Ferrari collection sells for £12.9m

A group of 13 Ferraris has sold for $16.5 million (£12.9m) at auction. The collection, which spanned more than 50 years of Ferrari heritage, went under the hammer at RM Auctions Monterey sale in California.

The top price went to an award-winning 1961 250 GT SWB which sold for a final $8,305,000 (£6.5m) after an intense bidding contest.

Restored to concours-condition, the car was one of the last Ferraris made that was eligible to be raced at events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans with little or no modification in period.

Also in demand was a 1967 275 GTB/4, which sold for $3,250,000 (£2.5m), while a 1991 F40 exceeded the estimate of $1.3-1.5m to fetch $1,540,000 (£1.2m).

Beyond the collection, Ferraris achieved strong prices throughout the sale with a 1965 275 GTB/6C Alloy selling for $3,575,000 (£2.8m).

A 1972 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider, that had been unseen for 20 years before the sale view, realised $2,172,500 (£1.7m).