Few vehicles in Historia del automóvil carry the mystique of the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. Often referred to as Ferrari’s “Holy Grail,” this legendary race car shattered records when one example sold for $51.7 million in 2023, and more recently, in January 2026, when a “Bianco Speciale” fetched $38.5 million at auction.

With extremely limited production and a dominant racing pedigree, the 250 GTO represents far more than a price tag. It embodies Ferrari’s golden era of motorsport engineering, blending performance, innovation, and exclusivity into a machine that collectors and enthusiasts still revere decades later.

The Unrivaled Value of a Legend

While many types of high-end collectible cars have gone up in value in recent years, 250 GTOs are now in a class by themselves. To put things into perspective, 20 years ago, these Ferraris were selling for roughly $10 million—a figure that is less than a fifth of the $51.7 million public auction record set in late 2023.

Even in the current 2026 market, the GTO remains the gold standard of assets, with a rare white example recently selling for $38.5 million in Florida.

A Masterpiece Born of Conflict

The Ferrari 250 GTO is a racing GT car produced by Ferrari from 1962 to 1964, specifically designed to be eligible for the FIA’s Group 3 Grand Touring Car category. The 250 GTO was designed for competition with rivals such as the Shelby Cobra, Jaguar E-Type, and Aston Martin DP214.

The development of the 250 GTO was headed by Ferrari’s chief engineer, Giotto Bizzarrini. Although Bizzarrini is usually credited with designing the 250 GTO, he and most other Ferrari engineers were fired in 1962 due to a dispute with Enzo Ferrari. Further development of the 250 GTO was overseen by new engineer Mauro Forghieri, who worked with Italian car design firm Scaglietti, to continue development of the body.

So, no one can really attribute the design of this car to any lone individual. Thirty-six of these mechanical marvels were manufactured between 1962 and 1964. Of the 36 in existence, 33 had the 1962-63 bodywork (Series I), while the remaining three had the 1964 Series II bodywork, which was akin to the Ferrari 250 LM and three “330 GTO” specials with a larger engine.

Proven Power: The Engineering Under the Hood

Speaking of her large engine, you’ll find that this beast is rocking something fierce yet classy. The mechanical aspects of the 250 GTO were actually conservative for the era, as it used engine and chassis components that were proven in earlier competition cars.

The chassis of the car was based on that of the 250 GT SWB, with minor differences in frame structure and geometry to reduce weight, stiffen the chassis, and lower its center of gravity. The car was built around a hand-welded oval tube frame, incorporating A-arm front suspension, rear live-axle with Watts linkage, disc brakes, and Borrani wire wheels.

El motor was the Tipo 168/62 Comp. 3.0 L V12 as used in the 250 Testa Rossa. It was an all-alloy design utilizing a dry sump and six 38DCN Weber carburetors. It produced approximately 300 horsepower and was very reliable, as proven by previous competition experience with the Testa Rossa. The gearbox featured a new 5-speed unit with Porsche-style synchromesh.

Aerodynamics and Design: Sculpted for Speed

Where this car truly distinguishes itself is that it has way more going for it than simply what’s running under the hood. Bizzarrini focused on the car’s aerodynamics in order to improve top speed and stability.

The body design was informed by wind tunnel testing, as well as road and track testing with several prototype cars. The resulting all-aluminum bodywork had a sleek nose, small radiator inlet, and distinctive air intakes with removable covers. Early testing resulted in the addition of a alerón trasero.

The underside was covered by a belly pan and had an additional spoiler underneath formed by the fuel tank cover. The aerodynamic design of the 250 GTO was a major technical innovation compared to previous Ferrari GT cars, and in line with contemporary developments by manufacturers such as Lotus.

250 GTO bodies were constructed by Scaglietti, except for early prototypes with bodies built in-house by Ferrari or Pininfarina (in the case of s/n 2643 GT). Cars were produced in many colors, with the most famous being Ferrari’s famous shade of bright red, often cited as “Rosso Cina,” though a rare one-of-one white “Bianco Speciale” made headlines with its 2026 sale.

A Spartan Interior Built for the Track

Meanwhile, the inside of the car, while nowhere near as extravagant as the outside, isn’t any less distinct. The interior of a 250 GTO is designed to emphasize the car’s racing intentions.

The instrument panel, shockingly enough, does not contain a traditional speedometer. The seats are cloth-upholstered, and there is no carpeting or headliner. Cockpit ventilation is provided by exterior air inlets. The exposed metal gate defining the shift pattern became a Ferrari tradition that was maintained in production models until recently (due to the exclusivity of paddle-shift gearboxes across the range).

The performance and the unique design of this car make it the envy of many drivers and hardcore collectors.

The Lasting Legacy of the Golden Age

In 2004, Sports Car International placed the 250 GTO eighth on a list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s and nominated it as the top sports car of all time. Similarly, Clásico de Motor Trend placed the 250 GTO first on a list of the “Greatest Ferraris of all time.” And rightly so, as it’s not the rarity or the price tag that makes this car the stuff of legend; rather, it’s the legacy that it helped Ferrari secure.

This car put Ferrari on the map as a maker of vehículos de alto rendimiento y racing machines. You can see bits of the GTO’s innovation making her way through every generation of Ferrari that has come afterwards, like a child inheriting the DNA of their ancestors. Sleek, sexy, of-the-time, and above all, a precursor of what was to come: 250 GTO is quite possibly Ferrari’s star of the golden age.

Protect Your Luxury Vehicle

Legendary cars like the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO remind us how far automotive engineering has come and how valuable performance and reliability can be. While most drivers aren’t storing multimillion-dollar Ferraris in climate-controlled garages, protecting the vehicle you rely on every day is just as important.

If your factory warranty is nearing its end, explore your coverage options and learn how an Contrato de servicio del vehículo Endurance can help protect against unexpected repair costs. Request a Cotización Gratis o visita nuestra tienda online para ver tu precio y recomendaciones de planes al instante.