This was sent to me about 2 hours ago by a car club friend and I had to share. The writer of this story (Brian) is also a member of our car club. I have to say, reading about it on a news website is one thing, but getting a first hand account like this, almost gave me goose bumps!
Oh, how I wish I could have been!
Some day………
Kevin
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I have to tell you I witnessed history Saturday night at the Goodings Auction Pebble Beach Concours. I was at the auction with my sister. There were 3 circus size tents. One tent full of amazing classics, one atrium type tent, and one for the auction. Loudspeakers and monitors let us know what was happening in the auction tent. We were looking at all the cars in another tent when I heard the auctioneer say, "5 million dollars. No. No wait. 10 million. 10 million dollars!" We ran into the half empty auction tent that was filling up fast as other people ran into the tent. Within a minute the tent was packed, standing room only.
The car: First built 1957 Ferrari Testa Rosso. Extensive race history and driven by Ferrari himself.
The auctioneer was watching 3 people at a conference table listening to their clients' instructions. Slowly the price rose. 10.3, 10.7, 10.9. The number slowly built higher until, a long pause. Then it jumps to $13 million! 13.5, 13.6, 13.9. $14 million. The crowd went crazy at every million $ mark. The energy was palpable. It was crazy. I turned to my sister and said, "Well I was out at 13 mil." We thought for sure it was over at 14 mil but it kept inching up from there. Now down to 2 bidders over the phone. 14.2, 14.4, 14.7. The crowd is gasping and laughing. Final bid! $14.9 million! With fees and premiums, the price would be over $16 mil. We found out this was a record auction price. Another Ferrari had sold for more but never made it to auction.
Recession?! What recession? It was an amazing thing to witness.
Oh, how I wish I could have been!
Some day………
Kevin
= = = = = = = = =
I have to tell you I witnessed history Saturday night at the Goodings Auction Pebble Beach Concours. I was at the auction with my sister. There were 3 circus size tents. One tent full of amazing classics, one atrium type tent, and one for the auction. Loudspeakers and monitors let us know what was happening in the auction tent. We were looking at all the cars in another tent when I heard the auctioneer say, "5 million dollars. No. No wait. 10 million. 10 million dollars!" We ran into the half empty auction tent that was filling up fast as other people ran into the tent. Within a minute the tent was packed, standing room only.
The car: First built 1957 Ferrari Testa Rosso. Extensive race history and driven by Ferrari himself.
The auctioneer was watching 3 people at a conference table listening to their clients' instructions. Slowly the price rose. 10.3, 10.7, 10.9. The number slowly built higher until, a long pause. Then it jumps to $13 million! 13.5, 13.6, 13.9. $14 million. The crowd went crazy at every million $ mark. The energy was palpable. It was crazy. I turned to my sister and said, "Well I was out at 13 mil." We thought for sure it was over at 14 mil but it kept inching up from there. Now down to 2 bidders over the phone. 14.2, 14.4, 14.7. The crowd is gasping and laughing. Final bid! $14.9 million! With fees and premiums, the price would be over $16 mil. We found out this was a record auction price. Another Ferrari had sold for more but never made it to auction.
Recession?! What recession? It was an amazing thing to witness.
Ferrari auctioned for record $16.4 million
A 1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa racecar sold at a California auction Saturday for a total of $16.4 million, the highest amount ever paid for any car at auction.
money.cnn.com
