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This 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California could sell for $17 million

Ferraris of all stripes typically command high prices, but the ones that bring in the serious money always have at least one of a few things behind them: additional rarity, racing heritage, famous ownership. This 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider definitely has at least two, and arguably three. The car is one of just eight built with an aluminum body. It also participated in Le Mans, taking home third place for its class, and fifth place overall. Finally, it was campaigned by the Ferrari North American Racing Team, typically referred to as N.A.R.T. As a result, RM Sotheby's estimates this Ferrari roadster will sell for between $14 million and $17 million. Supporting the high valuation are other important things car collectors look for. The car has been certified as authentic by Ferrari's official classic department. It's also won its class at Pebble Beach after its first restoration was completed in 1983. It was restored again between 2010 and 2011 to bring it back to its original race-ready paint scheme. Besides the car's extensive history, it's a gorgeous machine. The 250 GT California line is one of the more iconic from Ferrari, thanks in part to a red replica being the star car of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." The silver and blue color combination is unique and works great. It should also be a superb driver, with a race-prepped engine and notably lighter body. According to RM Auctions, the seller says it's excellent to drive, and if that's him in the pictures, we'd say his smile confirms his claims. The car goes on the block Dec. 6 at RM Sotheby's auction in New York City. To paraphrase Mr. Bueller himself, if you have the means, we highly recommend picking this one up. Related Video: Featured Gallery 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione by Scaglietti View 30 Photos Image Credit: Diana Varga courtesy of RM Sotheby's Motorsports Ferrari Auctions Convertible Racing Vehicles Classics ferrari 250 gt california north american racing team

Seeing Red: 70 Years of Ferrari at the Petersen Museum

When the Petersen Automotive Museum completed its extensive 14-month renovation and reopened its doors in December of 2015, automotive enthusiasts were treated to a refreshed 95,000 square feet of exhibit space boasting 25 separate galleries. At the time of opening our favorite of those was the Precious Metal exhibit in the Bruce Meyer Family Gallery, featuring some of the world's most desirable cars all painted in silver. While we're sad the Precious Metal exhibit is no more, the gallery is now filled with something perhaps even better - an exhibit celebrating the 70th anniversary of Ferrari called "Seeing Red". The theme of a single color has been maintained (red, of course), and the gallery features eleven of the most significant road and race cars built by the Prancing Horse in the last seven decades. Leading the herd is a stunning 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, one of just 39 built and widely considered to be one of if not the most desirable collector car in the world. The last one that sold at auction brought a record $38 million. Following up the 250 GTO is an achingly gorgeous 1958 250 Testa Rossa and then a 1965 250 LM that won Le Mans outright in 1965. A Mille Miglia winner, a 1949 166 MM Barchetta, is also on display. Perhaps the most historically significant car in the collection, however, is a 1947 Ferrari 125 S. Although this particular vehicle's history is difficult to trace, with many early race cars being wrecked, cut up, or combined with other cars, many believe this example, chassis 010I, to be the very first car to carry the Ferrari badge. Not surprisingly, the 125 S was a successful race car, winning six of the thirteen races in which it competed. The rest of the gallery is a celebration of belle macchine, which includes a 1955 Ferrari 857 Sport, a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder SWB, Michael Schumacher's 2006 Ferrari 248 F1, a 1976 Ferrari 312 T2 driven by Niki Lauda to victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, and a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari. "We're so thrilled to bring some of the world's most beautiful Ferraris to the Petersen," said Bruce Meyer, founding chairman of the Petersen's Board of Directors. "Seeing that Rosso Corsa paint and the beautiful curves of the body work is always enough to make your heart skip a beat.

Jay Leno's Dodge Challenger raises $585k for USO in Scottsdale

Of all the metal moved in Scottsdale, AZ, this holiday weekend, the one you see here was hardly the most expensive. But it's noteworthy for another reason: despite being a relatively humble, second-hand 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, raised an impressive $565,625. That's because, first of all, it belonged to Jay Leno, and secondly because the proceeds were going to the USO. Leno donated the modern muscle car from his collection to benefit our men and women in uniform, and was on hand to present the car on stage at the Gooding & Company auction, along with USO president J.D. Crouch II and former Army chief of staff General George W. Casey, Jr. After frenzied and patriotic bidding, the gavel ultimately dropped at $360,000, accompanied by over $200,000 in additional contributions, bringing the total amount donated to the USO to over half a million. Commendable though it was, of course the Challenger didn't garner the highest bids at the auction. A 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider sold for $7.7 million and a 1968 Ferrari 330 GTS fetched $2.4 million. A rare 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupe Aerodinamico sold for over $4,070,000 – which, according to Sports Car Market, is the most ever paid at auction for a 400 Superamerica. And a 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera 6 also sold for a record $1.98 million. Featured Gallery Gooding Scottsdale 2015 News Source: Gooding & CompanyImage Credit: Jensen Sutta, Mike Maez/Gooding Celebrities Dodge Ferrari Porsche Auctions Classics dodge challenger srt8 gooding ferrari 400 superamerica