1963 Ferrari 250 P, First Mid-Engined Racer, Heads to Auction with $20M Estimate

The 1963 Ferrari 250 P prototype, chassis No. 0810, the first Ferrari sports racer with a mid-mounted engine, will be auctioned by Gooding Christie's at Pebble Beach on August 15 during Monterey Car Week. Estimated at $15-20 million, the car is a landmark in Ferrari's motorsport history. Developed by chief engineer Mauro Forghieri with driver John Surtees, the 250 P featured a lightweight tubular chassis, a longitudinally mounted 3.0-liter V-12, rear transaxle, independent suspension, and inboard rear brakes. Pininfarina designed the body, hand-formed in aluminum by Carrozzeria Fantuzzi, with wind-tunnel testing at the University of Stuttgart. The car debuted at Monza on March 4, 1963, and in its first race at Sebring, it finished second behind a sister car, confirming the mid-engine layout's superiority. In 1964, it was shipped to the U.S. and campaigned by the North American Racing Team under Luigi Chinetti, with Pedro Rodriguez driving it to second at Bridgehampton and a win at the Canadian Grand Prix. Later owners included William McKelvy, Gordon Tatum, Harley Cluxton III, and current owner Anthony Wang, who acquired it in 1988 for $3 million. Wang, a former CA Technologies president, actively races the car, including at the 2024 Monterey Historic races. David Brynan of Gooding Christie's called it 'the very best Ferrari we have ever handled at auction.'