US$35.7 million (€32,075,200) at Artcurial's Retromobile auction in Paris on 5 February. The car narrowly failed to break the world record of $38.115 million set by a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO in August, 2014, but eclipsed the $29.605 million fetched by Juan Manuel Fangio's 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 Silver Arrow in July, 2013, becoming the second most valuable car ever sold at auction.

There is however, a catch, because depending on the currency used, the sale price is indeed a world record for a motor car at auction. The final price to the buyer of €32.1 million is a world record price for a car in Euros as the Ferrari 250 GTO's record price of $38.115 million (set in USD at Monterey Car Week in August, 2014) converts to €28.5 million. More on the currency exchange conundrum at the bottom of the article.

Built in 1957, this Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti was first driven by Peter Collins and Maurice Trintignant in the 1957 Sebring 12 Hours, then by Wolfgang von Trips in the Mille Miglia in May of that year, where it finished in second place. Mike Hawthorn (World F1 champ in 1958) drove the car in the 24 Heures du Mans, setting the first lap record in the history of the event of over 200 km/h (124 mph).

The car has many more prestigious races to its name including the Swedish Grand Prix and Venezuela Grand Prix in 1957, as well as the Cuba Grand Prix, which it won at the hands of racing legend Sir Stirling Moss in 1958.

The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial

A significant aspect of his car's provenance is that it was once part of the Bardinon Collection. In 1970, the car was bought by famous collector Pierre Bardinon, who during the second half of the twentieth century amassed over 70 factory Ferraris comprising the most iconic models in the history of the brand.

Bardinon was the heir to a family fortune in leatherware, most notably the family's business was the creator of the "Bomber Jacket." When Enzo Ferrari was once asked why Ferrari did not have a museum (it has now), he said, "Bardinon has done it for me."

The star of the Retromobile auctions was undoubtedly this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, which was estimated to sell for between €28 million and €32 million (US$30.5 million to $34.8 million) and sold for $35.7 million
Artcurial

Bardinon's collection contained only major cars representing the first 25 years of the brand. His collection was generally regarded as the most important Ferrari collection in the world, and included a 166 MM, this 335 S, three 250 GTOs, a 330 P4, a 312 P(B), four Le Mans winners, and 13 single-seaters.

Bardinon died in 2012, but cars from his collection will remain treasured, not just for their individual importance, but as having been part of the most valued Ferrari collection ever.

For Paris-based Artcurial, the sale is yet another triumph as the company has grown from relative obscurity in the car area just a few years ago, to become one of the elite collectible car auction houses.

Collectible car prices and currencies

We've been covering auctions at Gizmag for 14 years and had a situation six years ago where there were two "most expensive motorcycles in the world" – in October, 2010, a Brough Superior SS100 sold in the UK to set a world auction record of GBP286,000 (US$450,188).

In 2008, a rarer-than-hens'-teeth 1915 Cyclone board racer sold in the United States for US$551,200. In comparative currency, due to the exchange rates at that time, the sale price equated to GBP278,400 in imperial currency. So there were two highest priced motorcycles in the world, depending on which currency you preferred.

Given we intend to eventually continue our auction coverage into the future, we needed a way to account for currency fluctuations and decided to measure everything in USD, partly because the greenback is the defacto world currency and has been for many decades, and partly because the entire collectibles industry is dominated by the United States - the majority of the highest prices are achieved there, and most of the High Net Worth Individuals who buy these collectible treasures live there. Nonetheless, for those who live in the Euro zone, this car is now the world record holder and for those who think in GBP, it's also a world record.

View gallery - 26 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
3 comments
RichardU
You don't mind if a disagree with your choice of currency, seeing as the British pound has been around a bit longer by at least a 1000 years.
PeterOsborne
Among the most beautiful Ferrari autos ever made. Only the Scaglioti was better looking, and there were only three made at Carrol Shelby's request.
Mike Hanlon
You are correct in that the Pound Sterling is the world's oldest currency still in use, but we elected to choose one currency and there is no contest as to what that should be. The people who buy the cars, bikes, coins, watches, comics, baseball cards, movie posters ad infinitum are predominantly American. There are more High Net Worth Individuals in America than anywhere else (by a massive margin) too, and America's love for American sport, culture ... anything American ... has shaped the lists. The highest prices are generally achieved in America regardless of the collectibles genre. Doing the currency conversions and re-ordering the lists is easy, but it's for the purposes of the analysis of the aggregate data that we had to choose one currency, because that can't be done by database alone. Hence we chose the logical currency for the task.