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Auctions

1997 Ferrari F50 Sells for Record $18.7 Million at Las Vegas Auction

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A virtually untouched 1997 Ferrari F50 has rewritten the record books, selling for an astonishing $18.705 million at a Broad Arrow auction in Las Vegas. With just 171 kilometers (106 miles) on the odometer, the Italian supercar achieved the highest auction price ever recorded for an F50, highlighting the extraordinary demand for rare, low-mileage Ferrari models among the world’s wealthiest collectors.

The landmark sale took place on October 31, surpassing the previous auction record for the Ferrari F50 by approximately $4.1 million. Although pre-auction estimates suggested the car could potentially reach $20 million, the final hammer price, including the buyer’s premium, settled at $18,705,000. Nevertheless, the result represents a remarkable achievement for one of Ferrari’s most celebrated modern supercars.

Ferrari F50 Breaks Auction Records With Just 171 Kilometers

Introduced in 1995 to celebrate Ferrari’s 50th anniversary, the F50 occupies a special place in the history of the Maranello manufacturer. Conceived as a road-going interpretation of Formula 1 technology, it combined a naturally aspirated 4.7-liter V12 engine with an uncompromising chassis philosophy inspired by the company’s motorsport experience.

Its exclusivity, naturally aspirated powertrain and direct connection to Ferrari’s racing heritage have made the F50 one of the most desirable modern classic supercars. However, the example offered in Las Vegas was particularly exceptional.

Having covered only 171 kilometers since new, the 1997 Ferrari F50 represents an unusually preserved example of a model that was already produced in limited numbers. Its extraordinarily low mileage, combined with its historical significance and condition, undoubtedly contributed to the record-breaking result.

The $18.705 million sale also demonstrates how the collector-car market increasingly rewards exceptional provenance and originality, particularly when it comes to historically significant Ferrari models.

Ferrari Dominates the $92.8 Million Las Vegas Auction

The Ferrari F50 was the undisputed star of the evening, but it was far from the only exceptional car to attract significant attention.

The October 31 Broad Arrow auction generated an impressive $92.8 million in total sales, setting a new record for the highest-value collector-car auction ever held in Las Vegas. Of the 84 vehicles offered, 64 found new owners, resulting in a sell-through rate of approximately 76 percent.

Ten vehicles established new world auction records for their respective models, with Ferrari claiming the three highest-selling positions.

Following closely behind the F50 was a 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3, which sold for $18.54 million. The example had accumulated approximately 130 kilometers and was offered by its original owner. Its final price established a new auction record for the Daytona SP3 outside a charity sale.

The third position went to a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari, which achieved $8.805 million.

Combined, these three Ferraris generated approximately $46 million, accounting for almost half of the auction’s total proceeds.

Another significant Ferrari result came from a 2003 Enzo, which sold for $6.55 million. Although it did not establish a new record, the result further demonstrated the enduring appeal of Ferrari’s limited-production flagship supercars.

Bugatti, McLaren and Koenigsegg Also Attract Million-Dollar Bids

While Ferrari dominated the top of the results, several other manufacturers were represented among the auction’s most expensive vehicles.

A Bugatti Chiron Super Sport achieved $4.57 million, while a Ferrari 599 SA Aperta changed hands for $4.35 million.

The McLaren P1 GTR by Lanzante was another notable highlight, selling for $3.415 million and establishing a new auction record for the model. The track-focused hybrid hypercar remains one of the most distinctive interpretations of McLaren’s hybrid performance technology.

Meanwhile, a Koenigsegg Regera achieved $2.645 million, reinforcing the growing collector interest in exclusive Swedish hypercars.

Classic Mercedes-Benz models also secured places among the ten most expensive cars of the event. A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing sold for $1.93 million, while a 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Spezial Roadster achieved $1.765 million.

The Ferrari F50’s $18.7 Million Sale Signals the Strength of the Collector-Car Market

The results from Las Vegas offer another indication of the extraordinary financial value attached to historically important supercars, particularly those produced in limited numbers and preserved in exceptional condition.

The Ferrari F50’s record-breaking $18.705 million sale is especially significant because it demonstrates that the market’s appetite extends beyond the latest hypercars. Collectors continue to place enormous value on analogue-era supercars that combine motorsport engineering, naturally aspirated engines, exclusivity and an unmistakable connection to Ferrari’s heritage.

With the Daytona SP3 also achieving $18.54 million, and the LaFerrari reaching $8.805 million, the three leading results underline Ferrari’s remarkable position in the high-end collector-car market.

Ultimately, the Las Vegas auction was about much more than a single record-breaking F50. With $92.8 million in total sales, ten model-specific auction records and three Ferraris generating approximately half of the proceeds, Broad Arrow delivered one of the most significant collector-car events ever held in the city.

Source: Broad Arrow Auctions

Auctions

Ferrari F50: Ralph Lauren’s Yellow Unicorn Shatters Records

This past weekend, someone with a very large wallet and an even larger sense of taste spent $9.24 million on a Ferrari F50. Yes, that’s right — nearly four million more than what these cars typically command. You could call it madness, but we call it inevitability.

Because this isn’t just any F50. This is the fashion-forward unicorn once owned by Ralph Lauren — a man who, when he wasn’t redefining American prep, was amassing one of the most jaw-droppingly valuable Ferrari collections on Earth.

And what a spec it is. Out of the 349 F50s ever built, just 55 were tailored for the American market. And of those, only two were painted in Giallo Modena yellow — this being one of them. So yes, rarity cranked up to 11.

Lauren eventually let go of the car back in 2003, and since then it’s spent most of its life in hiding. In fact, the last time it showed its face in public was in 2009, before disappearing into the quiet suburbs of Virginia. Cue this auction, and the world finally remembered just how intoxicating the F50 really is.

In preparation for its big debut, Ferrari Central Florida gave it a fresh dose of TLC in late 2024: new fuel tank, brakes, and rubber. And it’s got the Ferrari Classiche certification, because obviously. Despite being almost 30 years old, the odometer reads just 8,690 kilometers. In Ferrari-speak, that’s barely run in.

It wasn’t always like this, of course. For years the F50 lived in the shadow of its lairy older brother, the F40, and its futuristic younger sibling, the Enzo. Critics once moaned about its looks, its lack of a turbocharged punch, or the fact that it felt too much like a race car on the road. Today, those same critics are probably kicking themselves, because values are now skyrocketing faster than the rev counter on its 4.7-litre naturally aspirated V12 — an engine with genuine Formula 1 DNA.

For context, the previous record for an F50 was a mere $5.5 million, set earlier this year by an example with just 2,174 kilometers on the clock. This new sale obliterates that, and suddenly the F50 isn’t the “forgotten middle child” of Ferrari hypercars anymore. It’s the one everyone wants.

So, what have we learned? Simple: if you’ve got an F50 sitting quietly in your garage, congratulations — you’re sitting on a gold mine. If you don’t… well, best start designing polo shirts.

Source: RM Sotheby’s