It’s not unusual for Ferraris to sell for 10-figure sums, though this typically only applies to rare classic models with some racing provenance attached – not cars built this decade. There are some exceptions, it seems, as a Ferrari Daytona SP3 just sold at auction for $26 million, making it the 11th most expensive Ferrari ever sold. It’s also the highest price ever paid for a new Ferrari, smashing the previous record of $10 million paid for a LaFerrari Aperta in 2017.
The auction took place on Saturday at an RM Sotheby’s sale coinciding with Monterey Car Week. The bidding started at $5 million before quickly climbing to ludicrous amounts. The SP3 Daytona is certainly a desirable car, but this one had a few extra things going for it.
A Special Version Of An Already Special Car
Ferrari unveiled the SP3 Daytona in 2021 and originally only planned to build 599 examples, each priced from about $2.25 million. All were sold out before the car was even publicly announced, but in July, Ferrari unveiled a 600th car to be sold to raise funds for charity. In this case, the charity was The Ferrari Foundation, a US-based charity involved in educational projects, including the rebuilding of a charter school in Altadena, California, destroyed by wildfires earlier this year.
The final car is a US-spec example of the SP3 Daytona wearing a bespoke livery developed by Ferrari’s Tailor Made personalization department. The livery combines exposed carbon fiber and Ferrari’s popular Giallo Modena yellow finish, and is joined by a glossy black finish for the aerodynamic elements. The yellow is also used for “Ferrari” script running the length of the car, which is the first time the automaker’s name has been used on a car in such a fashion.
Inside, the dashboard and steering wheel column are made from the same type of carbon fiber used on Ferrari’s Formula 1 race cars, and are joined by some fabric elements that were derived from recycled tires. A plaque marks the car as number “599+1,” signifying it as a special example within the SP3 Daytona’s run.
The SP3 Daytona is the most recent addition to Ferrari’s Icona series of low-volume cars with styling inspired by past classics. The SP3 Daytona’s design was inspired by Ferrari’s sport prototype endurance racers of the 1960s, specifically the trio that took home first (330 P3/4), second (330 P4), and third (412 P) places in the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona.
A V12 Hypercar Worthy Of Incredible Bidding
The car is thoroughly modern, however, featuring a carbon-fiber tub and a mid-mounted 6.5-liter V12 that spins to 9,500 rpm and generates 828 horsepower and 514 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and spins the rear wheels. Ferrari’s performance claims include 0-60 mph acceleration in under three seconds and a top speed of more than 211 mph.
It’s special, there’s no doubt about that, but this being the 600th of a 599-car run makes it even more so, and it’s no wonder the bidding raced as high as it did so quickly. You can watch the auction below and see just how rapidly it climbed. For reference, when the Daytona SP3 was new, prices started at $2.25 million.
Other highlights of the RM Sotheby’s auction include an original Alfa Romeo 33 race car that sold for $1.16 million, a Ferrari F40 that sold for $3.8 million, and a LaFerrari Aperta that sold for $6.7 million. There was also the original De Tomaso P70 prototype which sold for $720,000.
Sources: RM Sotheby’s