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UK collector pays $800k for license plate '25 O'

You can't get a vanity license plate in the UK, but Brits have proven their willingness time and time again to part with huge amounts of cash in order to get a particularly desirable number to put on the front and back of their high-priced machinery. This time, a Ferrari collector paid over $800,000 for the license plate "25 O." The princely sum of GBP518,000 – equivalent to over $814k at today's rates – was paid by John Collins, owner of classic car broker Talacrest. Collins reportedly intends to put it on his Ferrari 250 GT SWB. What's more is that he had just paid another GBP130,320 ($205k) for the license plate "250 L" that he plans to put on his 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, the long-wheelbase touring version of the same vehicle. The winning bids were placed at an auction held by the UK's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency – the 150th such auction held by the government office, marking its 25th anniversary. The "25 O" plate broke the event's previous record of GBP357,000 ($560k), paid in March 2009 for plate number "1 D." In 2008 noted tuner Afzal Kahn bought the license plate "F1" for GBP440,000, which is less than what Collins paid for "25 O" but different exchange rates worked that out to $870k at the time. Kahn was said to have turned down a $9 million offer for that plate last year. DVLA PERSONALISED REGISTRATIONS SETS A NEW BRITISH RECORD AS 25 O SELLS FOR GBP500,000 DVLA Personalised Registrations has set a new British record for a personalised registration sold by the Agency after 25 O was bought for more than GBP500,000. Incredibly, John Collins, who, as owner of Talacrest, is regarded as one of the world's leading collectors and dealers of classic Ferraris, bought 25 O for GBP518,000 less than three hours after successfully buying 250 L for a staggering GBP130,320. Both sums include fees and take the total amount paid by the businessman to GBP648,320. Both are among the 1,600 registrations being auctioned by the Agency as part of its 25th Anniversary three-day auction – and also 150th live sale – currently being held at The Vale Resort near Cardiff. Both registrations will be placed on two of the world's most exclusive cars; 250 L will head onto a rare 1964 Ferrari Lusso, while 25 O will sit on the Ferrari 250 SWB once owned by the rock singer Eric Clapton.

New ‘Magnum P.I.’ has fake Ferrari, fake Tom Selleck

Wait, that's the new "Magnum P.I."? That guy? Really? I mean, he doesn't need to have a mustache. Or a Hawaiian shirt. Or really short shorts. But come on, there's nothing displayed by Jay Hernandez in the above "Magnum P.I." trailer that says, "I have charisma and likability comparable to Tom Selleck." Now, is that even possible? Probably not, Tom Selleck is, well, Tom Selleck. But much as Chris Pine successfully captured Captain Kirk's bravado without doing a William Shatner impression, something close is possible. But hey, there's a red Ferrari! It's a 458 Spider, it gets shot to pieces and then smashed by a truck. Of course, the keen, sleuthful eye of our Jeremy Korzeniewski notes that it isn't really a Ferrari and instead is likely a GM F body underneath (look for the round instrument cluster in the brief interior shot and the weirdly shaped HVAC vents at the 10 and 2 o'clock positions). So, the Ferrari's a fake too. But wait! New Magnum also seems to drive old Magnum's car: a Ferrari 308 GTB. It also gets destroyed. (Seriously, spoilers much?) This time it's totally CGI'd so I'm guessing the GTB is for the most part the real thing. Hawaii also seems to be the real thing. So, does this make you want to watch the new show, coming this fall to CBS? Alternatively, you could probably stream the old show somewhere. Oh Tom Selleck, you charming devil, you. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Celebrities TV/Movies Ferrari Videos

1957 Ferrari 335S sells for $34.9M, still not most expensive Ferrari ever sold

Here's your reminder that the price of a good vintage Ferrari is absolutely staggering – the 1957 335S that just sold at an Artcurial auction in Paris for $34.9 million isn't even close to a record when it comes to Prancing Horses crossing the block. While this 335S still represents a hell of a lot of money, we're actually wondering why it didn't do better. For one, this car, chassis number 0674, has the all-important racing provenance collectors crave. It's been raced by legends Mike Hawthorne and Sir Stirling Moss. In its first year of competition, Wolfgang von Trips took it to second place at the Mille Miglia, while Peter Collins and Maurice Trintigant drove it to sixth at the 12 Hours of Sebring. It even recorded the fastest lap at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (although it retired with engine problems just 56 laps into the race). So yes, consider the provenance box checked. Besides famous racers and races, it was owned by some huge names in the Ferrari world, including Luigi Chinetti, the founder of the North American Racing Team and the first Ferrari importer in the US. But for the past 45 years, it was a part of the legendary Bardinon Collection, which was known for its wide array of high-quality Ferraris. While the 1957 335S falls short of the record-holding 1962 250 GTO sold by Bonhams for $38.1 million during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance festivities in 2014, it's still one of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction. And hey, it even landed in the meaty part of its $31.2 million to $35.6 million estimated sale price.