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1957 Ferrari 335 S could set auction record at $30+ million

This car that could set the record for the highest price to be paid for an automobile at auction in 2016 – by the second month of the year, no less. It's a 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider, and it's going up for sale at Artcurial in Paris next month, with an estimate topping $30 million. Though it may look a lot like the iconic 250 Testa Rossa that came out the same year, chassis number 0674 actually started out its life as a 315 S and fitted with coachwork by Scaglietti. After finishing sixth at Sebring and second in the Mille Miglia, it returned to Maranello and was upgraded to 335 S spec. The 3.8-liter V12 was enlarged to 4.1 liters, and its output swelled from 360 horsepower to nearly 400. Mike Hawthorn drove it at Le Mans that year, leading the race and setting a lap record before dropping down to fifth with mechanical troubles. It went on to compete in several more events as part of the factory Scuderia, helping it secure the title in 1957. It was then sold to famed US importer Luigi Chinetti who campaigned it for another couple of years, winning (among others) the 1958 Cuba Grand Prix with Stirling Moss and Masten Gregory behind the wheel. The 335 S was ultimately sold to noted collector Pierre Bardinon. Asked once why he didn't have a factory collection, Enzo Ferrari once said he had "no need" because "Bardinon has done it for me." That's high praise indeed, and the car remained one of the highlights of the Bardinon collection for over 40 years. Having liquidated the Baillon barnfind collection last year, the auction house estimates that this 335 S will sell for $30-34 million. That would not only set the bar very high for the year ahead, but could make it one of the highest price ever paid for a car at auction. 2014 saw a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sell for nearly $40 million, and a 250 GTO for $38 million. Behind them is Fangio's Mercedes W196 Silver Arrow that sold for nearly $30 million in 2013. The auction is set to take place during the Salon Retromobile in the French capital on February 5th. Among the other Prancing Horses that Artcurial has corralled for the event include a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta (estimated at $10–13.2m), Gianni Agnelli's unique 1986 Ferrari Testrossa Spider ($750k-1m), and a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series 2 that belonged to the King of Morocco ($1.5-1.9m). So if it's a multi-million-dollar Ferrari you're after, Paris will be the place to be in a couple of weeks.

2016 Ferrari 488 Spider First Drive | Pure, uncut spectacle

The majority of the cars that have rolled out of the gates at Maranello can be described as varying degrees of spectacular. Still, until you settle in behind the wheel, you wonder if a real Ferrari can live up to the hype. The first thing I took note of in the Ferrari 488 Spider was the immense and nearly instantaneous acceleration into questionable speeds. It should have been obvious from the start, but the rate that this car builds speeds still managed to surprise me, like the cold wind on a January morning. You've checked the weather on your phone and you know it's going to be cold, but you still wince with that first sharp breeze on your cheek. It's a totally different sensation than something like the Dodge Viper. The Viper requires deliberate effort for everything. Getting in and out is a pain in the ass. The clutch is long and heavy and the pedal box is tiny. The hefty steering requires some strength, especially at low speeds. The shifter wholly mechanical thing that requires a little more motivation than you would expect. It's not easy and it's not trying to be, just so you're not tempted to underestimate it. By comparison, the Ferrari is cake. The doors open wide allowing easy access, made even easier with the retractable hardtop stowed away. The cabin, while completely covered in black leather, is open enough to not feel claustrophobic. The steering is light but doesn't feel loose and the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission can be left in automatic to make things easier. In sport mode, the exhaust is relatively subdued, allowing you to actually enjoy the stereo should you choose to. But goose the gas and a wave of panic and exhilaration momentarily wash away any other thoughts. The 488 Spider packs a mid-mounted 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 making 661 horsepower and 561 lb-ft of torque. It's not quite the screamer of past Ferrari V8s, but what it lacks in aural excitement it makes up for in brute force. The old 4.5-liter V8 in the Ferrari 458 was powerful, but most of that power was at the top of the rev range. On the other hand, the 488 feels strong in any gear at any RPM. Boost is limited in lower gears, changing the power band in an effort to dull the turbo lag somer. While there isn't a big kick when boost comes on, it doesn't feel quite like a naturally-aspirated engine either. Once you're in boost, complaints seem to fall by the wayside.

Behold the mad genius of the Ferrari-powered Toyota 86

Ryan Tuerck's latest project, a Toyota 86 with the F136 V8 engine from a Ferrari 458, has to be one of craziest projects ever envisioned. While the finished project will be nothing short of extraordinary, Tuerck reveals some of the finer details on fitting a large Italian engine into a small Japanese car. One of the most difficult tasks with the engine swap is getting the V8 to fit in the 86's compact engine compartment. Since the V8 is taller and longer than the stock 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, Tuerck and his team have had to do a lot of cutting and fabricating. Tuerck also revealed that the vehicle wouldn't be used in competition, which allows the team to go beyond the rulebook in terms of body strengthening and custom components. There's still a lot of work to be done, but Tuerck claims the vehicle will be ready by October. Donut Media, the YouTube channel that is covering the build, promises to cover every aspect of the project including the first start, which should be coming soon. Related Video: News Source: YouTube via Donut MediaImage Credit: Donut Media Aftermarket Weird Car News Ferrari Toyota Performance Videos toyota 86 engine swap scion frs